Are your reception costs spiraling out of control? Get them back on track today with these clever tips for cutting your wedding cake budget in half…
Your wedding cake may be the star of your reception but that doesn’t mean that it’s got to cost the earth. There are plenty of ways to cut down on your catering bill – all it takes is a little know-how. So where do you start?
Order less
Ordering fewer tiers can save you pounds. Just having a two-tier cake instead of the traditional three could save you almost £200! Choosing a medium and small tier will also help with the budget, it’s the larger tiers that are the most expensive. If you need more cheap wedding cakes for your guests you can also order cutting bars, which work out cheaper than that extra tier.
Collect your items
Collect the wedding cake yourself. Delivery can start from £1 per mile, which soon clocks up. Collecting the cake and assembling it at home will easily save those pounds. Ask the cake designer to show you how it should sit together and go for a simple style to avoid any problems on the run-up to the big day.
Use real flowers
Some wedding cakes could also use flowers that are in season to reduce costs, instead of expensive, intricate icing. Blooms that aren’t in season often need to be flown in so they can be more expensive. And don’t rule out supermarket blooms! They can last longer and if you’re going for something simple they can be a great way of adding colour without blowing the budget.
Save money on sponge
Choosing sponge can save you around £60 on three-tier cakes, as sponge works out £20 cheaper than fruit per tier – a huge cost saving. And with so many delicious flavour ideas available including chocolate, lemon, ginger, carrot and traditional sponge – you can be sure your guests will be happy, too!
Opt for a dummy cake
Decorate a dummy cake. To save hundreds of pounds on a real three-tier wedding cake use a dummy cake. The dummy cake will still be iced, decorated and adorned with a topper or flowers but won’t be eaten. Cutting bars can be used to ensure every guest gets a piece.
Single-tier dramatics
Single-tier cakes can look just as dramatic as the traditional three-tier creations. This is a top trend going into 2014, too – look out for single tier cakes in our real-life wedding section! To add some height, top with a vintage vase or pillars and add an interesting cake topper.
Be creative with your decorations
Limit decoration to the cake being iced and decorate it instead with a simple ribbon. This will save on either a cake topper or fresh blooms but still look chic on the big day. Choose a ribbon that matches your colour scheme and finish with a vintage brooch. Alternatively, we love this idea of using a stencil and dusting Mr and Mrs onto the top of your cake with icing sugar – a real talking point, and it will look great in your photos!
Think about ingredients
Think about ideas for ingredients for your wedding cake – expensive flavours will push up the price. You don’t have to have traditional fruit cake, choose your favourite flavours. A simple lemon flavour cake would work brilliantly at a summer wedding, for example, especially if you’re having a bright yellow colour scheme.
If you’re looking to save money on your wedding catering bills, our Wedding Budget section has everything you need to plan your finances properly!
