Anyone not having a wedding cake?

Question

We're on a tight budget, and the cake isnt a huge deal for us. Yes, we'd like the 'cutting the cake' picture, but we'd rather have the few extra people we want there and a lower wedding cost than get a really expensive cake. The MOST we'll pay for one is $300. Did anyone not have a wedding cake? Did you or anyone else really care?

Answer 1

we are on a tight budget too. We are having a very very small elegant wedding cake for cutting ceremony but then a few big sheet cakes for serving. (those do not have to be on display :))

also someone already told you to do cupcakes. I would say that if you do cupcakes you should get those cupcake trees at a craft store usually they run like twenty bucks. But cute little cupcakes in the cupcake trees could double as a table centerpiece or decoration for the buffet tables.

Answer 2

I would think that you could still do a wedding cake for 300. Mine is that price for 100 servings and it is chocolate with real strawberries in the middle and chocolate shavings as a decoration. I called and tasted from the most expensive to the cheapest in our area but this was the middle range and best tasting. I recently went to a wedding where they bought cakes from Cosco and put them on a cake display stand and it was great and she paid 80 for 8 different cakes.

Answer 3

If you don't want to spend the money on a fancy wedding cake, you could just do a sheet cake instead (maybe with a separate, small decorated round for you and your fiance to cut for the photos). Sheet cake is pretty inexpensive, especially from a grocery store, and if you have it served to your guests already cut (have it kept in the kitchen and served out on individual plates after you cut your own cake), no one will be able to tell what it is.

I love dessert so I could never go without a cake - not because it's tradition, but because I want to eat it!

Answer 4

We are doing cup cakes which were a lot cheaper than buying a full cake.

I've made a "fake cake" out of round stififom (spelling?) pieces and fondent, it is 4 tiered. The top tier is an actual small cake for the purpose of "cutting the cake" photos.

Answer 5

I couldn't imagine not having a cake. But if it's right for you then do it. But heres in idea: you can make a cake out of strofoam, but serve sheetcake to your guests, it saves lots of money....

Answer 6

We had a little one, mostly for the "cutting" purposes.  My brother did about the same thing, but since they had a much larger wedding, some of the family made a bunch of cupcakes and arranged them in tiers.  They said that made the "cake" really budget friendly.

Answer 7

I'm having a wedding cake, but there's no rule that says you have to have one.

You could use some of the ideas above:  The phony cake where you serve sheet cake (fairly common, I believe), or just do it as a sheet cake.  There's also the less expensive cupcake tower like someone said.

Or you could do something totally different like have chocolate mousse or ice cream instead and feed each other the first spoonful.

Answer 8

I'm having a big 'ol sheetcake from the local grocery store that's going to serve about 100 people and it's going to have yummy whipped cream icing. Cost will be about $75. I looooove cake but I honestly don't care if it's a big old fancy 4 tiered cake or if it's a big slab of yummy sugary goodness. :)

Oh, and I'm not hiding the sheet cake. Everyone at weddings know that they're eating sheet cake anyway, so why pretend?

Answer 9

Our caterer is including a sweet table in the price. Not that anyone eats the wedding cake. I got overruled on having a cake, we're doing a chocolate cake (as in chocolate molded into three cylindrical tiers) filled with truffles and other chocolates from the local fine chocolatier.

Answer 10

I would just get a sheet cake and a double layer cake for the cutting.  You can get this right at your local grocery bakery.  Yes, they do them.  A double layer cake and a sheet cake probably would cost you maybe $60.

Answer 11

Have a small cake just for picture cutting, and either cupcakes or a simple sheet cake (from a local grocery store & behind the scene) for actual cutting/serving.....good luck.

Answer 12

There's all sorts of ways around the traditional cake & it's ridiculous expense. I've seen towers of krispy kreme donuts. Or you could do a sheet cake just well decorated. Or even a cupcake tower. It's your wedding! be creative.

Answer 13

We didn't want the wedding cake on show with the cutting cake posed pics! Instead, we had Ukrainian wedding breads on display, and for dessert, we served a variety of cheesecakes and dainties.

Answer 14

We have a cake but only the top tier is real (for cutting, we're dividing the rest amongst the flower girls and ring barers) and the rest of styrofoam decorated as if it was a real cake.

W have dessert served and a late night sweet table so it's redundant to serve our cake too.

The cost difference was mindblowing!!!

Answer 15

Go to the local grocery store with a bakery department.  They usually have very yummy cakes and the decorators are pretty talented as long as you don't want an over-the-top design.

Our wedding cake fed 150 people and only cost $100 dollars.  It was a real "wedding cake", not a sheet cake and many actually commented that it was the best they've tasted since the stores make them fresh dailiy whereas some wedding bakers do it weeks before.  You can also call a local college and try to get an aspiring pastry chef to make one.

As long as you offer an alternative desert it should be fine.  Of course some will think it odd you don't have a cake but not enough that they'll make a big deal out of it.