Wedding Budget
How to Slice Costs on Cakes And Desserts (Budget Breakdown)
18 Apr 2024 •12 min read
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Whether you’ve chosen a traditional wedding cake, individual cupcakes, strudels, cheesecakes, a variety of pies, or all of the above to serve at your wedding, desserts are as essential as any of the other food that you’ve carefully chosen.
But just like your savory meals, you’ll have to decide on a budget for these tasty treats as well. So before you start consulting other bakers about what your dream cake/dessert concession should look like, you should go in knowing what to expect in terms of average costs for each type of cake and/or dessert.
In this blog post, we will present you with the best cake pricing guide so you can plan your perfect cake design and dessert lineup without any surprises.
Have a Budget Laid Out
Unlike other cakes, wedding cakes are usually priced by the slice. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to have a rough headcount for the reception before making any cake decisions. It also means you’ll have to plan out your cake based on what you can afford.
Usually, opting for more cakes or flavors means a higher price. The same goes for complicated shapes and decorations. Be sure to communicate with your baker about what your budget is so that they can create a cake that doesn’t break the bank.
How Much Should You Budget for a Wedding Cake?
When it comes to pricing cakes for your big day, a good rule of thumb is to budget around $7/person. So, if you have 125 guests, you should allocate around $875. Because the costs can vary from $5 to $45 (and beyond) a slice, make sure you have a handle on your budget before going into any dessert conversations with bakers.
Remember, most cake vendors will ask you upfront what your budget is so they can design a cake that works for you!
Keep in mind that additional cake flavors, levels, and decorative elements mean more money.
Another budget factor that can come into play is the type of flavor you want for your cake. Classic choices like vanilla cake or chocolate are generally more affordable. But if you’re looking to have a chocolate ganache with lemon buttercream, it’ll probably be a bit more expensive.
You'll also need to factor in decorative elements like handmade sugar flowers and fondant icing, along with prep time and transportation costs. These are all things your baker or cake vendor will be happy to walk you through.
Pro Tip: If the venue offers a cake or dessert option and you opt to bring in your own cake baker on board, you may be charged a cake-cutting fee.
Cake Cost Breakdown
Below is a list of expenses that usually determine the overall cost of a wedding cake.
- The time it takes to bake and decorate.
- Level of intricacy with designs, colors, and style (For example, if the custom cake has edible blooms or frosting, price may increase.)
- Size of the cake and number of tiers
- Type of frosting (Gum past or Fondant cake are typically more expensive than buttercream.)
- Ingredients (Exotic ingredients or specialty/custom cakes that are gluten-free and/or vegan will typically cost more.)
- Choosing a special flavor or a mix of flavors.
- Getting the cake to your venue safely includes delivery fees.
- Add-ons such as cake stands/toppers
- The more you customize your cake, the higher the cost due to the extra work involved.
Ways to Save
We know it’s hard to resist going all out for your wedding, especially when it comes to desserts. But before you make any permanent decisions, it’s always good to know a few tricks for saving money.
Faux Display Cake & Sheet Cake
A lot of the times, those fancy three-tiered cakes your eyes glance at multiple times on the reception display have only one real layer. The rest of it isn’t real. This technique uses the tray cake that’s usually served from the kitchen and costs far less in terms of both per slice and actual cutting fee.
Sheet cake on a per-slice basis comes out to around $2.75 per person. This way, you get a visual impact of traditional cake layers with practical, cost-saving measures.
Serve Smaller Portions
If you’ve got a 100 people on your guest list and a cake that typically serves only 50, explain to the baker that you’d like to serve smaller portions. Half-servings are barely noticeable in the eyes of your guests, especially if they’ve already filled up during cocktail hour and dinner.
A lot of the time guests only have a few bites of free cakes before they get back up on the dance floor. Helping them feel like they aren’t wasting such a delicious dessert while you save more and waste less will go a long way.
Opt for Buttercream
Instead of fondant, choose buttercream as your frosting. Flavor and texture are always a preference.
But, if you don’t mind either, then consider opting for buttercream since it has a more reasonable price than fondant.
DIY the Cake/Dessert
If you and your partner are confident enough to bake and design a cake, pie, or cupcakes delicious enough for your dream wedding, then do it yourself.
