Wedding Cake Prices

The wedding cake is a big part of the reception, let alone the wedding itself. That said, it's always a good idea to know where you stand by finding out the average wedding cake prices and what you'll be expected to pay.

First and foremost, you should realize that most bakeries charge per "slice" rather than per "cake. This system will allow you to easily determine how much the whole cake is going to cost, not to mention how much money you can spare for custom designs and cake icing.

Here is a Rundown of Wedding Cake Prices:

Simple Cake: A simply made cake with just a few decorations, cheap icing, and a basic design will cost about 1 to 2 dollars per slice. If it's a small wedding with only about 100 or so people, you can spend about $250 to $300 and get a elegant cake that'll please everyone.

Not-So-Simple Cake: A wedding cake that has multiple tiers, better icing, a nice design, and beautiful decorations will run about $4-7 per slice. If the guest list is long, the total cost will climb quite quickly: $5 per slice multiplied by 500 equals a massive $2500.

Complicated Cake: A 3 or 4 tier cake with the works -- tasty icing which won't bleed, elegant designs, fabulous decorations, etc. -- can cost anywhere from $8-12 PER slice. If you're on a budget, then this is pretty much out of the question. Then again, if it's a wedding of only about 50 people, you can spend $10 per slice ($500 total) and really dazzle your guests.

3 Easy Ways to Get Lower Wedding Cake Prices

1. Sacrifice some of the fancy-schmancy designs & decorations to get a lower cost per slice.

2. Choose a cheap, easy-to-manage icing like butter cream rather than fondant.

3. Use an online step-by-step guide to bake & design the cake yourself. Rather than paying dollars per slice with a private bakery, you'll pay just PENNIES!

Now you know exactly what to expect, as well as how to save, when it comes to wedding cakes & wedding cake prices.