Wedding Cake Prices - How Much Do They Cost?
If you’ve been looking into wedding cakes already, you’ll know that the price can vary greatly.
Wedding cake prices depend on a number of factors. From how many tiers it has to the complexity of the design. We’ll go into these factors below.
But what’s true is that a wedding cake is one of the main centrepieces of your special day. A cake is both symbolic, beautiful and a piece of art - that’s how we treat our wedding cakes at least.
This article will take a look at wedding cake costs, average prices and factors. Whilst there's a wide range of prices, this guide will help you understand what to expect when shopping for your perfect wedding cake, so you can weigh up expectations with your budget.
Average cost of a wedding cake
According to Bridebook’s wedding budget breakdown, the average cost of a wedding cake in the UK ranges from £400 to £500.
Of course, the price you'll pay can vary significantly depending on your specific requirements and preferences.
Traditionally, wedding cakes have three tiers, but this is by no means a strict rule. The number of tiers you choose should depend on your personal preferences and the number of guests you plan to serve.
For a three-tier wedding cake serving 100 guests, you can expect to find prices from £600. This lines up with our prices at Palms Bakery.
If you have a smaller budget, a simple two-tier wedding cake with minimal decoration can be an affordable option. These can be available from around £200. Check out these small cakes too.
On the other hand, a four-tier cake with different flavours and a complex design will cost much more than the average. Prices for a four-tier cake will start from around £700 and can touch on the four-figure mark.
The below from Bridebook provides a rough guide to wedding cake prices based on the number of tiers and sophistication:
2 Tiers
Affordable - £250 - £300
Moderate - £350 - £400
Luxury - £650 - £750
3 Tiers
Affordable - £300 - £350
Moderate - £450 - £500
Luxury - £850 - £900
4 Tiers
Affordable - £400 - £450
Moderate - £550 - £600
Luxury - £950 - £1,000
Factors involved in wedding cake price
Size & tiers - Large cakes require more ingredients, time and usually more design complexity. This all increases the price. A higher number of tiers means a higher price.
Design - The cake's design has the most significant impact on price. Simple iced or buttercream cakes are more cost-effective. Adding floral elements, other edibles and hand-crafted details will increase the price due to the time and skill required.
Bakery - The bakery's reputation, location and cake maker's experience can affect the price. A high-street storefront with a professional team will charge more than an amateur baker working from home.
Ingredients & flavours - The quality and type of ingredients used impact the price. Basic sponge cakes are more affordable than luxurious flavours like triple chocolate or alcohol-soaked fruit cake. Take a look at the best wedding cake flavours post here.
Stand - You may have to pay extra to loan out a cake stand.
Delivery and setup fees - Sometimes delivery and set-up are included in the price but for the majority of bakeries and cake artists, including Palms, they are an added extra. Delivery fees can range from £20-£200 depending on complexity and how far away the venue is, but collection should be free.
How much should you pay for a wedding cake?
When it comes to determining how much you should pay for a wedding cake, it ultimately depends on your budget and the role the cake will play in your celebration.
Wedding cakes from independent bakers are custom-made pieces of art that showcase the creator's skill and expertise, often perfected over years of practice. They aren’t mass-produced supermarket cakes.
Whilst some may view wedding cakes as expensive, it's essential to consider the many factors involved in their creation. Wedding cakes are typically larger and more elaborate in design than traditional cakes, serving a greater number of people and requiring more time and resources to prepare.
A skilled wedding cake designer invests hours and hours into communicating with clients, understanding their personal style, sketching unique designs, arranging cake tastings, baking, constructing the cake, decorating, coordination and setup. The entire process, from initial contact to final delivery, can accumulate to around 1-2 days.
For a truly bespoke wedding cake designed and baked to your exact requirements, you should expect to pay a little more for the time invested into making this perfect. Take a look at our vintage wedding cake trends blog for inspo.
Got you in the wedding mood?
If that’s inspired you, take a look at our wedding cake ideas gallery. We’ve split our previous bakes into different categories to make it easier for you to digest all for the designs.
You can also gain more inspiration from the Palms Bakery Pinterest page.
Make sure you take a look at our wedding cake page to see our full process and how we’ll work together to create your ideal centrepiece. You can get in touch from here too if you’d like to know more.
