Affordable Wedding Cakes: Diy Guide To Save Costs

Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially when it comes to budgeting. One of the most significant expenses is often the wedding cake, which can cost anywhere from $600 to over $20,000. However, there are plenty of ways to reduce the cost without sacrificing taste or aesthetics. Here are some tips to help you create a beautiful and affordable wedding cake.

Opt for a simple design

Opting for a simple design is a great way to save money on your wedding cake. Here are some tips to achieve this:

Choose Buttercream Over Fondant

The choice of frosting can have a significant impact on the final cost of your wedding cake. Buttercream is a more affordable option, made with basic ingredients such as milk, butter, and sugar. In contrast, fondant requires additional steps, materials, and can be more challenging to work with, making it a more expensive choice.

Keep Decorations Minimal

The labour involved in decorating a cake significantly contributes to its overall cost. By opting for a minimal design, you can save on decoration costs. A "naked cake", for example, has frosting between the layers but minimal or no frosting on the sides. You can also use fresh flowers or simple frosting accents like borders or buttercream flowers instead of intricate sugar flowers.

Simple Cake Shapes

The shape of your wedding cake also affects its price. Multi-tiered cakes are almost always more expensive than flat sheet cakes. While sheet cakes may not be as visually appealing, they can feed the same number of people and still be decorated beautifully. If you're set on having a tiered cake, consider a smaller, simple design with fewer tiers.

Choose Standard Flavours

Custom or premium flavours, such as red velvet or banana, can increase the cost of your wedding cake. Opting for standard flavours like vanilla or chocolate is a more budget-friendly option. The same principle applies to fillings – stick to basic options to keep costs down.

Order from a Grocery Store

Instead of a boutique bakery, consider ordering your wedding cake from a grocery store. Stores like Publix and Costco offer delicious, simple wedding cakes at a fraction of the cost. They may have limited flavour and design options, but you'll make significant savings.

Choose buttercream over fondant

Fondant and buttercream are two of the most popular options for decorating cakes. However, if you're looking to save money on your wedding cake, buttercream is the way to go. Here's why:

Cost

A simple buttercream finish will be significantly less expensive than fondant work. Fondant requires additional steps, materials, and expertise, making it more costly.

Ingredients

Buttercream is made with basic ingredients like butter, sugar, and vanilla, which are typically less expensive and more accessible. Fondant, on the other hand, requires additional ingredients like powdered sugar, water, and glycerine, which can add to the cost.

Taste

Buttercream has a rich, creamy texture and a delectable flavour. It melts in your mouth and adds a burst of sweetness to your cake. Fondant, on the other hand, has an intense sweetness that can be overpowering. It's often chosen for its look rather than its taste.

Versatility

Buttercream is more versatile when it comes to flavour. It can easily take on different flavours, such as light citrus or tangy cream cheese, to complement your cake. Fondant, on the other hand, is known for its super-sweet taste, which can be difficult to balance with the cake underneath.

Texture

Buttercream has a much lighter and creamier texture than fondant. It cuts and bites through easily, providing a complementary creaminess to the cake crumb. Fondant, on the other hand, has a rubbery or leathery texture that can be too intense for some. Many people even peel off fondant layers before eating the cake.

Storage

Buttercream cakes require refrigeration and should be stored in a cool, dark, dry space. Fondant cakes, on the other hand, do not do well in the refrigerator and are better stored at room temperature. If refrigeration is necessary, it's important to keep them in a sealed box to prevent the fondant from becoming sticky.

Use fresh flowers instead of sugar flowers

Flowers are often a big part of a wedding, adding beauty and fragrance to the occasion. Using the same flowers and colours throughout your wedding gives the day a cohesive, well-planned elegance.

If you're looking to save money on your wedding cake, one way to do so is to opt for fresh flowers instead of sugar flowers. Sugar flowers can be very costly, as they are highly technical to create and require a lot of time and skill. Fresh flowers, on the other hand, can be a more inexpensive way to elevate a simple cake.

They are perfect for a relaxed look

Fresh flowers are ideal if you want a loose, relaxed floral style for your wedding cake. The foliage flows in a random, liberal way that gives each cake a unique look.

