How To Save Money On Wedding Cake

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So you're approaching your big day on a budget and hope to cut costs as much as you can. Wedding cakes are one of the main attractions but can be very expensive. By thinking outside of the box and modifying your design, you can save money and still have a beautiful wedding cake.

1. 1

   Shop around for a good deal. Don't just settle with the first cake or bakery you see. Have a look at different places locally or online. After all, there could be an equally good or even better bakery just around the corner for a cheaper price. Remember, more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better.

   • Don't be afraid to try somewhere new that you don't know. Newer bakeries usually have good offers as they are trying to attract more customers.
   • Look online to find local or close enough places with good deals. You may be surprised at what you might find.

2. 2

   Purchase your cake from an amateur baker. Instead of going to a bakery, purchase your wedding cake from someone who bakes cake as a hobby. They are equally talented and will charge less than a fancier bakery.^[1]

   • You can also use a baker who does not necessarily specialize in wedding cakes. Visit your local bakery and ask if the baker makes wedding cakes.^[2]
   • Keep in mind that you may have fewer design options when using an amateur baker or a baker that does not typically make wedding cakes.
   • You can also ask your caterer if a cake can be included in your package. The cost may be lower than ordering your cake through a separate bakery.

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3. 3

   Bake your own cake. If you, your family, or your friends are good at baking, consider baking the cake on your own. If you are baking the cake yourself, look for recipes that freeze well so you can bake the cake ahead of time.^[3] If a friend or family member is baking the cake, ask them to make your cake at a discount or even better, it could be their wedding gift to you.

   • It is a risk using an inexperienced baker. You should do a trial run before the wedding. The test cake should be the exactly like your real wedding cake.
   • If you go the do-it-yourself route, have a backup plan just in case.

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1. 1

   Choose a simple design. Flowers, piping, tall-tiers, and intricate designs will increase the price of your cake. The more add-ons, the more expensive your cake will be. Consider a cake with a simple, clean design. Flat designs and painted flower motifs are less expensive options.^[4]

   • If you have a design that you like, show a picture to your baker and ask what some more cost-effective alternatives are.
   • For example, Small frosting dots and solid color tiers are alternatives to intricate lace designs.
   • Square cakes are less expensive and will feed more guests.
   • Uniquely shaped cakes are more expensive as well. The baker often has to cut away layers of the cake to create the shape.^[5]

2. 2

   Decorate your cake with real flowers. Sugar flowers take a lot of time and work, and your baker is charging you for the amount of time and effort it takes to design the cake. Use fresh, in-season flowers to decorate the cake instead. They are beautiful and will save you money.^[6]

   • Let your baker know that you plan to use fresh flowers. The flesh flowers should be pesticide free and food safe.
   • If you prefer sugar flowers, talk to your baker about flowers that are not as detailed. For example, hydrangeas and calla lilies are less intricate than roses and peonies.^[7]
   • Flowers made using butter cream instead of gum paste are less expensive.^[8]

3. 3

   Use a display cake. Ask your baker to make a one or two-tier cake for you to cut and bake a sheet cake to serve to your guests. You could save about 20% per slice if you use this method. The cake table will be a little empty because your cake is small, but think of this as an opportunity to decorate your table.^[9]

   • The table can be decorated with flowers, candles, or a beautiful table cloth.
   • You can also get a decorated base board from your baker.

4. 4

   Decorate the cake yourself. Have baker create a simple cake for you and add the decorations yourself. You can buy fresh flowers for your cake. You could also decorate your cake with lace or satin ribbon or create your own wedding cake topper.^[10]

   • Practice your decorating skills on another cake before you decorate your actual wedding cake.
   • Make sure the flowers you buy are pesticide free and food safe. Check the flowers for small bugs before you place them on your cake.

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1. 1

   Use butter cream instead of fondant icing. While fondant is beautiful, it costs more than traditional butter cream icing. It takes more steps and materials to make fondant, and it is more difficult to work with compared to buttercream icing. Some bakers even charge extra for working with fondant.^[11]

   • Butter cream is not always less expensive. If you want butter cream with a smooth applique finish, it may cost as much as the fondant.
   • People often prefer the taste of butter cream icing to fondant as well.^[12] You can save money and make your guests happy.

