How Much Does a Wedding Cake Cost? 

Many brides have the feeling that the cost of something will never surprise them again as they plow through their budgets much sooner than they had anticipated. Just at the moment when the budget seems all but completely wiped out, one little- or major expense often still remains: the cake. Getting an idea of how much does a wedding cake cost can be a frustrating thing to determine but is definitely necessary before heading in to the bakery.  

Cake Menus 

Just as with all the items on the menu in a restaurant, cake orders are very similar. If you have the money to splurge at a restaurant, you might choose an appetizer, soup or salad, main course, dessert and a drink or two. If you are trying to stay within a budget, you are likely going to stick to just the main course and maybe a standard beverage or even water. Cakes are much the same way with the size or number of tiers, cake stands needed, cake construction, shape, flavors and decorations all comprising the cost. If you are falling short on your budget, there are certainly some areas to trim corners for your cake- if you know where the corners are of course.  

Understanding where to save money and where to spend money on a cake can be the key to getting what you want without spending a fortune. Be sure when you are consulting with your baker to understand if there are any flavors or icing types which cost more, any sizes of shapes that cost more than others, etc. The heart shaped cakes may look interesting and unique, but they may not be quite so interesting if it added another 15% to your cake bill.  

Pricing of Cakes 

Some bakers charge by the piece, ranging just about between $1.00-$5.00 a slice based on the number of guests you have attending your reception. If a baker is using flat fees for how much a wedding cake costs, you can expect to spend approximately $400-500 for a 3 tiered cake for 100 people. Likely this cake has minimal décor involved and a simple stand. For another $300-$500, tiers can be added as well as detailing in the fondant or icing.  

If you are looking for a more ornate cake but do not have the budget there are a few options. Some cake decorators can provide mock cakes that are often pre-made by using styrofoam as the cake medium and decorating the exterior with fondant and piped icing or other decorative techniques. This method saves the baker time by allowing them to create your cake ahead of time and more at their leisure. One tier is often made of cake for you to cut in front of your guests while the cake actually intended for your guests is provided with far more inexpensive sheet cakes that are taken to the reception site’s kitchen and out of the view of your guests.  

Asking the question how much does a wedding cake cost will help to more adequately plan a budget. It can also be helpful to understand what is actually costing extra that may not be necessary. Do not be afraid to itemize your cake costs with your decorator- they may be willing to throw some items in for free in order to provide great customer service.

You may want to choose  wedding favors to compliment your cake and wedding theme.