Wedding Cake Sizes: How Big Should Yours Be?

Planning a wedding involves making several decisions, and one of the most important (and delicious) is choosing the right size of wedding cake. The size of the cake depends on several factors, including the number of guests, the desired portion sizes, and the cake design.

A standard wedding cake slice is typically 1 inch wide, 2 inches long, and 4 inches tall, but this can vary depending on the cake maker and how the venue cuts the cake. When estimating the cake size, it's important to consider that not all guests will eat cake, and there may be some leftovers.

The number of tiers in a wedding cake also varies, with each tier providing a certain number of servings. A single-tier cake is ideal for intimate weddings, serving around 10-12 guests, while a 4-tier cake is suitable for grand celebrations with 100-150 guests.

To ensure there is enough cake for everyone, it's recommended to cater to 75-90% of the total guest count. Additionally, the shape of the cake also impacts the number of servings, with square and hexagonal cakes often providing more portions than round cakes.

Consulting with a professional baker is essential to determine the appropriate cake size and ensure a sweet ending to the perfect wedding celebration.

Typical wedding cake slice size

A typical wedding cake slice is 1 inch wide, 2 inches long, and 4 inches tall. This is smaller than a slice of party cake, which is usually 1.5 inches wide.

However, some sources suggest that a "party-size" slice of wedding cake is 1.5 inches wide and 2 inches long, while a "standard" slice is 1 inch wide and 2 inches long.

When planning a wedding, it's important to consider that not all guests will want a slice of cake. A common calculation is to order one slice of the bride's cake per guest, and half a slice of the groom's cake. However, it's becoming more common for guests to decline cake altogether, so you may only need to order enough cake for 75-85% of your guests.

How many tiers are needed?

The number of tiers on your wedding cake will depend on several factors, including the number of guests, the size of the cake slices, the shape of the cake, and whether you want leftovers.

Number of Guests

The number of guests at your wedding is the most crucial factor in determining the size of your wedding cake. A good rule of thumb is to cater to 90% of your total guest count to ensure that most people get a slice. Here are some estimates for the number of tiers and servings for different guest counts:

• Two-tier cake: 40-60 guests
• Three-tier cake: 70-90 guests
• Four-tier cake: 100-150 guests
• Five-tier cake: 170-210 guests
• Six-tier cake: 220+ guests

Size of Cake Slices

The standard size of a wedding cake slice is 1 inch wide, 2 inches long, and 4 inches tall. However, some couples may opt for larger slices, such as 1.5 inches wide for a more generous serving. If you choose to have larger slices, you will need more cake, and therefore more tiers, to serve the same number of guests.

Shape of the Cake

The shape of your wedding cake also affects the number of servings. Square cakes and hexagonal cakes can provide more servings than round cakes of the same size. Here are the estimated number of servings for different shapes and sizes:

• 6-inch round cake: About 10-12 servings
• 8-inch round cake: About 20-24 servings
• 10-inch round cake: About 30-38 servings
• 6-inch square cake: About 12-18 servings
• 8-inch square cake: About 32-40 servings
• 10-inch square cake: About 50-60 servings

Leftovers

If you want leftovers to enjoy after the wedding or to save the top tier for your first anniversary, you will need to add extra tiers to your cake. Discuss this option with your wedding cake designer, who can help you determine the final cake size.

Round vs. square cakes

Round cakes are typically chosen for their classic and timeless appearance, often seen as the traditional choice for weddings. They are usually the default shape and are considered tried-and-true. Round cakes are generally more versatile, and bakeries are likely to offer a wider range of circular size options.

Square cakes, on the other hand, have risen in popularity recently and offer a modern and structured look. They are great for elegant black-tie weddings and are considered more unique and visually interesting. Square cakes can be a bit more costly due to their specialty nature and the extra time and effort required to decorate them.

When it comes to portions, square cakes yield more servings per tier due to their shape. They can be cut into various sizes, allowing for larger or smaller portions as needed. For example, a 10-inch square cake can serve about 50-60 people, while a 10-inch round cake serves about 30-38 people.

If you're looking for a timeless, romantic, or floral theme, a round cake might be a better fit. If you're going for a modern, industrial, or elegant theme with clean lines, a square cake could be the perfect choice. Additionally, if you want to include a monogram on your cake, the flat edges of a square cake might be more suitable.

Ultimately, the decision between a round and square wedding cake depends on your personal preference, the theme of your wedding, your budget, and the number of guests you plan to serve.

How to serve the cake

The wedding cake is usually served after the wedding breakfast or in the evening after the wedding breakfast and speeches. If you are serving the cake in the evening, you only need to cater to around 90% of your guests as not everyone will get around to having a slice.

There are two types of wedding cake slices: finger portions and dessert portions. Finger portions are typically 1x1x4 inches, made up of three layers of cake with filling, and are considered to be a delicious sample of your cake to be enjoyed casually later in the evening. Dessert portions are larger at 2x1x4 inches—double the size of a finger portion. These are often served as dessert at the wedding breakfast.

If you are having a plated meal, you will need to ensure you have enough cake to deliver a slice to every guest. If you are having a self-serve cake station, you can get away with ordering less cake.

If you are serving the cake as dessert, you will want to cater to 100% of your guests, taking into consideration any dietary requirements.

If you are serving the cake in the evening, you will only want to cater to around 90% of your guests as not everyone will want a slice.

When it comes to cutting the cake, the first cut is usually made from the bottom tier. You'll only need two bites for the bride and groom, so keep it small.

If you are planning to have a dessert table, you can probably order about 50% cake and fill in with additional desserts for everyone.

If you want to save the top tier of your wedding cake for your first anniversary, don't include it when figuring out how much cake you need.

If you are having a full weekend, you may need to factor in more dessert. An additional wedding cake tier can be added to allow for plenty of leftovers for guests to enjoy the day after.

Saving the top tier

Nowadays, couples tend to prefer lighter sponge cakes, which can still be frozen and kept for months. If you want to save the top tier of your wedding cake, be sure to account for this when determining the size of your cake. Don't include the top tier when calculating how much cake you need for your guest count. Instead, start your calculations with the next size down, often an 8-inch cake tier.

You could also save just a couple of slices if you don't want to preserve a whole tier. Simply ask your wedding cake designer to factor your preferences into the final wedding cake size.

Frequently asked questions