Strategies To Cut Wedding Cake Costs

Planning a wedding can be an expensive affair, but there are ways to cut costs without compromising on the 'wow' factor. One of the most significant expenses is often the wedding cake, with couples spending anywhere from $300 to upwards of $1,000 on this sweet treat. However, there are several strategies you can use to save money on your wedding cake while still making it a beautiful and memorable part of your special day.

Firstly, consider opting for a smaller cake. Most guests will be too busy dancing to eat cake, so you can save money by ordering a cake that serves only 75% of your guest list. You can also ask your caterers to cut the cake into smaller slices to stretch it even further. Another way to save money is to choose a simple design. Intricate sugar flowers, latticework, and gold piping can significantly increase the cost of your cake due to the labour involved. Instead, opt for fresh flowers or a simple, all-white cake.

Another strategy is to choose buttercream over fondant. Fondant is more expensive and requires extra steps and materials. Buttercream is a more budget-friendly option that still looks classic and elegant. You can also save money by only decorating the front of the cake, especially if your cake table will be against a wall. Finally, consider supplementing your display cake with a sheet cake. A small, decorative cake can be used for the cake-cutting ceremony, while a simple sheet cake can be cut and served to your guests, saving you money without sacrificing taste.

Opt for a smaller cake

Opting for a smaller cake is a great way to save money on your wedding cake. Most couture cakes are small, so you can choose a smaller, two- to three-tier cake for your display and cake-cutting ceremony. This will save you money, as cakes are usually priced by the slice.

Instead of ordering a large cake with slices for each guest, you can order a smaller cake and ask the kitchen staff to cut it into smaller portions. This way, you can still serve cake to all your guests, but you will save money by buying a smaller cake.

Another option is to have a small display cake and then arrange a dessert bar with more cost-effective options. This way, you can have a beautiful cake for presentation and photos, but you will save money by serving less expensive desserts to your guests.

You can also ask your baker to make a small cake for you and your partner to cut into for photos, while serving a sheet cake from the kitchen for your guests. Sheet cakes are large rectangular cakes without all the bells and whistles, so they are much more affordable.

Finally, you can save money by choosing a cake with simpler decorations. A plain white buttercream-frosted cake will be less expensive than a cake with intricate details or sugar flowers. You can also ask your florist to decorate the cake with fresh flowers, which will look beautiful and won't cost as much as sugar flowers.

Supplement with a sheet cake

Serving a sheet cake to your wedding guests is a great way to save money without sacrificing taste or elegance. Here are some tips to help you supplement your wedding cake with a sheet cake:

Choose a Display Cake

Select a one or two-tier display cake for the traditional cake-cutting ceremony. This cake can be beautifully decorated and personalised to match your wedding theme and colours. You can even add fresh flowers or edible decorations to make it stand out. This display cake will be used to cut the first slice, while the sheet cake will be served to your guests.

Sheet Cake Savings

Sheet cakes are large rectangular cakes that are more affordable than traditional tiered cakes. They often cost up to 50% less than a tiered cake and can be purchased from a grocery store or bakery. By choosing a sheet cake, you'll save money without compromising on taste or presentation.

Discreet Serving

The sheet cake is typically cut and served discreetly from the kitchen after the couple has made their symbolic first cut of the display cake. This way, your guests may never know the difference! You can also choose to have a small single-tier cake on display that resembles the design of the sheet cake slices being served.

Customisation Options

Even with a sheet cake, you have plenty of options to personalise and decorate it. You can choose from a variety of flavours, fillings, and frostings to match your preferences. Consider classic combinations like chocolate with vanilla cream or strawberry with lemon curd. You can also coordinate the icing colours to match your wedding colours or add fresh flowers or edible decorations to the sides of the cake.

Efficient Serving

Sheet cakes are typically cut into small rectangular or square pieces, making it easier to ensure uniform slice sizes. They are also sturdier than tiered cakes, resulting in less waste. You can also choose to display the sheet cake slices on a separate table, allowing guests to serve themselves, which can help reduce waste and ensure that only those who want cake will take a slice.

Choose buttercream over fondant

Fondant is a thin, clay-like icing made from confectioner's sugar, corn syrup, and water. Some recipes may include gelatin or marshmallows. It creates a smooth, solid finish and can be coloured with food dyes. Fondant is excellent for sculpting and creating decorations such as sugar flowers, basket weave patterns, bows, and cutouts. It also seals in moisture, keeping the cake fresh and spongy.

However, fondant is the most expensive frosting option and is not the most delectable. It requires a skilled baker to achieve the right balance between aesthetics and flavour. It also dries quickly and can cause cracks in the exterior of the cake. Fondant's hard, clay-like texture makes it difficult to cut with a fork and doesn't work well as a filling between cake layers. Many couples find the flavour of fondant icing to be less pleasant than buttercream.

Buttercream, on the other hand, is a soft, rich, and thick icing made from confectioner's sugar, butter, flavouring, and sometimes egg whites. It can be used as both a cake topping and filling. Due to its fat content, buttercream is full of flavour and preferred by many over fondant. It can be easily piped to create flowers, designs, and piped edges.

While fondant provides a smooth finish and lends itself well to intricate designs, it is the most expensive frosting option. Buttercream, on the other hand, is typically less expensive. It provides a classic look that is versatile enough for any wedding aesthetic.

If you're looking for a cost-effective option that doesn't compromise on taste or aesthetics, choosing buttercream over fondant is a great way to save money on your wedding cake.

Stick with a simple design

If you're looking to save money on your wedding cake, sticking to a simple design is a great way to go. The more intricate details and decorations you want on your cake, the more money you'll spend.

Latticework texture and gold piping, for example, will significantly increase the bill. This is because the amount of labour it takes for cake bakers to design their work affects the overall cost. So, to reduce the cost, choose designs that are less labour-intensive.

According to cake artist Grace "Grey" Pak, printed images are more budget-friendly than hand-painted details, and fresh flowers are a more affordable alternative to sugar flowers because they take less time to make.

For an even larger price reduction, consider an all-white cake, which requires fewer design hours and thus less cash. "The designer doesn’t have to spend hours trying to match colour swatches to the fondant or pray that the airbrush machine does its job," explains lead cake designer Esther James. If you're worried a white cake is too simplistic or boring, think again. The monochromatic hue is a timeless look that coordinates with any aesthetic, especially if you're hosting a classic wedding.

You could also opt for a front-only design. Chances are, your cake table will be set up against a wall, not in the middle of the room. So, you don't need to worry about covering every inch of your confection with an eye-catching design. By choosing a front-only design instead of a 360-degree one, your cake baker will spend less time creating the masterpiece, which will naturally reduce the bill. Hosting a garden fête? Adorn a white cake with a cluster of blooms on the top tier. If you’re trading vows by the beach, have palm leaves affixed in the centre.

Adorn the front only

If your cake table will be set up against a wall, you don't need to worry about decorating every inch of your cake. Ask your baker to create a front-only design instead of a 360-degree one. This will save you money as it will take less time to create.

If you're hosting a garden fête, you could ask for a cluster of blooms on the top tier. Alternatively, if you're getting married by the beach, you could have palm leaves affixed to the centre.

You could also opt for a cake with a memorable cake stand. A chic marble option with a gold half-circle bottom will draw your guests' eyes to the cake.

If you're looking for a cake with height, you could skip the flowers and decorative wafer paper details instead. The thin, edible sheets can be moulded into various designs or shapes, and when left uncoloured on a white cake, they add a monochromatic 3D look.

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