Average Cost Of Wedding Cake

Icing The Cake At The Appropriate Time

Everyone at the party will be eager for dessert before the ceremony even starts. Wedding cake is traditionally served after the main course at a multi-course feast. Cake is typically served soon after the reception begins, especially if the couple opts for finger foods and small appetisers.

In either scenario, make sure your guests know when to expect the cake cutting to begin.

Simple Vs Designer Wedding Cake Prices

Basic wedding cake prices are $1.50 to $4.50 per slice for classic flavors like vanilla or chocolate, buttercream frosting, and a simple design. Designer wedding cake prices are $9 to $15 per serving, depending on the flavors, fillings, and how extravagant the decorations are.

• Each specialty flavor or filling adds $0.25 to $1.00 per slice or more.
• Fondant icing often costs 2 to 3 times the cost of buttercream.
• Designer wedding cake elements include gourmet flavors, elaborate or intricate fondant icing, sugar flowers, hand painting, and unique sculpted shapes.

How Much Does A Two

If you only plan on serving 45 to 65 guests a finger size slice of a wedding cake, then you can expect the cost of the wedding cake to average from £130-160. The two-tier cake will measure from 13cm to 24cm for round or square tiers.

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The Wedding Cake Size

The size of your wedding cake and sheer amount of people you need it to serve will have an impact on the overall price. If you need a wedding cake that feeds at least 100 wedding guests, youre looking at a minimum of three to four tiers which, alone, will bring your cost up to around £400.

“We always advise encourage our clients to remember that when you purchase a wedding cake, you are mainly paying for the artists time,” says Dee Farrance of Sugar High Cakes. “In the case of a three-tier wedding cake, that could be up to a weeks work.”

Whats Included In The Cost Of A Wedding Cake

This varies from cake baker to cake baker. Usually, the cost of your wedding cake will include the cake itself, a design consultation where your baker will create a custom design just for your wedding, a caketasting, delivery and set up. Some cake bakers will also include supplies like cake stands, cake toppers, and cutting utensils, though you may have to provide these on your own. And some wedding cake prices include an extra top tier of your wedding cake or anniversary cake for you and your spouse to enjoy on your first anniversary.

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How Much Do Wedding Cakes Cost

Although we are seeing some couples forgo the traditional wedding cake entirely in favor of unique alternatives, like towers of cheese and pie stations, most weddings in the U.S. still include a wedding cake. The cake, after all, is one of the most time-honored wedding traditions in existence, right up there with the dress, the venue, the ceremony, the flowers, etc. That said, figuring out what cake is right for you and your budget is no easy task when there are many factors that impact wedding cake pricing.

Meet the Expert

• Melissa Redell is the co-owner of The Solvang Bakery, a family bakery in Solvang, California.
• Jamaica Crist is the owner and pastry chef at Top Tier Treats in Los Angeles. She opened her shop in 2005.

Cake price is determined by the intricacy of the finished design, the complexity of cake flavor, , and, of course, how many tiers and hand delivery to the venue, says Melissa Redell of The Solvang Bakery in Solvang, California.

Here, the full scoop on all the elements that play into cake pricing to help you figure out exactly what cake is right for your special day.

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Wedding Cakes For 700 800

Bringing your wedding cake budget up to £800 really opens up your options. For this price, couples should expect at least three or four six inch tiers, sugar work and floral arrangements plus other design elements.

Increasing your wedding cake budget to £1,000 will buy you even more design work and attention to detail. “For this price you can expect most four tier cakes and some simpler five tier cakes to be on offer,’ says Dee. “These cakes will usually include some time-consuming elements such as extensive fondant fabric effects, hand piping designs or hand-painted elements.”

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‘If a couple is expecting their wedding cake to be a real centrepiece at their reception, and really stand out and be admired, they should expect to pay this price,” says Laura. “Lots of intricate work goes into these cakes and they are often covered with lots of sugar work and detail.”

Additional Costs To Consider

When hosting a wedding, there are other costs you must keep in mind. The cake is already an investment, but here are some items that are more of add-ons than necessities:

• Cake toppers: These refer to the accessories that you plant on top of the cake. Depending on what you have agreed on with the baker, they charge separately for the topper.

• Giveaways: A night to remember must have party favors. Whether it be photo booth photos or cute souvenirs, your guests will be sure to have a trinket of your special day. It is worth investing in, especially since this is the first step towards your road to forever.