2. 2

   Skip the frosting. Naked cakes are cakes that do not have frosting at all. These cakes take less time and you avoid the cost of the actual frosting. If you go the no frosting route, you can try different flavors and fillings.

   • Naked cakes can be decorated with fresh flowers, fruit wedges, or a unique cake topper.^[13]
   • You have many options for fillings such as fruit fillings,^[14] lemon curd, or chocolate ganache.^[15]

3. 3

   Choose simple flavors. Specialty cake and frosting flavors and seasonal flavors are more expensive than simple flavors. Simple flavors include vanilla, chocolate, and lemon. Specialty flavors include flavors such as red velvet, carrot cake, or seasonal flavors.^[16]

   • If you want to use specialty flavors, use them only for the smaller tiers. For example, you could use vanilla for your largest tier and red velvet for a small tier.
   • Also limit your cake to two flavors and two fillings. Your baker will likely charge you more for three or more.

4. 4

   Get a fake cake. Have your baker create a fully decorated cake using Styrofoam tiers. You can then serve your guests a sheet cake with with the same color frosting. If you want to have a cake cutting during your reception, make sure the bottom tier is edible.^[17]

   • A fake cake is particularly handy if you have a cake that needs to be refrigerated (e.g. ice cream cake or whipped cream), a small guest list but want a large cake, or a huge amount of guests but only want to display a smaller cake (i.e. two-tier).
   • If you want a naked cake, you cannot use Styrofoam tiers as a substitute.
   • Keep in mind that you are still paying your baker for a fake cake and a sheet cake. An elaborate fake cake can become very expensive. Talk with your baker about the most cost-effective option.

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1. 1

   Have cupcakes instead of a wedding cake. Cupcakes are a great alternative to a traditional wedding cake. They are less expensive and allow you to have more options. You can have multiple flavors and different decorations on the cupcakes.^[18]

   • You can also opt for a small cake for you and your bride or groom and cupcakes for all the wedding guests.
   • You can arrange your cupcakes in the shape of a wedding cake as well.

2. 2

   Have a sweets table. A wedding cake is not a requirement, and having alternatives may make your wedding more unique and memorable. A candy bar or sweets table can be the dessert for your wedding. Pies, brownies, ice cream sundae bar, doughnuts or any other dessert that you like can be included on the table.^[19]

   • Again, you can have a small cake for the bride and groom and the dessert table for your guests.
   • The options are limitless with a dessert table. You can mix and match your favorite desserts too.

3. 3

   Have a single-tier cake. Multiple tiers are more expensive than a single-tier cake. To reduce costs, you can have a single-tier cake or have your baker create multiple tiers, but skip stacking the tiers. Basically, you would have multiple mini cakes.

   • In addition to saving money, your cake table will have a unique design.
   • You could also decorate each cake differently.

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• Question

  How big of a wedding cake do I need for 100 guests?

  

  Megan Papageorge is a Certified Wedding Planner and Owner of Sweet Peach Planning, a wedding planning and management company based in Long Beach, California. She has completed over 200 weddings in settings such as gondolas, church halls, the side of cliffs, and vintage warehouses. Megan also co-hosts Peach & Honey, a wedding planning podcast. She is certified to plan and run weddings by the Bridal Society Educational Course. Her work has been featured in A Practical Wedding, Junebug Weddings, Ceremony Magazine, and The Bridal Society.

  

  Certified Wedding Planner

  Expert Answer

  

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  Since there's usually leftover wedding cake, you can save money by ordering a cake that's about 20% smaller than you think you need. For instance, if you're having 100 guests, you might order a cake that serves 80 people. Then, you can complement it with something a little more affordable, like a donut bar or cupcakes.

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• Don't be afraid to bargain for a lower price. It could be worth your while.

• Being friendly and polite could be worth your while. It could result in some extra icing or a small discount.

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• If baking the cake yourself, be sure not to make it too far in advance, as it will go stale.

• Be sure to follow the recipe carefully and make sure all ingredients are fresh.

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How To Save Money On Wedding Cake

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