Budget-conscious brides are always on the lookout for unique ways to save money without skimping on any aspect of their wedding or reception, and many brides are surprised to learn how easy it can be to save money on the wedding cake.
With the average wedding cake’s price ranging from $2 to $10 per slice, or more depending on where you live, many brides are anxious to take a look at saving money at the bakery.
1.RENT A CAKE
One fairly recent trend is to rent a faux wedding cake. Check around your area and you might be able to find bakeries that rent fake cakes, or your own baker might be able to rent you one of the sample cakes she takes to bridal shows if it’s in good shape and not dusty.
Why choose a false cake? They’re often larger and more elaborate, which would make a bigger impression on your guests and have more of a presence sitting on a table at the reception.
Ask your baker about setting one real layer of cake into the fake cake’s setup so you and your spouse can have the traditional cake-cutting ceremony. While you’re feeding each other the first piece of cake, all eyes will be on the two of you, which creates the perfect distraction. Your sheet cakes, in the same flavor as the layer you just cut, will be hidden in the kitchen so that your servers may begin bringing trays full of small plates of already-cut cake out for serving.
2.SMALL TRADITIONAL CAKE + SHEET CAKE
If you’d like to save money without the hassle of locating a rental cake, another option would be to order a traditional wedding cake, but in a much smaller scale. Instead of one giant, layered monstrosity to feed 300 people, order an elegant, scaled-down cake in a size that would feed 50 or 75 people, and be prepared with sheet cake for the crowd.
The smaller cake doesn’t need to skimp on beauty to come in at a smaller price tag than if you would have ordered a larger version of the same cake design.
Again, while you are cutting the cake and feeding your groom, someone behind the scenes can be in charge of slicing and serving sheet cake. Be sure to order it in the same flavor as the traditional cake so it won’t be as obvious that you’ve pulled the old switcheroo.
Sheet cake is a great option to save money because it can be ordered in the same color and flavor as your traditional cake but, since it requires less decorating and less labor, the price is usually significantly less than your traditional wedding cake.
3. NO, IT’S NOT A WEDDING CAKE
Some bakeries jack up the price of a cake at the mere mention of the word “wedding.” To get around this, don’t mention that it’s going to be served at a wedding. When you ask questions about the flavors and sizes offered, don’t let the words “wedding” or “reception” cross your lips. If the bakery asks if this is for a wedding, just tell them you’re having a party.
Order three plain white layer cakes in graduated sizes. After all, simplicity is elegance. If you plan ahead and give yourself enough time to taste around town, you’ll be able to find out which reasonably priced stores offer a cake that will be good enough for your wedding. The local Sam’s Club in my town, for example, makes a coconut cake to rival any cake created by the bakers that exhibit at the annual bridal expos.
Rent a cake stand that will hold the three layers nicely. Wilton, a company long associated with the cake-decorating industry, manufactures several stands that would work and are often purchased by party rental companies to offer their customers. One cake stand that comes to mind has three graduated surfaces, with a vertical metal bar along the back of the stand. When three cakes are placed on the surfaces, they appear to be suspended in mid-air, with the metal bar in the back easily unnoticed once flowers have been situated on top of each layer.
It’s much cheaper if you pick up the cakes yourself and deliver them to your reception site. Although this is a task I wouldn’t recommend anyone attempt with a large, ornate, traditional wedding cake, it won’t be difficult at all if you’ve opted for three individual cakes. Each should be boxed well, making them easy to place on a flat surface in your vehicle where they won’t slide around during the journey. Once you’ve arrived, the cakes will be easy to place on your rented cake stand.
Newly Engaged? Get The Word Out. Shop For Save The Date Postcards
No related posts.
