How to Save Money on Your Wedding Cake

Every bride dreams of a beautiful, towering wedding cake composed of numerous layers of delectable cake covered in intricate scrolls of icing and chock full of candy flowers. At the very, very tippy top of that tower of sugar rests the little bride and groom. Right? Isn't that what every bride wants?

Well, maybe not. But even if you've never fancied that kind of idea, with all of the choices available to today's bride, it can be awfully tempting to go for that gorgeous, sparking creation when it comes time to order your special cake. Some businesses employ real artists to decorate their products and the final creation can be truly jaw-dropping. However, it's not always possible for today's bride to get that cake she's pining over simply because with such artistry usually comes a steeper price. How to get the same affect for less money?

One choice to ponder is the type of cake you're looking for. As a rule, buttercream icing is less expensive than rolled fondant (which is used to get that beautiful, smooth look) or marzipan, and as a rule is usually more delicious. Keep your filling simple, too hard-to-find or difficult to use fillings can boost your price as well.

Keep in mind that your cake size should, naturally, reflect the number of guests at your reception. In other words, don't spend more money than necessary for a large cake. If you still want to achieve the look of a tall cake, consider using pillars between the tiers to add height without adding more cake.

Instead of splurging on those gorgeous, hand-crafted gum paste or sugar flowers (which are very labor-intensive and therefore very costly), consider decorating the cake with real flowers. You can add a cascade of fresh orchids running down the side of the cake for far less money than if you had gone with candy flowers, and this can look just as lovely. One growing trend is to stuff the spaces between the tiers with flowers, literally stuff them full of blooms, and the affect is breathtaking.

Instead of splurging on scrolls of lacework or pretty pearls of icing dotting the surface, consider decorating around the cake. For example, if you have a multi-tiered cake with pillars, string fake pearls around the bases of the different layers, or strands of cut-glass beads to achieve a chandelier effect. Sprinkle flower petals on or around the cake. Decorate the cake table with candles, flowers, and oodles of puddled fabric or tulle. There are ways to make your cake look exquisite without shelling out hundreds of needless extra dollars.

There are many alternatives to the traditional wedding cake, too. If you have a friend or relative who makes beautiful cakes, see if they would be willing to concoct one for your special day as their gift to you. Some supermarkets have bakery sections which can create beautiful and delicious cakes for a fraction of the cost. Or, feel free to think outside the box. A tower of cupcakes is charming and can reflect the newly married couple's individuality. Some couples have even gone so far as to use towers of donuts or layers of cheesecake if that's your passion, go for it. This cake, just like the entire day, should reflect your personalities.

However, if you just HAVE to have that gorgeously decorated masterpiece sitting on your cake table, consider buying a much smaller cake for display and the cutting ceremony, then have the cake wheeled back to the kitchen for cutting. There you can have a sheet cake of the same flavor waiting which will also be cut and served to the guests. This way, everyone has cake, but you just saved a lot of money! If you're afraid someone may figure this out, make sure there is a well-laden sweets table along with the wedding cake, so even if you present the cake as an optional choice for dessert, you can rest assured that everyone's had a chance to indulge their sweet tooth.