How to Save Money on a Wedding Cake

The cost of the average wedding cake starts at more than $500. You don't have to sacrifice taste or decoration if this is beyond your budget. With some imagination and creativity, cutting costs can be a cakewalk (cutting calories is a different story).

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Cupcake Tier Who doesn’t love cupcakes? Buy a mix and frosting, decorate and arrange on a tiered pedestal. Keep the decorations simple with candy pearls or flowers. Purchase cupcakes at a bakery or grocery store if you are culinary challenged. Suggestion: Glam up the pedestal by adding faux pearls around the edges of each tier or use flowers (real or fake) and ribbon.
2. Instead of paying for a multi-tiered cake, make or buy a small showpiece and have sheet cake to serve to the guests. Suggestion: Place on a draped pedestal or decorative table-top column for some height. Make the presentation more dramatic with some pin spots on the cake or ask your reception hall to see if they have lights that can point on the cake.
3. The price goes up as soon as you say “wedding cake.” Pick a nicely decorated cake but don’t mention the dreaded w-word. Better yet, skip the bakery and shop at your local grocery store for a suitable ready-made cake or check their design book for custom options.
4. If you have your heart set on a tiered cake, ask the baker to frost but not decorate the cake; request butter-cream instead of fondant, not only does it taste better, it's less expensive. Choose an all-white cake that you can dress up with your own embellishments. Suggestion: Sprinkle flower petals (real or faux), cascading down tiers. Or place flowers around the base of the cake. It's simple and elegant.
5. Who says you have to have cake at your wedding? Consider these delicious alternatives: Ice-cream sundae bar, petit fours, gourmet chocolates and truffles, plate of warm cookies for each table, individual mini cheesecakes, crème brulee, pie, dessert fondue or make your own s'mores (kits are available online).

Tips & Warnings

• Start planning early
• Look online and in magazines for ideas and inspiration