Choosing a Wedding Cake: Prices, Flavours and Popular Alternatives

Cutting the wedding cake is one of the most photographed moments of the day. But between dream image and order, there are quite a few choices to make. Here's what you need to know.

What does a wedding cake cost?

Expect €4.50 to €8 per person at a specialised pastry chef. A cake for 80 guests quickly costs €400 to €650. The price depends on the number of tiers, the finish (fondant is more labour-intensive than buttercream) and decorations such as fresh flowers or sugar work.

Saving tip: choose a smaller show cake for the cutting moment and have a simple sheet cake in the same flavour cut in the kitchen. Nobody will notice.

The most popular styles

• Naked cake – with no or minimal cream on the outside, rustic and fresh
• Semi-naked – a thin layer of cream, the "dressed" version of the naked cake
• Drip cake – with dripping chocolate or caramel, playful and photogenic
• Classic fondant – sleek white and timeless, the most labour-intensive
• Vintage / Lambeth – exuberant piping in retro style, the trend of recent years

How to choose the baker

Plan a tasting with two or three bakers — most offer a tasting box or session for €25 to €50, often deducted from your order. Order at least three months in advance and ask about delivery and assembly on location: you don't want to transport a three-tier cake yourself.

Popular alternatives

Not cake people? These alternatives are just as festive:

1. Sweet table with assorted pastries, macarons and mini cheesecakes
2. Donut wall or croquembouche as an eye-catcher
3. Cheese wedding cake — wheels of real cheese stacked like a cake, perfect for the reception
4. Dessert buffet by the caterer, presented as the "cake moment"
5. Ice cream cart at a summer wedding

Practical tips

• Cut the cake early in the evening: after 10 pm, nobody wants pastry anymore
• Is the cake outside? Avoid fondant and cream in full sun
• Freeze the top tier for your first anniversary — a tradition that tastes surprisingly good