How to Make a Wedding Cake Cheaply

Learn how to make your own inexpensive wedding cake.

Wedding cakes can be tasty and beautiful without breaking the bank. If you're making your own wedding cake or have been assigned the role of cake maker for a friend or family member's wedding cake, it's possible to make an inexpensive wedding cake with a few baking ingredients, items you probably have around the house.

Things You'll Need

• 6-inch round cake pan
• 8-inch round cake pan
• 10-inch round cake pan
• 12-inch round cake pan
• Cake platter or cake plate with a stand
• 3 to 4 boxes of cake mix (flavor of your choice)
• Buttercream frosting (white or cream)
• Spatula
• Scissors or flower cutters
• Three dozen flowers (of your choice)

Instructions

1. Bake round cakes. Bake one cake in each cake pan, according to the box cake mix directions. Allow the cake to fully cool and remove each cake from the pan and set aside.

2. Prepare the first layer. Place the 12-inch round cake on the cake platter or cake stand. Place about a spoonful of buttercream frosting in the middle of the cake to act as "glue" to add the second layer of cake.

3. Add second layer of cake. Place the 10-inch cake onto the bottom layer of cake so that it is centered. Then add 1 tsp. of buttercream frosting onto the top center of 10-inch cake.

4. Add the third layer of cake. Center the 8-inch cake on top of the center of the 10-inch layer of cake.

5. Place the final tier. Add 1 tsp. dollop of frosting to the top center piece of the 8-inch cake and then place the 6-inch round layer of cake on top of the 8-inch layer so it is centered.

6. Ice the cake. Use the spatula and the buttercream frosting to frost each layer of the cake. Be sure to add frosting to the tops and sides of each layer of the cake.

7. Prepare the flowers. Cut each stem of the flowers so that the stem is approximately 2 to 3 inches long.

8. Place flowers in cake. Push the stem of the flowers into each layer of the cake so that where each layer of the cake meets is encircled with flowers. Depending on the width of your flowers, place the flowers next to each other so that they just meet.

9. Decorate the top. Make a small bouquet of flowers and push the stems of the flower bouquet into the center of the top layer of the cake.

Tips & Warnings

• Shop and compare types of flowers because some flowers are less expensive than other flowers. For example, roses may be more cost effective than calla lilies and daisies may be less expensive than roses.

• The blooming season for the flower also plays a role in the flower prices, so choose flowers that are available at the time of year of your wedding to save money.

• Holidays such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day also affect flower prices, so avoid popular flowers like roses during the month of February to cut your costs as well.

• When choosing your flowers, make sure to speak with the florist to make sure that the flowers you're using are not poisonous.

References

• Martha Stewart: Wedding Cake 101
• What's Cooking America: Edible Flowers