The speeches have concluded, the music starts, and everyone leaves their seats to feast on the plethora of platters that you took five loans out to afford. Then, dessert comes and it’s time to cut the cake. The cake you spent hundreds of dollars on is now going to be devoured by uncle Steve’s five toddlers and aunt Sharon’s seven cousins who came uninvited. Nobody even bothered saying thanks.
Now you’re sitting and thinking, was it really all necessary? Of course not! You could do with a much more budget-friendly cake while still keeping your guests satisfied and adhering to the traditional ceremony of cutting it. By saving money on your wedding cake, you’re left with more money to put towards other aspects of your wedding such as the wedding venue, or simply more money to save for the future. After all, this is likely the time when you’ll need every cent you can get.
Tone Down On The Flowers
While tasty icing flowers may look great, each piece takes between 30 minutes and two hours to be completely created and implemented on your cake. Naturally, this will result in a hefty labor cost, especially if you decide to have a whole bouquet of the things stuck to your cake. Instead, you could use fresh, real flowers, provided they’re properly clean.
Of course, you could go the full frugal route and simply use fake flowers, but they likely won’t look particularly flattering. Another alternative would be to use simple sugar flower designs such as hydrangeas and calla lilies. More mainstream options such as roses and peonies aren’t nearly as affordable.
Skimp on Specialists
Chances are there’s a boutique or local baker nearby that can make your cake for even cheaper than a full-blown specialist would. Sure, it won’t look as intricate and extravagant, but the point is to save money. The catering service at your wedding location might also have some affordable options.
As a matter of fact, some caterers will even charge a fee if you decide to use another baker. Scummy, but that’s business. Take a look at allcakeprices.com to get a better idea of the options you have for each type of baker.
Watch Where You’re Putting It
Many couples often overlook other aspects of the cake, such as the stand, and end up wasting tons of money purchasing an unnecessarily extravagant one. After all, who’s going to look at the stand? Many bakers provide decorated stands and boards free of charge, so purchasing a whole tower is completely unnecessary.
If your cake is more on the bland side and you want to spruce it up with some nice accessories, consider adding some candles, linen, and repurposed bridesmaid boutiques to keep it looking as great as the rest of your wedding setup. There are numerous guides available that can help you decide which stand will work best.
Conclusion
If you’re skeptical as to how your frugal cake will be received, keep in mind that’s it’s just a tiny part of a huge event where most attendees will likely be so hopped up on emotions (or alcohol) that they seriously won’t even remember your cake.
