Do Wedding Guests Eat Cake? Understanding Consumption Trends

It's a common misconception that you need to order a wedding cake that serves all your guests. In fact, not everyone will eat dessert, and you can usually get away with ordering enough cake for 80% of your guests. If you're serving other desserts, you may only need enough cake for half your guests.

If you're having a self-serve cake station, you can order less than if you're serving cake with dinner, or at the tables. If you're serving cake at the tables, you'll need to order enough for every guest.

Some couples choose to have a fake cake with a couple of layers made from styrofoam, so they can have a multi-layered cake for display and photos without wasting food.

Self-serve vs. table service

When it comes to wedding cake, there are a few factors to consider when deciding between self-serve and table service. The first is the number of guests you'll be serving. If you have a large number of guests, self-serve may be more feasible as it can be difficult to coordinate table service for a large group. However, if you have a smaller, more intimate wedding, table service may be more appropriate.

Another factor to consider is the level of formality of your wedding. If your wedding is more casual, self-serve cake may fit the vibe better. On the other hand, if your wedding is more formal, table service may be the way to go. This can also help ensure that each guest receives a slice of cake. With self-serve, there's a chance that some guests may miss out on cake if they're not paying attention or are away from the cake table when it's being served.

Cost is also a consideration. Table service will likely require additional staff to cut and serve the cake, which can increase the overall cost of your wedding. Self-serve can be a more budget-friendly option, especially if you have a small wedding party who can help with the cake cutting and serving.

Finally, think about the overall flow of your wedding. If you want to ensure that the cake-cutting happens at a specific time, table service may be the best option. This way, you can coordinate with your caterers and ensure that the cake is served shortly after it's cut. With self-serve, there may be more flexibility, but there's also a chance that the cake could be missed by some guests if it's not prominently displayed or if they're busy dancing or mingling.

In conclusion, both self-serve and table service have their advantages and disadvantages. Self-serve can be a more budget-friendly and flexible option, while table service ensures that each guest receives a slice of cake and can help create a more formal atmosphere. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your personal preferences and the specific details of your wedding.

How much cake to order

Ordering a wedding cake is a tricky task. You want to make sure there's enough to serve all your guests, but you don't want to be left with a ton of leftovers or, worse, run out of cake!

The general rule of thumb is to order one serving per guest. However, if you're looking to cut costs, you can order around 20% less as not everyone will eat cake, especially if you're serving other desserts. If you're having a groom's cake as well, a common calculation is to have one slice of the bride's cake per guest and a half-slice of the groom's cake.

If you're serving the cake at the tables, you should plan to serve a piece to everyone. If the cake is self-service, you can lower the amount. For example, if you have 150 guests, you could order enough cake for 120-130 people.

Some other factors to consider:

• Are you having one cake or multiple cakes? The 80% rule includes enough cake for all guests across all cakes, not just the main bride's cake.
• Are you serving other desserts as well? If so, you can probably order about 50% cake and fill in with additional desserts.
• Do you want to save the top tier of your cake? If so, make sure to tell your baker and caterer in advance so they don't accidentally serve it.
• How is your cake being served? If it's self-service, you can order less than if you're serving it with dinner, in which case you'll need a slice for each place setting.

To save money, you could also consider the following:

• Serve smaller slices.
• Create an illusion with "fake cake" by having a layer or two made with styrofoam.
• Utilise sheet cakes. Have simple sheet cakes in the catering kitchen to accommodate extra servings and have a less expensive cake on display.

Cake serving size

When it comes to cake serving size, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it depends on how the cake is being served. If it's a self-serve cake station, you can get away with ordering less cake than if you serve it at the table, where you should plan to have enough for everyone.

If you're serving other desserts as well, you can order significantly less cake – about 50% less. If you're only serving cake, a good rule of thumb is to plan for one serving per guest, but if you want to cut costs, you can order 20% less as not everyone will eat cake.

Another way to save money is to serve smaller slices. Cakes are often sliced into huge portions that may not get fully eaten, so your guests won't mind slightly smaller pieces. You could also opt for "fake cake" – having a layer or two made of styrofoam to reduce the amount of actual cake you need.

If you want to save the top tier of your cake, be sure to tell your baker and caterer in advance so they don't accidentally serve it.

Saving leftovers

If you want to save the top tier of your wedding cake, make sure to tell your baker and caterer in advance. Ask your baker for a box that will fit the top tier, and ensure your caterer doesn't accidentally serve it. You could also save just a couple of slices if you don't want to save a whole tier.

If you have a lot of cake leftover, consider serving it at brunch or another informal gathering while friends and family are still in town. If you want to freeze your leftover cake, make sure to put it in a container with a tight seal to ensure freshness. Once you'd like to eat it, remove it from the freezer and put it in the refrigerator for about 24 hours. Then, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature, which could take two to five hours, depending on the size of the cake.

If you don't want to keep leftover cake, you can offer slices for guests to take home. It's common for guests to be too full to eat cake after a wedding meal, so providing wedding cake favor boxes and bags is a good way to ensure slices don't go to waste.

Additional desserts

While a wedding cake is a traditional centrepiece, it's not always the most popular dessert option for guests. Many couples now opt for additional desserts to accompany their cake, or even as a replacement.

If you're serving other desserts in addition to cake, you'll need much less cake. You can probably order about 50% cake and fill in with the additional desserts for everyone. For example, you could have trays of truffles and chocolate-covered strawberries on each table as a sweet bite that's not quite as filling as a big slice of cake. Or, for something a little more substantial, go for a composed cake plate with a scoop of ice cream or a drizzle of sauce.

If you're not a fan of cake, there are plenty of other dessert options to choose from. Fruit pies, doughnuts, or cookies can be arranged on cake stands or pretty trays, and you can even share one with your new spouse as the first sweet bite of your married life.

If you're looking for something a little more unusual, a chocolate fountain surrounded by fresh fruit and marshmallows is a fun, interactive dessert option. Or, for something a little more elegant, a macaron wedding cake is a modern take on the traditional cake.

Ultimately, it's your day, so do whatever sounds good to you!

Frequently asked questions