They are a simple way to make your wedding cohesive

Using fresh flowers on your wedding cake allows your florist and cake designer to collaborate, ensuring that all the flowers match perfectly. Using the same flowers and colours throughout your wedding, from bouquets to table centres, creates a polished, cohesive finish that adds to the flow of your day.

They are inexpensive

Fresh flowers are a more affordable option than sugar flowers, especially if you opt for a simple cake from a luxury wedding cake designer and have them dress it with fresh flowers. This allows you to benefit from delicious flavours without breaking the bank.

They are readily available

Fresh flowers are not restricted by seasonality, so you can have your favourite blooms at your wedding regardless of the time of year.

They are natural

Fresh flowers add a touch of elegance and romance to your wedding cake. Using blooms picked straight from the garden can be a lovely, natural way to decorate your cake.

However, it's important to note that fresh flowers provided by florists may not be grown or chosen with food safety in mind. Some flowers are also poisonous or an irritant. Therefore, it's crucial to work with your florist to ensure you use food-safe flowers on your cake.

Overall, using fresh flowers instead of sugar flowers on your wedding cake can be a great way to save money without sacrificing beauty and elegance.

Order a smaller cake

Ordering a smaller cake is a great way to save money on your wedding cake. Here are some tips to maximise your savings:

The most obvious way to save money on your wedding cake is to order a smaller cake. Wedding cakes are typically priced by the number of slices, so reducing the number of slices will reduce the cost. Not everyone will eat cake, so you can comfortably order a cake for 80% of your guest list. For example, if you're expecting 100 guests, order a cake for 80 people. This rule applies to other desserts too, such as cupcakes or doughnuts.

Ask for smaller slices

Another way to make a smaller cake go further is to ask your baker to cut smaller slices. You can ask to see what a typical slice looks like compared to a smaller slice before placing your order. Smaller slices mean you can order an even smaller cake, bringing the cost down. For example, if you're expecting 100 people and order a cake for 80, you could ask for three-quarter slices and order a cake for 60 people.

Have a sheet cake in the back

A common trick at weddings is to have a small display cake for the cake-cutting ceremony and a sheet cake in the back to serve to your guests. This gives you the perfect photo opportunity without the need for an elaborate, expensive cake. Guests won't notice the difference and will be happy to be served cake.

Get a simple cake

The more elaborate the design, the more your cake will cost. Keeping the decoration simple will save you money. A naked cake, for example, has frosting between the layers but minimal or no frosting on the sides. This type of cake can save you money as it takes less time to decorate. You could also use real flowers or fruit as decorations instead of intricate, labour-intensive piping designs.

Shop around for the best price

Don't be afraid to shop around for the best price. Get quotes from multiple bakeries and compare prices. Most bakeries will list their minimum charge per slice on their website, but you could also email them a photo of a cake you like and ask for a quote. Prices also tend to be higher in big cities than in rural areas, so bear that in mind when shopping around.

Serve cupcakes or sheet cake

Serving cupcakes or sheet cake at a wedding is a great way to save money without sacrificing taste or aesthetics. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Cupcakes

Cupcake towers are a simple yet effective way to provide dessert for your wedding guests without breaking the bank. Cupcakes are already portioned out, saving you money on cutting and serving fees. They are also a good option if you want to avoid the hassle of cutting and serving a traditional wedding cake. You can even save money on decorating fees, as most couples will still order a small cake or top tier to go with their cupcake tower. This allows you to have a beautiful display without spending a fortune.

Sheet Cake

Sheet cakes are another excellent option for budget-conscious couples. They are a great way to supplement a smaller decorated cake, providing more servings at a lower cost. For example, if you have 150 guests and your cake costs $10 per slice, you will spend $1500. However, by ordering a smaller cake and supplementing with sheet cake, you can save money. For instance, ordering a 100-serving cake and 50 servings of sheet cake at $4 per serving would bring your total to $1100, saving you $400. Sheet cakes also require less labour and time to create, which can result in additional cost savings.

General Tips

When deciding between cupcakes and sheet cake, consider your guest count and budget. Both options can help you save money, but sheet cakes may be more cost-effective for larger weddings, as they often require a minimum order of decorated cake servings. Additionally, be mindful of your desired flavour and frosting choices, as some bakeries charge a premium for certain flavours or fondant icing. Finally, remember to ask about delivery and setup charges, as these can impact your overall budget.

Frequently asked questions