Wedding Cake Pricing
Let’s tackle the very thorny issue of wedding cake cost. When looking at your wedding cake there are so many things to think about and we as cake designers are well aware that it’s always the last big item to be crossed off the list and as such money is tighter than when you first started planning. However, remember you are paying for experience, skill, and time as well as the basic cost of ingredients, if you wanted a bespoke item made exclusively for a single purpose you’d expect it to be expensive cake is no exception.
The time it takes to carefully come up with the right design within a couples budget is no mean task especially in these times. With base ingredients increasing by some 60% and energy increasing - well we all know that’s ridiculous - but it all adds to the expense of producing your one off cake. Add detailed sugar flowers, models, handpainting, colour matching well we could go on but enough of the scare tactics.
Pinterest is an amazing tool for finding that one off modern masterpiece, but I can guarantee you 90% of them will be out of most people’s idea of reasonable price. Your wedding cake should start at £500 if the maker is worth their salt and can offer you the style and attention to detail you’re after. A fully designed, fondant covered, sugar flowered masterpiece will be upwards of £900 so have a healthy budget if you’re wanting sugar flowers and a truly luxurious design.
Buttercream with piped buttercream flowers will be just as expensive as colour matching and piping the required flowers all takes time and detailing. Buttercream with fresh flowers can have a super design element to them too and be just as stunning in the right setting. I always refer to the fabulous cake scene in Father of the Bride and the inimitable Steve Martin’s reaction to the proposed cost of his daughter’s cake!! Even in the 90’s a huge cake was thousands of dollars!!
In short have a healthy budget, all these designs range from £675 - £950, the more elaborate the higher the cost. Skill, time, attention to detail are so very important. So why do couples say well I can get one for £200. Indeed you probably can - from the high street!! Wedding cakes are bespoke and handmade and are priced accordingly. Be honest with a supplier and tell them all the information they need to give you what you want this includes budget.