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.
Calculate The Cost Per Unit
This next step takes some time. You have to figure out howmany servings of each ingredient a container or bag has. For example, a smallbag of granulated sugar contains about 8 cups of sugar.
If youve made it this far, youre golden. You can now easily calculate the cost per unit of each ingredient, and link it to your recipes!
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?
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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.
| Table cake size |
|---|
| $70 $180 |
How To Figure Out Your Wedding Cake Pricing
Before you go wedding cake shopping, its important to know not only what kind of design you want , but how much youre willing to spend. To do that, you have to know just how wedding cakes are priced.
Below is a look at a sample wedding cake cost. While the price will definitely vary by bakery and design, this helpful illustration might help make sense of how the price of a wedding cake is calculated. Note that the wedding cake cost is calculated PER SLICE and not PER CAKE.
Pricing for a 3 tier wedding cake with buttercream frosting for 125 guests:
- $3.00/slice for the base tier
- +$0.75/slice for the 2nd tier
- + $0.75/slice for the 3rd tier
- =$4.50 per slice x 125
TOTAL WEDDING CAKE COST: $562.50
Note that most bakers will charge per slice, but some might have a minimum price thats added to based on your design and how much work is involved .
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Use Buttercream Instead Of Fondant
In the past, most bakeries preferred to use fondant because its more pliable and produces a super smooth, elegant finish. However, it can often cost more than $0.75-$1.00/slice than buttercream. Thankfully, thats no longer the case. Most skilled bakers have found ways to work with buttercream so you still have that perfectly refined look. Plus, most people agree buttercream tastes way better than fondant , so youll not only save money, but your guests will enjoy a more delicious cake as well. A win-win!
Pricing For Wedding Desserts And Favours
- Wedding cupcakes start from £3.80 each
- Mini wedding cupcakes start from £1.50 each.
- Individual mini cakes start at £10 each and serve 2 large portions.
- Modelled figures start from £60 for a bride and groom
- Top tier cakes for cupcake towers and individual cake towers start from £55
Head on over to our Wedding Cake Collection and start your journey to eating your perfect wedding cakes. Need more info? Head back to our Wedding Cake Guide for more cake related information.
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Estimating The Time A Cake Will Take
Then you might wonder, but what if a cake takes longer to bake and decorate than I want it to? And this is when things become difficult.An unexpected request from an existing or potential client might be extremely difficult to fulfill.Its possible that you have no clue how long something will take, or that youll have to attempt it several times before you succeed.In those sorts of scenarios, all you can do is make the best guess you can and hope that youre near to being correct.Some cakes will take longer to bake than anticipated, while others will take less time.
Labor: Valuing Your Time
Yes, you are correct. Your time is precious, and you should be compensated for the services you provide. It is your profession as a cake decorator, and the number of hours you intend to spend on a cake should be taken into consideration. If someone requests an elaborate cake topper or delicate sugar flowers, the cost of these should be factored into the final pricing.
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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.
How Much Does A Wedding Cake Cost
Having a wedding cake at your reception is one of the biggest traditions. But what does a wedding cake cost? While wedding cake prices do vary depending on the size and style of your cake, the average cost of a wedding cake in the U.S. is around $500 with most couples spending between $300 to $700. While this may sound like a lot for a dessert, youd be surprised as to how much work goes into creating a gorgeous wedding cake.
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Other Items Influencing Wedding Cake Cost
The cost of a wedding cake includes your choice of multiple flavors and a basic design . We are also happy to customize your wedding cake! Please show us a picture and we can provide a quote based on the design details.
You may also wish to complement your display with Mini desserts.
- $1-$2.50 each for mini desserts
- $2.50 each for mini cupcakes
- $4.25 each for regular cupcakes
Please note that fresh flower decorations are typically provided and arranged by your Florist, if they agree. Sugar flowers or edible decorations are available for an additional charge. Delivery fee is determined by location, number of dessert items, and complication of set-up.
The Average Cost Of Wedding Cake Per Slice
The prices range from as little as $1.50 per slice to as much as $12.00 per slice. Its usually a good idea to have a good estimate of how many guests will be attending your event before booking your caterer or putting down a deposit on your banquet location. This is the most effective method to approach the task of planning your wedding cake.
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What Factors Affect Wedding Cake Prices
The average price of a wedding cake is still a ballpark estimation. We cant guarantee the final price with a wedding cake cost calculator, but we can help you arrive at a range for the design that you have in mind. We must take into consideration several factors, beginning with the cake designer. While cake designers are paid per project, their tenure and expertise could raise the prices by certain percentages. But aside from them, here are other factors you should consider when looking up wedding cake prices in the US:
Basic Formula To Price A Cake
I like to use the formula below to calculate the price of a custom cake. I use this for smaller custom cakes, rather than wedding cakes .
