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Writer's picturePatty DiFondi

Why Do Wedding Cakes Cost More Than Other Types of Event Cakes?


One of the biggest issues couples may have when seeking out a wedding cake for their special day is the value for their money. I really want to touch on this topic because there is so much misinformation about the cost of a wedding cake written by people who are not baking the cakes, such as bridal registry websites. For this blog, I read several articles around the internet about the cost of a wedding cake; and as an experienced baker in the industry, I would like to add my input and help clarify what your money is going towards.



Wedding cakes are beautiful masterpieces, and it can take a long time to find the perfect design. If you are planning a wedding, you may notice that wedding cakes are much more expensive than, say, a birthday cake or baby shower cake.


So why are wedding cakes so expensive?


A baker spends much more time creating a wedding cake than any other event cake. The largest portions of the cost of a wedding cake goes to skills and time. When you hire a baker for this very special event in your life, there is a lot of pressure to find someone who can bring your dream to fruition. There are many good bakers and there are many bakers out there who will (gulp) “give it a try”. If you hire the latter of the two, you may end up with a disaster or a disappointment, looking nothing like your dream cake. You don’t want that. Hiring a skilled baker and designer will assure that your cake is in good hands, and doing so obviously costs more.


Let’s break down some the items that add into the price of a wedding cake.


  • Starting out with that initial contact, then a few good emails or phone calls with each other to see if your wedding date is open, if the baker is within your budget and to get the design consultation and cake tasting scheduled.


  • Time involved in sketching out a blueprint of the said cake, writing up a quote based on the results of the discussion at the consultation, emails/phone calls to the client regarding flavor choices, thoughts on sketch, etc. Keep in mind that writing up the quote may take several hours as all things involved in the cake needs to be accounted for.


  • Once cake quote is accepted by the client, invoice is created, payment for deposit is received and then the real work begins.


  • Even if the wedding date is six months away, there is work to be done in the beginning. I start with setting up a file for my client in my CRM (customer relationship management system) where all communication and work done/to-be done is recorded.


  • Early on, way before making the cake and cake decorations, I write a list of EVERYTHING I will need to make and deliver the cake. I take this list and see what I need to purchase ahead of time, such as special cake stands or cake structures, certain sized edible pearls, any cake molds or specialty items specific to this cake itself. Many items I do have in stock however there are always cake design specific items that need to be ordered/purchased. This is where the deposit comes in. It not only secures that date as yours, it’s available money to purchase cake items that are needed ahead of time.


  • Many wedding cakes are decorated with flowers. The trend is going away from placing real, fresh flowers on cakes to sugar flowers and wafer paper flowers. They are so much more food safe. With real flowers, you don’t know what pesticides were used or if those particular flowers are non-toxic. It’s best to stick to handcrafted flowers. I go into great detail on choosing flowers in another blog post in which you can find here. Handcrafted flowers take time to make, especially if there are a lot of flowers. I make my flowers far in advance so they are ready when I start making the wedding cake.


  • Handcrafted cake toppers – Many times cake design would require a gumpaste/fondant cake topper and/or other cake decorations. I often make these ahead of time as with the flowers. It creates a less stressful environment as the wedding day gets closer and all of the decorations are made that can be made ahead of time. Rest assure, these completed decorations are stored in a food safe, air-tight box for protection.


  • In my wedding cake business specifically, I offer a complimentary personalized cake cutting server set and personalized cake topper. I order these items well ahead of time as they are engraved with the couple's information.


  • In between the time to start cake production and the date is secured, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes activity going on. This is the time that I reach out to the other vendors that the couple hired and set up a time to either speak over the phone or meet in person. Most importantly, this means the wedding planner, venue, photographer and florist. I’m very big on communication and love meeting with the other vendors who have a part in making your special day perfect. It is at these meetings that I coordinate timelines, photos of the cake, etc. I will visit the venue to get an idea of where the reception is held and where the cake table will be located. It is then that I can see if there are any obstacles to delivering the cake. Cakes are very heavy, especially fully decorated, so I typically will place my securely boxed wedding cake on a rolling cart to be wheeled into the venue. I can also find out ahead of time if there will be steps to climb to carry the cake up or if there is an elevator in case the event room is on a second or third floor.


  • Now cake production begins. Inventory pantry items, then a shopping list is created. Shopping is done for the groceries and the materials are ordered for delivery. Remember, the larger the cake, the more batches of cake batter and icing are made. A 3-tiered wedding cake could possibly take ten batches of cake batter depending on the size of your cake tiers. That’s A LOT of ingredients!


  • When the cake baking and icing are done, then comes the decorating. This is where a good portion of the cake cost goes to. Your baker’s skill level comes in to play to be able to turn cake tiers into a cake art masterpiece. The more intricate and artistic the details on the cake, the more time it will take to create; therefore, the more the cake cost. At this point, you are paying for a professional skill, artistic talent and experience. The good ole saying, “You get what you pay for” is never so true as for this moment.


  • Now that your cake is made and ready for delivery, communicating back and forth with the venue is important at this time to assure a stress-free delivery. Cake tiers are either stacked or packaged up in separate boxes along with any topper that would need to be placed on at the venue. A cake emergency repair kit is always packaged up and taken to the venue for any mishaps that may happen. Then the cake is carefully arranged in the vehicle and off for delivery. Delivery and set up time is part of the cake cost because it is time away from the baker’s business and is a billable time. Depending on the complexity of the decorations and/or the amount, set up could take an hour to an hour and a half.


  • At this time, the baker quietly leaves the venue and proceeds to head back to her business. Before closing out the wedding cake client file, there is follow up that needs to be done. I typically follow up with not only the bride, but also with the photographer, venue and wedding planner to tie up any loose ends.



As you read through this list, you will see that there is a lot more attention that is given to wedding cakes as far as the design, time, skill and communication. This is typically what goes into pricing for my cakes, however other bakeries may do things differently. I see my wedding cake clients more than just a cake order, I give my clients a unique journey to their wedding day because I want their day to feel special in every way.


At Design My Cake By Patty, I create a luxury experience for my couples which include several exquisite gratuities. Choosing me as your wedding cake designer and baker means you value high quality and are looking for a unique and tasteful experience. Inquire today to schedule your design consult and cake tasting >>> Inquiry Form.


Have any questions? Feel free to reach out to me at hello.designmycake@gmail.com or visiting my FAQ page.


Have a great day!


Patty

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