Wedding Cake prices?

Question

How much should we expect to spend on a wedding cake with the following descriptions? (And yes, I know that this is a question for a bakery -- we aren't at that stage of planning yet, so I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect).

*Three tiers; 150 guests/slices.
*In each tier, four layers of white cake -- middle filling is marzipan and other two are raspberry preserves.
*Buttercream frosting. Sides rolled in toasted chopped almonds.

Anyone know how much I can expect to spend? Does the description above sound more or less expensive than another cake for the same number of people? Is there a "least expensive type" of cake?Know of any ways to cut costs?

Answer 1

Ok. I make special occasion cakes (only for friends) on the side of getting my BA in Psychology. Might as well use the degree in culinary arts for something right? But I am a home baker, and don't have access to things a huge bakery has, like 30 quart mixers and stuff, so my stuff would be more expensive than something from a bakery...

Anyway. My starting price (depending on how good of a friend you are) is 2.00+ a slice.
I tack on more money for whatever else fancy that you want. For example I made a cake that was kinda soaked(hard to explain) with Kahlua liqueur and added only the cost of the bottle of alcohol.

For instance:
4 layers of cake per tier is going to be twice as many as the normal 2- add $.25 per slice
1 layer of marzipan (which is really expensive to make, and a pain to work with)-add $.50 cents per slice
2 layers of raspberry (seeded or seedless?)- add $.25 per slice
Buttercream (European-Italian, Swiss or French, or American) I'm guessing American (for the others I'd start adding $$$ but European buttercreams taste much, much better than American-not all sickly sweet and have a nicer texture-honestly I'd take at hit to the bottom line for the sake of the flavor)-no addition
Toasted Almonds (relatively cheap compared to other wedding cake decorations) Honestly this part should really save you money-this is the most expensive (time consuming) part of the cake- $.50 per slice

Total per slice:$3.50 per slice
Times 150 guests
Equals: $525.00

Now if I were making this for someone I didn't know-and as a business venture-because this cake is barely over the cost of ingredients, I would charge anywhere from $5.00 to $7.00 a slice, depending on other specifics. So that price goes all the way up to $750/$1050.

Keep in mind that even a basic wedding cake takes about 15-20 man hours to make, unless they really don't put time and effort into it. I once did a favor for a friend and she paid me $50 bucks for working 25 hours on a wedding cake (It was a coconut/pecan flavored monstrosity covered in fondant). Talk about getting screwed over...

Here are my suggestions:
Skip the marzipan- it's not really meant as a filling, and it's not going to hold the layers together. Plus it's dry. And expensive.
Switch it to amaretto buttercream. Its just about the same flavor as marzipan, and cheaper.
Don't use American buttercream if you can avoid it. Seems like you're going for a more subtle flavor combination, and Italian or Swiss buttercreams would enhance this instead of cover it up with overwhelming sweetness. But don't take my word for it! Taste and decide!
Use seedless raspberry preserves, no one likes to pick seeds out in the middle of a dinner. And believe it or not, but bakers don't automatically use the seedless. It'll cost a little more, but I think it's worth it.
Have 3 layers of cake instead of 4. Layer it like this:
Top layer of cake
Layer of amaretto buttercream
Thin layer of raspberry preserves
Middle layer of cake
Layer of amaretto buttercream
Thin layer of raspberry preserves
Bottom layer of cake

