Find a Wedding Baker near you
The average rating for Bark Wedding Bakers is 4.88, based on 331,196 reviews
5/5
based on 331,196 reviews
Looking to top off your wedding with the perfect cake? Read our handy guide to find out how much you’ll pay (on average) for a wedding cake.
A wedding cake is served at a wedding reception after the main meal has been served. Wedding cakes are a centerpiece at the reception and are sliced by the couple as part of the festivities of the day. Wedding cakes were originally served as a symbol of good luck.
A wedding cake tends to be much more extravagant than a standard cake. Traditionally, a wedding cake has multiple tiers and is made from a variety of ingredients. Whereas wedding cakes are traditionally made from fruit with marzipan icing to finish, nowadays it’s possible to get a wedding cake in pretty much any flavor and style you like. For example, a sponge cake is made of several layers, and each layer can have its own color and flavoring.
Ultimately, a wedding cake should embody the personalities of the couple. It is there to be enjoyed as the guests raise a toast, and so it should help create that sense of celebration.
Wedding cakes can be as simple or decadent as you like. But remember, the more extravagant you go, the more you’ll pay. To give you a rough idea, here’s how much wedding cakes cost on average in the US:
| Average cost | $300 - $400 |
| Minimum cost | $80 |
| Maximum cost | $1,800 |
Wedding cakes are available in a wide range of flavors, sizes, and styles. Factoring in the theme of your wedding can help narrow down what type of cake to opt for. Here are some of the key factors influencing the overall price:
Type of wedding cake
Cake size
Cake design
Cake mixture
Cake finish
Location
| Type of wedding cake | Highest average price | Lowest average price |
| Single tier | $230 | $80 |
| Two-tier | $400 | $130 |
| Three-tier | $600 | $240 |
| Four-tier | $800 | $450 |
| Five-tier | $1,800 | $900 |
If you’re on a budget then a single-tier wedding cake will offer plenty of value, starting at just $80. This is also ideal for smaller weddings as you won’t have as many guests to feed either. On the other end of the scale, five-tier wedding cakes can cost as much as $1,800. The price could be higher if the cake is adorned with sugar flowers and other luxurious touches.
The overall price of your wedding cake will reflect its size, complexity, and finish. However, as every company will have a particular price structure the costs will vary.
The size of your wedding cake should reflect the number of guests attending. Taking 100 guests as an example, you would need a cake with at least 3 to 4 tiers. Your wedding cake maker is going to need this information beforehand so that they can advise on the type of size you’d need as a minimum. If you want your wedding cake to have multiple tiers, bear in mind you’ll pay more for a more complex design compared to something more simple.
When planning your wedding cake the design should be the most enjoyable aspect, as it’s where you can express your personality and create something unique! You also have the option to keep things simple, or even incorporate the overall theme of your wedding. Intricate wedding cake design will be more expensive, not least because of the extra time it would take someone to create it. This would include elements such as extensive fondant fabric effects, piping designs, or similar hand-painted details.
Thinking about the base of your cake is also important. Traditional wedding cakes use fruit which may incur an additional cost compared with other mixture types. A sponge cake is also a great option as it’s easy to add in whatever flavoring you like!
From marzipan to royal icing, buttercream to ganache, there are many options for your wedding cake! It’s worth spending some time thinking about the right finish, as it will make a huge difference to the cake’s final look as well as its price. Similar to the cake design, the more intricate finishes will be more expensive to complete. A recent trend is ‘naked’ wedding cakes which use barely any icing at all on the outside of the cake.
As your wedding cake maker will be responsible for delivering and setting up your cake at the venue, keep in mind the location. Opting for a bakery located further afield could end up costing you an arm and a leg compared to somewhere more local. Travel and setup costs should be included in their quote, so double-check this with them before you book.
The choice of whether to have a wedding cake made is ultimately up to you. However, for most couples, a wedding cake is the showstopper of the reception. Wedding cakes add a touch of tradition to a ceremony, and are a real crowd-pleaser, no matter what type you go for! Even if you’re not a fan of traditional wedding cakes, these days there is something to suit all tastes. Plus, wedding cakes are delicious!
From the latest trends to a traditional finish, find the wedding cake of your dreams with a skilled local baker on Bark.
The average rating for Bark Wedding Bakers is 4.88, based on 331,196 reviews
5/5
based on 331,196 reviews
