For many couples, the wedding cake can easily be considered the centerpiece of the party — oftentimes a looming, multiple-tiered number parked ceremoniously in the middle of a sturdy table to support its bulk.
With lacy, intricate pipework or a rustic “raw edge” adorned with flowers or sugar art, the best wedding cakes make an impression on your guests and are worthy of their own photoshoot. But how do you choose the best wedding cake? And is cake tasting free?
In this article, we will answer frequently asked questions about finding the best wedding cake for your celebration, so you know what to expect when it comes time to make this big decision!
How Does Cake Catering Work?
There are a couple of factors that go into this; first, you need to decide if you will be ordering the cake and transporting it yourself to the facility or if you will have your professional baker deliver the confection and offer cake-cutting service.
If you plan on serving up the cake yourself or delegating the process to one of your friends or family members, you can save some money here — though it does not look as professional nor go as smoothly as if you hire a cake catering service. But what is cake catering at a wedding?
Sometimes referred to as a “cake-cutting fee” or a “cakeage fee,” this is an extra cost associated with cutting, plating and serving the cake, generally as the result of a staffed catering service from the bakery. Benefits include the experience of the staff from the bakery, presentation, plating and even slices — though it does cost more money, at around $1.50 per person.
However, it is always possible to sidestep this fee by cutting the cake yourself. But the $1.50-per-person fee is generally required by venues that like to provide their own baking service when the couple wants to bring a cake from an external bakery.
Is Cake Tasting Free?
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Some local bakeries won’t charge a thing, while others might charge a minimum of $25, while extremely high-end bakeries may charge a significant fee. This is because the larger bakeries have to make your wedding cake to order, whereas smaller bakeries might be able to serve you the cake they already have prepared.
If you are unsure about how much it would cost to sample a bakery’s cakes, call in advance and ask them what their rates are and what you can expect from the experience. Most cake tastings last between 45 minutes to an hour and oftentimes, they will ask you to pick a few flavor combinations in advance in terms of the frosting and actual cake so they can offer you an array of options at your tasting.
How Many People Can I Bring to a Cake Tasting?
Again, the answer to this question varies from bakery to bakery and some may be willing to accommodate more people for an additional fee. However, typically smaller bakeries try to limit the number of cake-tasting participants to four people — so generally, the wedding couple and two of their most trusted confidants!
How Much is Cake Catering for a Wedding?
The total cost associated with buying a wedding cake for your big day depends on a number of factors, including:
- Ingredients and flavor, including the type of frosting
- Size of cake
- Amount of time required
- Ornateness of decoration
- Customized appearance or touches
- Delivery fee
- Rentable cake toppers
- Optional cakeage fee
For reference, the average wedding cake costs about $350 — though some couples spend over $1,000 on their cake! If we factor in the average wedding size of about 150 people, the total cost for the wedding cake in this example would be $575 or 350 + (150 x $1.5). Remember, if you cut the cake yourself, you can count on paying about $350 for a wedding cake, plus any associated delivery fees — unless you pick it up yourself!
Also read:
How Much is Cupcake Catering for a Wedding?
For those who want to go a little less traditional with their wedding cake, there is always the option of cupcakes! These tend to cost $2 to $4 per person at the wedding — and they have the added benefit of not requiring catering staff or a cakeage fee.
For reference, the cost of cupcakes at a wedding of 150 people will cost between $300 and $600. Depending on your preferences for ingredients, flavors and ornateness of design, the two different approaches to the sweet accents of your wedding can be of a comparable price point.
How to Choose the Best Cake for a Wedding
It can feel like a lot of pressure when it comes to choosing the right wedding cake for your celebration, especially if you start worrying too much about what other people think of your preferred flavor combination or presentation.
To choose a wedding cake, it’s important to remember that the first people who have to like it are you and your partner — then comes everyone else. Here are the primary things to consider when choosing the best wedding cake:
Time of year
What time of year is your wedding? For example, spring might ask for delicate flavors like vanilla bean or rose cake adorned with real flowers. Summer could harken to the abundance with real fruit puree between the layers, such as the sweet, deep flavor of wild blackberries in August or the juicy sweetness of ripe peaches.