This option will inevitably take more time, especially if you’re having a large wedding, so we suggest you make sure you have all the correct supplies and room in your oven to bake these heavenly treats.
Alternative Desserts
Instead of going the traditional route, maybe you’re the kind of couple that would rather have a different type of dessert or assortment of different desserts. Cupcakes, fondue table, cheesecake, strudels, scones, brownies, these and much more are the possibilities to choose from.
It's an exciting way to personalize your celebration. With the right cake business or dessert caterer, you can make your sweet dreams a reality without breaking the bank!
Wedding Cake Alternatives
Not a big fan of cake, but still have a sweet tooth? This is a perfect time to personalize your wedding day by bringing in desserts that you and your partner love! Love is sweet, so let's explore some fun alternatives to wedding cakes.
Oh, and before you get too shocked, there are plenty of people in this world who don’t like cake and just don’t want it served at their wedding. That’s totally okay! There are so many wonderful dessert ideas that are sure to make your wedding spectacular regardless of whether or not there’s a cake.
Whether it’s due to dietary restrictions, personal preference, or budgeting, here are some of our favorite alternative ideas for wedding cakes:
An Ice Cream Sundae Bar
This gives you lots of options at a low cost, and it’s easily customizable to everyone’s individual tastes!
Donuts
A huge trend in recent years and ripe for puns that can be used to decorate the dessert space (“Donut mind if I do…”)
Cookies
A classic for a reason. They won’t fill people up, and they’re easy to give people to take home if you end up with too many leftovers.
Macarons
Perfect for a sophisticated twist on cake, and you’ll have almost just as many possible flavor combinations! Plus, you can even stack them in a tower so that it looks like a cake and creates the same visual centerpiece for the room.
Cheesecake
This one is kind of a cake, but it’s great if you’re part of a gluten-free crowd and still want something indulgent.
Pie
One of our personal favorites, it’s homey and delicious and still unique enough to get people talking. You can even opt for smaller personal pies to make serving easier.
Cake Pops
There’s something just so appetizing about cake pops, and they’re certainly a “pop” of creativity on the dessert front, especially when arranged in little bouquets.
Churros
Rich, perfectly spiced, and a great choice for a reception where people may be indulging in lots of drinks, since we all know fried carbs are a great way to soak up the booze.
Cupcakes
A close cousin to cake, cupcakes are great to make sure you’re offering a variety of flavor options without breaking the bank, and the individual portions make sure that guests who don’t want one aren’t wasting food.
Cinnamon Rolls
They’re not just for breakfast anymore! Or they are, if you’re having a morning or daytime reception and don’t necessarily want to eat cake in the morning (not that we’re judging). Regardless of the time of day, they’re certain to be a crowd pleaser.
Brownies
Perfect for the chocolate lovers in your life. You can’t go wrong with this classic dessert.
Dessert Station
The possibilities are endless when it comes to having a dessert station on your wedding day. From Italian sweets to parfaits, baklava, mini pies, croquembouche, ice cream sundae, or sandwiches - your guests will be delighted!
Candy Station
Everyone loves a good DIY candy bar! Color coordinate with your bouquet colors, or add fun multi-colored candy like Nerds and M&Ms.
Waffle Station
Similar to pancakes, but taken to another level. Add whipped cream, ice cream, sprinkles, and chocolate syrup to make it even yummier.
Pancakes
Pancakes aren’t just for breakfast anymore. You can even stack them together to create a cake-like shape. There are also pancake artists who create photo-realistic pancakes on request.
Savory Dessert Options
You can always opt for a savory dessert option if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth. Cheese stations and crepes are just some of the options you can choose from.
Pro-Tip: Don’t be afraid to skip the wedding cake. Your wedding is supposed to be a reflection of your unique love story, and dessert is a perfect place to share something YOU love with your wedding guests.
If you decide that for logistical or preferential reasons, a cake alternative is the way to go, you can still enjoy the tradition of cutting a cake by opting for an individual couple’s cake. It won’t serve the whole reception, but it will allow you to have your cake-cutting moment.
One of the most important factors when it comes to cakes and desserts budget breakdown is to have a basic headcount in mind. By knowing how many guests you’re expected to having your chosen baker or dessert vendor will be able to give you a better estimate.
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About The Author
Kellee Khalil is the Founder & CEO of Loverly. She lives in upstate NY with her fiancé and two dogs.
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