Cake Price = Labor + Cost of Ingredients +Overhead
It comes down to basic cost accounting, factoring in your direct and indirect costs. And of course, valuing your time!
I want to highlight that this concept also applies to homemade cookies and cupcakes. It really works for any baked good that a home baker can make.
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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.”
Price Of Each Ingredient
I then scoured my grocery store and receipts to figure outthe price of each ingredient.
But you dont need to know how much a container of salt is.You need to know much a tsp costs, or how much a cup of flour is! The nextcolumn I made shares a standard portion size for each ingredient.
For instance, I measure baking powder by the teaspoon, and brown sugar by the cup.
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What To Look For In A Cake Supplier
70% of couples will book a cake supplier for their wedding day. These couples are impressed when a baker can work with the stylist or decorator to coordinate the cake decorations with other areas of the wedding.
Couples in the past have also favoured having a variety of flavours to choose from as well as having different flavours for different tiers.
Check reviews for cake suppliers to look out for whether couples have had any issues in the past. Not providing a cake tasting before purchase is one flag to look out for. Having a different flavour or different decorations without consulting the couple are also things to look out for.
Cake Pricing Guide: How To Price A Cake
- This cake price guide has been in the works for quite some time. I cant tell you how many times people have approached me with the question of how much a cake should cost. It always brings me back to the beginning of my cake-making career whenever I hear that question. The first cake I sold was to a customer who had no clue how much a baked, personalized cake should cost. I had no clue how much it would cost to bake my cakes, and I was comparing the pricing of my cakes to those of grocery store cakes. Over time, I learned to appreciate the worth of my time and work, and I became more aware of the kind of individuals for whom I wanted to bake. However, I continued to undercharge for my cakes for YEARS! The primary reason Im providing this piece is to assist you in determining the worth of the hours of labor you put into your bespoke cakes and in determining the appropriate price to charge for them. Among the objectives of this cake pricing guide are to: assist you in appreciating the value of your time
- ensure that you are continually generating a profit on your cakes
- and empower you to correctly price your cakes based on your clients and geographic location.
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Where To Buy A Wedding Cake
Almost any independent bakery is able to create a wedding cake, what helps you find the right one is your budget and wants. However, if you’re after extreme ease, today there are a number of ways to source your cake online. Some of those retailers include:
-
Lola’s Cupcakes has a great selection of cakes that vary from pared-back and simple to chic and glitzy. And of course, if you’re partial to cupcakes, Lola’s has you sorted there.
-
Waitrose offers a range of celebration cakes ideal for a lowkey wedding. The grocer also creates a unique range of cheese wedding cakes that are sure to make those less keen on sweets swoon.
-
Patisserie Valerie is known for over-the-top French-inspired desserts so its selection of wedding cakes is similar.
Keep In Mind That Cake Smashing Is Not Required
The tradition of crushing cakes dates back to the time of Julius Caesar and has become deeply ingrained in Roman culture. Even though it may be tempting, it’s best to refrain from smashing cakes in each other’s faces. Looking for the best Wedding Photographer in Melbourne? Check out our ultimate list here.
For the sake of the wedding photos, some couples may choose to forego the traditional cake-smashing photo op. In any case, you and your future spouse should start making preparations early.
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Do I Have To Tip My Wedding Cake Baker
Tipping the wedding cake baker is not required since the cake is a product, not a service. Send a thank-you note and post favorable reviews online instead. Some couples tip the baker 10% to 15% of the cake cost if the cake exceeds expectations or the baker goes above and beyond.
Tip the wedding cake delivery staff $5 to $25 per person. Tip on the higher end for an elaborate or time-consuming setup.
Cost Of Ingredients: Direct Costs
Now onto the second part of my equation, the cost of youringredients! These are considered to be your direct costs.
Direct costs include the ingredients you use to make each cake. Its incredibly important that you track these, so you know how much it costs you to make a cake.
Most of us have our list of go-to recipes , and its actually pretty easy to calculate the cost with a little bit of leg work.
This might be my inner CPA showing, but I created an Excel spreadsheet to help me quickly calculate the cost of each of my cakes. I know that not everyone loves numbers as much as me, but I do think that most bakers out there enjoy being organized and precise.
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Be Straightforward With Your Budget
Saving on a wedding cake requires planning. The cost efficiency does not come in the middle of the process when you realize that you cannot afford the sugar flowers or gold flakes that encase your wedding cake. Nevertheless, discussing the budget with your baker prior will help you save money on the onset and time on your bakers end.
Ways To Cut Wedding Cake Costs According To Pro Bakers
If the dollar signs on wedding cakes are threatening your budget and you are looking for ways to cut costs, there are plenty of ways to do so in the cake department.
Most importantly, know that you dont have to spend a fortune to have a delicious, gorgeous wedding cake. You can have your beautiful wedding cake and eat it too.
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