• Dessert buffets: Did you say chocolate fountain? A sweet spread is something you can splurge on, especially if you have a sweet tooth. After all, you can have your cake and eat more sweets too.

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What Factors Decide The Price

As mentioned above, there are several factors that go into deciding the cost of a wedding cake including:

• Size: Obviously, the bigger you order, the more expensive that bottom line cost will be.
• Ingredients/Flavors: The more flavors you want, the more youll add to the cost, of course- this goes for customizing flavors as well. But, the ingredients that are you can make the price soar as well. The fresher and the better the pastry chef utilizes, the more money youll be shelling out for your celebratory bites.
• Number of tiers: Just like with the size, the more tiers that are added, the more money to be added to the bill.
• Delivery location: This is another deciding factor in the cost of your cake. Depending on how far the venue location is from the vendor will determine the bottom line as well.
• Intricate designs can cost a pretty penny and so can the supplies. For example, gold leafing can really add to the receipt. Sugar flowers, fondant, and unique shapes are taken into consideration too.

Wedding Cakes For 300 400

For up to £400, couples should expect to get a three tier wedding cake that serves up to 100 people. “The design of a three tier wedding cake for £400 is likely to be fairly basic and often the finish is buttercream, as opposed to fondant,” says Laura. “Fresh flowers can be used instead of sugar flowers for cakes in this price bracket to help keep the cost down.”

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Wedding Cupcake Prices Factors

Most wedding cupcake orders include the design consultation and the cupcakes. Some bakers include a complimentary tasting appointment or apply the tasting fee to the order.

Several other factors impact the total cost:

• Cupcake size Mini cupcakes cost less than standard size or jumbo cupcakes.
• Fillings Filled cupcakes cost more than plain cake-style cupcakes.
• Flavors and ingredients Gourmet flavors and premium or specialty ingredients cost more than standard cupcakes. Vegan, gluten-free, or allergen-free cupcakes may cost more.
• Toppings and toppers increase the cost per cupcake by $2 to $5 per dozen or more, depending on how elaborate the decorations are. Personalized fondant toppers add $1 to $4 per cupcake.
• Cupcake tower rental Cupcake display tower rental costs $25 to $50 on average. Purchasing a cupcake display yourself costs $15 to $50 or more, depending on the size and style.
• Display menus Signs to indicate each cupcake flavor are typically not included.
• Delivery and setup costs $40 to $140, depending on the area, order size, and display setup complexity. Some bakers offer wedding cupcake packages that include delivery and setup.
• Location Prices are higher in large metropolitan areas like New York or Los Angeles than in smaller towns.
• Order minimum Many bakeries have a minimum order requirement of a specific dollar or dozen amount. Some bakers have a minimum order of one dozen per flavor.

Choose Your Best Cake

Some couples must regretfully abandon their visions of designer confections as the best wedding cake is one that fits the budget. By understanding how prices are determined and ways to trim the costs, however, every couple can choose a cake that meets their wedding design, preferences, tastes, and pocketbook.

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What Is Included In Wedding Cake Cost

The total cost of your wedding cake includes a bit more than just the cake itself. When youre paying for a wedding cake, youre also paying for other elements of the bakers time.

The average cost includes not only the cake itself, but also a consultation with your bakery of choice, and a cake tasting is usually included. Youre also paying for delivery and set up. Delivering a cake is no small task, as they must ensure that the cake travels safely and stays fresh.

Cakes are priced based on more than just the ingredients, so keep this in mind when considering costs.

An added cost to consider is a cake cutting fee this is often overlooked because your venue may charge you, not your baker.

When Should I Hire A Wedding Cake Baker

We recommend hiring a wedding cake baker at least six months before your wedding daythese vendors do tend to book up quickly! Start by reading online reviews of wedding cake bakers near you, and selecting a few to interview . Youll typically have a wedding cake tasting after youve booked your baker, where youll select your cakes flavors.

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Questions To Ask A Wedding Cake Baker

• Do you have my wedding date available?
• How many cake deliveries do you schedule for each date?
• Do you price by the slice?
• What is your minimum cost for a wedding cake?
• How much more do you charge for different flavors?
• What frosting and flavors do you recommend?
• Do you schedule tastings?
• Are the tasting or consultation fees applied to the future cake order?
• Can I see photos of some of your recent cake designs?
• Can you provide vegan or allergen-free cakes ?
• Do you provide equipment rentals?
• Do you offer other desserts aside from cake?
• What happens if the cake arrives damaged?
• How early should I order my cake?
• How much is the deposit and when do you need it?
• What is and is not included in the quote?
• Do you charge a delivery fee? Does the fee include set-up at the venue?
• Do you decorate the cake table?
• What other fees should I expect?
• When is the full payment due?
• What is your refund and cancelation policy?
• How many wedding cakes have you made?

