These days, wedding cake can typically cost between $1.00 and $6.00 per slice and can go as high as $15.00 per slice. At an average cost of $3.00 per serving for 200 guests that adds up to $600.00! That can make the wedding cake an important part of the wedding budget. That’s why brides look for cost-saving options.

But why do wedding cakes cost so much? First, just the pans in which the cakes are baked are expensive. They are larger and have to be top quality. Then there are the ingredients. You can’t skimp on a premium cake. Top-of-the-line butter, eggs, cake flower, and whipped cream are required. Commercial food coloring is needed to get the deep, rich colors you are looking for. So, of course, not only does it have to taste good, it has to look even better. It takes a lot of time and practice to learn how to make all those decorations and not only make them look great, but they have to taste great too.

So how do you get a wedding cake that looks and tastes great without breaking the bank? One obvious way, since the average cost per slice of cake is $3.00, is to invite fewer people so the cake doesn’t have to be as big. However, that is not always the preferred option. There are several other ideas that might work better for you.

• Check with a local baker or supplier first. Every now and then you can find a good deal. Bakers who are not cake specialists generally cost less, and home bakers don’t have the overhead that a commercial bakery does. Find out by asking friends and family if they know anyone.
• Check out the bakery at your local supermarket. Supermarkets sometimes offer exceptional cakes for much less than a traditional bakery. Check prices on veneer cakes or non-wedding cakes as an option. As with anything related to a wedding, just the word “wedding” can drive the price up. Don’t be afraid to ask for a price discount.
• If you have a culinary school near you, see what their prices might be. If students are learning cake decorating as part of their curriculum, you may be able to get a reduced price.

Another way to reduce the cost of your wedding cake is to keep things as simple as possible. You can choose a very basic cake and make simple decorations yourself. Check the price of the decorations on ebay. They have great cake toppers and other decorations that you could put on yourself and still get a very professional look.