Wintertime wedding cakes are perfect for heavier flavors, such as mascarpone frosting with fresh figs. Consider using seasonal ingredients for your wedding cake and, if in doubt, ask your baker if anything will be particularly abundant (and therefore lower in cost).
Allergies or food intolerances
Once you’ve picked what you and your lover want in a wedding cake, it’s time to consider everyone else. Is anyone dairy-free in your group? Gluten-free? Egg-free? Nut-free? You can always ALSO offer cupcakes or smaller cakes that cater to an array of different dietary concerns.
Flavors significant to you and your partner
When it comes to choosing the right flavor of cake, it is best if it is a combined effort. Which of your favorite flavors play well together? Maybe one of you is adamant about cream cheese frosting — so run with it. Cream cheese frosting can compliment many flavors of cake, from carrot cake, chocolate, red velvet or even lemon cake. Work together to come up with a cake that makes both of you salivate!
Rustic and bare or traditional and ornate
Decide on the level of décor you want to adorn your cake. Maybe you are satisfied with a very sweet, simple and elegant look — or maybe you want something elaborate and playful that describes how the two of you first met. Whatever you decide, be sure to add enough room in your budget to accommodate flavor, number of guests and design.
Visit multiple bakeries to sample more than one style of cake construction:
Don’t just stop at one bakery and consider the job done! It’s best to sample a few different bake shops so you can taste for yourself the quality and deliciousness of each. This should help you simplify your decision. Don’t forget to ask if they do gluten-free or allergen-sensitive cupcakes to go along with the wedding cake as well!
Everything you need to know about cake tasting
Planning a wedding can be hectic and we’re determined to help you enjoy the best parts. After all, it’s not every day you get to enjoy exotic cake flavors from some of the best bakers in town. So here are a few basics of the cake-tasting bit of your wedding planning that could help you breeze through this part;
1. Budget matters
Like with everything weddings, how much money you plan to spend on your wedding cake should help narrow down your options and save you a ton of time. We understand wanting to have a variety of bakeries to choose from, however, we find that there’s no point in hitting high-end bakeries if your budget doesn’t allow for the splurge. Don’t forget the extra charges you will incur paying for these tastings. Instead, establish your budget and narrow down your options based on that.
2. Do your research
There’s never been an easier time to access information than now! We always recommend doing a lot of research before considering a bakery for your wedding. Does their aesthetic fit what you have in mind? What about their cake catering service? Are their cakes any good? All these are questions you should answer before booking a cake tasting to ensure you’re looking at bakers you’re likely to work with,
3. Always book with your baker
Yeah yeah, everyone seems to have jumped on the appointments bandwagon but there’s a good enough reason for this. If you’re simply a walk-in client, you’re going to have to make do with what’s already in the store. However, if you went the extra mile to book, you give the baker enough time to prepare samples within your budget and you are likely to get more options this way.
4. Feel free to bring your boards.
While a lot of emphasis is placed on devouring different yummy treats, this is also a good time to have a little cake consultation. Bringing your inspo boards is a good way to share your vision and establish whether your baker can match this. In the same breath, don’t hesitate to look through the previous wedding cake designs done by your baker as you could find a lot more inspo to create a masterpiece unique to your wedding.
5. The More the Merrier
There’s plenty of flavor to go around and it might be a great idea to bring a trusted friend to help you narrow down your options. All that explosion of flavor can get confusing even for more seasoned taste buds.
6. Drink water in between each cake
You’ll be trying a variety of cakes in one sitting and we recommend cleansing your palate with a sip of water to wash down the previous flavor so you can be able to appreciate the next one.
7. Don’t schedule multiple tastings in a day.
Cake tasting takes anywhere from 1-2 hours and scheduling more than one day can make you feel rushed. Besides that, you may be unable to appreciate the cakes at the next bakery after spending an entire two hours indulging in tasty treats.
8. To eat or not to eat?
While we don’t recommend eating an entire meal, we also don’t suggest going hungry. We found that the perfect balance is in snacking lightly before a tasting. This way you are not swayed by the excitement of finally eating something or the disinterest of being too full.
9. Try everything separately
On most occasions, your baker will provide cake, filling, and frosting separately to give you the chance to try the different combinations to find what works. Take your time going through the different combinations until you strike that eureka moment.