Get free estimates on Fash from trusted vendors:

The Biggest Mistake People Make:

Dont wait too long to book a cake maker. Wedding cakes arent easy to make and take a hell of a lot longer to make than a non-baker might think. Youll find that wedding-cake bakers schedules get filled with wedding gigs pretty damn fast. You should be thinking about who you want to book a year ahead of time. Nine months is a fairly safe cushion for booking someone and arranging a tasting. After six months, you need to start worrying. And if youre in the territory of thinking about your coming wedding in terms of weeks rather than months, then youre going to have to consider the possibility of buying a Costco sheet cake and hoping for the best.

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Wedding Table Cakes Prices List

Wedding table cakes cost $20 to $190, depending on the size, flavor and frosting choice, and the number of layers and fillings. Individual cakes on stands typically cost less than one cake stacked with multiple tiers since less labor is involved. Display stand rental or purchase may increase the cost.

Flavors And Frosting Costs

Now lets discuss wedding cake flavors and frosting. When going wedding cake taste testing, youll be deciding on the perfect cake, frosting, and filling flavor combinations. While wedding cakes dont have to be filled, if you do decide to add a filling, this will be an additional cost. As for the icing, buttercream is typically a popular choice. However, frostings such as cream cheese will likely cost more. If youre looking for a smoother cake look and opt for gum paste or fondant, that, too, will increase the overall cost of your wedding cake.

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How To Hire A Wedding Cake Baker

• Set up a cake tasting: Schedule tastings with more than one baker and make sure to try a variety of flavors and styles. Bakers may charge you a small fee for a cake tasting.
• Order timing: As soon as you book your wedding venue, you should consider booking your baker as well. This may seem extreme, but boutique bakeries often limit themselves to one wedding cake per date, just as many venues only host one wedding reception per day. A popular wedding cake baker will require at least four months of lead time, although many bakers offer a rush service for an additional fee.
• Cake delivery: Make sure your baker delivers wedding cakes to the venue. Most bakers recommend paying for cake delivery, especially for a tall cake with multiple layers or elaborate decoration. That way the money spent on the cake isnt lost when a nonprofessional attempts to move or assemble the pieces.
• Additional items: Decide if you want a groom’s cake or if you need any additional baked goods or your dessert table, like gluten free options or themed cake pops.

What Is The Starting Price Of A Wedding Cake

The starting price of a wedding cake can vary depending on the type of frosting you prefer. Cakes covered in fondant, a sugary paste-like icing, tend to cost more than cakes covered in buttercream . Fondant is more durable than buttercream , but its generally thought of as less tasty. The starting price of a fondant wedding cake is usually about $5 per slice, while the starting price of a buttercream wedding cake is about $4 per slice. Again, these wedding cake prices will vary even more based on decorations, size, etc.

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How Do I Choose A Wedding Cake Designer

Most people choose their wedding cake designer based on referrals. Another way is via social media you can often find designers showing off their creations on Instagram or Facebook, and from there youll get a good feel for their designs and style.

Many bakeries are famous for their cake creations. Youll also probably factor in price when picking the designer. When you contact the wedding designer, youll typically schedule a consultation to review the designers cake creations and enjoy samples . If you like the style of cakes, the designers skill, and the price fits your budget, then you can start making your wedding cake reservations for the big day.

Prices updated on 30/09/2022. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.

The Best Buys team comprises editors and guest contributors who work across the Best Buys platform. We make your online shopping experience more informed and fun by bringing you reviews, buying guides and inspiration around great product choices.

Beyond A Traditional Tiered Shape

Consider a smaller decorative cake to display and cut and have the bulk of the cake made up as inexpensive wedding sheet cakes that cost roughly half the price of the showpiece cake. The cake can be wheeled out of sight to be cut and guests will not notice the difference in the shape of their pieces. Small “satellite” or accent cakes can be used as well – small round, square, or heart-shaped decorated cakes that surround the more elaborate centerpiece cake.

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