Now, when you talk to a baker, you should bring up buttercream choices, ask about Italian buttercream, and how much they would charge extra for it-this lets them know one thing, that you know what you're talking about, and that if THEY don't know what you're talking about-go to a different baker.
Make sure to shop around anyway. You're not asking for something that's crazy complicated, it sounds very basic, and you should get some estimates from people on the price, plus you'd be amazed at how cakes from different bakeries can taste so different.
Another thing to keep in mind is that price will vary depending on where you live. What will cost you $5 a slice in New Mexico (where I am) will cost about $10 a slice in NYC-because of high overhead, and other factors.
These are visits that the groom would probably be interested in, because it involves eating--and all guys love to eat-so take him along unless he's totally disinterested. Plus, bargaining/negotiating/talking about price is always easier if there is a man there on your side. Unfortunate but true.
Also, and this is big, you need to have an official guest count to work from. Usually a baker will go about 10% under whatever number you give them- so they would count yours as being 135 instead of 150. I tend to do 5-10% over because people really like the cakes that I make. :) Anyway, the reason they do this is because of people who are diabetic, people on diets, people who don't like the flavors you pick out, etc.
Remember, taste everything they have to offer before getting stuck on these flavors, you might fall in love with something else!
I love making wedding cakes for people, and I tend to think its one of the most fun of the wedding errands that you have to do. So enjoy yourselves! And good luck!

Answer 2

Fountain Wedding Cakes Prices

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

Around $5 a slice from a bakery.

About $2 from a grocery store. Make sure none of your guests are allergic to fruit/nuts. Second only to seafood these are the two biggest allergies people have.

If you want to cut costs have a smaller "wedding cake" or have a few of the layers be decorated styrofoam instead of real cake. In the back have a sheetcake to serve guests. Once it's cut up you can't tell the difference.

Since you are not going for a traditional wedding cake design try to keep the word "wedding" out of the negotations. Just tell them you want a large cake for a private party (still the truth). Any time you mention "wedding" the price is going to go up because vendors know the emotioanl attachement pepole have to their weddings and because they also know several brides are lazy about comparision shopping and will just say "weddings are expensive so whatever you say baker man" and write a check.

Answer 5

In my experience a cake that large would probably cost between $3-$5 per person, of course depends on the location. Buttercream is generally less expensive than fondant. Most bakeries have a minimum cost such as $10 minimum or 50 person minumum.

One way some of my clients have cut costs is by using a grocery store bakery. I would suggest using one that you have bought cakes from before. Most are very good.

Another way is to order a smaller bakery fancy cake, and then purchase some sheet cakes for the caterer to use behind the scenes. Then your guests only see your fancy cake, the caterers wisk it away and bring the cake out in slices and no one is the wiser! This way you can also get different flavors of cake and fillings/frosting.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I believe our cake was $4.50 a slice (last year.) It was 4 tiers, 2 different flavors, decorated. It came out to around $1000, maybe a little more. Once you know how many guests you plan on having, you can ask the bakery you plan on using what they charge. (It is usually charged by the slice or per serving.) That is also how you will know how big of a cake to get. No real need for a 4-5 tier cake if you are having a small wedding.

Answer 7

The best way to save money on a wedding cake is to have a smaller two tier cake (for pictures and cutting) a groom's cake and then a full sheet cake. The two tier cake could serve 75 guests, the groom's cake would be a conversation piece as well as offering a regular type of cake, filling and frosting. The full sheet cake no one would see as it is kept in the kitchen ready to serve your guests. You normally pay by the slice, so if you are having a guest list of 250 and you decide to go with the above, you would pay approximately $325-$400 total (the only cake you pay for by the piece is the two tier cake,the groom's cake and full sheet cake are priced by whole cake)

Answer 8

The price list for the bakery I'm using is here: http://www.mcarthurs.com/mcarthurs_wedding_cake_price_list.pdf

. . . it might be helpful. Ours is a 3-bridge style fountain cake, so it's a little higher than a regular 3-tier cake, but we're getting 150 slices for $500 (including the fountain rental & delivery charge).

Answer 9

I am looking for a wedding cake that will serve about 40 people, does anyone out there know how much money i am looking at spending?
It has to be at least 2 tiers and have a traditional design.... black, red and white are the colors...I just don't want to pay too much.
Thanks in advance :)

Answer 10

From a professional, probably four dollars a slice.
Look into grocery store cakes - you'll be pleasantly surprised what they can do. They do hire professional decorators!
Sounds yummy - love the idea of nuts on the sides!