10. It’s okay to bring a notebook
You’ll have a lot of flavors exploding in your mouth and it’s natural to get confused somewhere along the way. You can bring a notebook and jot down some of your favorite combos and you can always circle back to them.
11. Listen to your baker
Your baker has tons of experience in the game and they’re an important part of putting together the perfect cake. It’s okay to listen to some outside counsel to find something that works for you. Who knows, they may end up suggesting a twist you would never have thought of.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a Cake Caterer Make Whatever Cake I Want?
This depends on your demands, the flexibility of your baker and the obscurity of your wishes. However, every baker is different — so if there’s a local in town you know you admire, contact them well in advance of the wedding day and ask if they would be able to accommodate your specific desires!
What Is the Tradition of Freezing Wedding Cake?
Since the 19th century, many American couples have been freezing the top tier of their wedding cake for their one-year anniversary with the intent to take it out at the one-year mark and share. In fact, as of 2019, nearly 50% of couples were still practicing this tradition (via New York Times). However, most culinary experts agree that freezing cake for a year renders it unenjoyable and all but inedible.
In fact, the absolute uppermost limit of freezing cake and being able to resuscitate it and actively enjoy eating it is about four months (via Washington Post). So, while the thinking behind this tradition is sweet enough to eat, unless you want your year-old-freezer-burned cake to end up in the trash, it’s best to share your wedding cake with your hunny before four months have passed.
How Long Does Cake Keep in the Freezer?
The maximum you can leave the cake in the freezer is 4-5 months, though it is generally best when consumed within six weeks. Due to the recent acknowledgment that wedding cake kept in the freezer for a year generally doesn’t taste actively delicious, many bakeries will provide the bride and groom with a complementary one-year-anniversary cake — so be sure to ask your chosen bakery if this is something they provide!
What Do I Do with Leftover Wedding Cake?
More cake than you know what to do with? Box up the remainders and send slices home with your friends and family so they have a delicious morsel by which to remember the event. Alternatively, ask your local food bank, homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter if they accept cake donations.
While it might not be the most practical gift, a free cake can help lift the spirits of those fighting hard battles and can help provide a much-needed element of humanity in dehumanizing circumstances.
Of course, the best cure is prevention — so chat with your baker well in advance to ensure you have a good amount of cake for your number of RSVPs. It’s always better to have a little too much cake rather than not enough — but you don’t want to end up with an entire untouched tier, for example.
Do Bride and Groom Feed Each Other Cake Still?
You may have seen iconic pictures of a prior bride and groom crossing arms to feed each other a mouthful of cake — but does this act still happen in current weddings? In any sort of traditional wedding, most frequently, the answer to this question is yes; most happy couples share cake together in front of their group of loved ones and celebrants.
Where Did the History of Feeding Each Other Cake at a Wedding Come From?
You may have seen newlyweds tenderly lifting morsels of cake into their lovers’ mouths at the end of the meal — or conversely, smooshing frosted cake all over their partner’s face. But where does this tradition originate? According to Martha Stewart, this tradition comes from ancient Roman times, during which brides would have barley cakes smashed on their heads as a symbol of fertility and “male dominance.” Today, couples typically feed each other and take turns smashing cake onto each other’s faces — so there might be a different interpretation in the modern era.
Cake Tasting, Traditions and Savoring Wedding Cakes for Months to Come
Who knew there was so much to consider when it comes to picking a wedding cake — from comparing prices, services and flavors to planning multiple cake tastings with three of your closest people. The process of choosing a cake can become surprisingly complicated if you are not asking the right questions. If you have any doubts at all about how much cake is the right amount, what sort of flavors will go best with your wedding theme or if you need to spring for a cakeage fee, be sure to have conversations both with your wedding planner as well as your local baker for best results.
And don’t forget; the sweetness doesn’t have to end as the last of the cake gets sent home with happy guests — save that top-tier slice for you and your hunny to enjoy four months later or ask your bakery if they make complimentary anniversary cakes.
Serena & Dominic are a married couple and parents to 3 wonderful children. They plan weddings, run multiple small businesses, and curate wedding events.
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