Post # 1

Member
2701 posts
Sugar bee
Hello Bees!
I am at the cake stage for planning and I had a few questions.
I don’t really care that much about the cake but of course I want it to be nice. We are having over 300 people at our wedding. When I get quotes, do they estimate it by 300 people? Obviously not everyone is going to have cake but is there a certian percentage?
The cheapest price I can find for cakes are $4 a slice which is $1200 for 300 people. I really don’t want to spend that much on a cake. I have heard that some places make a smaller tiered cake with sheet cakes in the back to serve to make it cheaper.
Also, do most bakeries typically charge a delivery fee? I don’t want any hidden fees. I don’t want to pay $1500 all together for a cake!
Thanks so much!
Post # 3

Member
2319 posts
Buzzing bee
I would go the sheet cake route. Have the baker make you a smaller (6-8”) cutting cake and then serve up the sheets.
Post # 4

Member
222 posts
Helper bee
$4/slice is a pretty good price!!!! But yes, many places will do a smaller tiered cake with sheet cakes in the back which is a more cost effective option. If you are having 300 guests, I would plan the cake for 300.
Post # 5

Member
9024 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I am having 175 guests but I ordered a cake for 75 people which will give me three round tiers of 12inch, 10inch and 8inch. I wouldnt order a cake for every single guest because thats so expensive and also not everyone eats the cake anyway. Just get some sheet cake and another dessert option maybe.
Post # 6

Member
2319 posts
Buzzing bee
Oh! And my baker said to estimate about 80% will eat cake. I would aim for 250.
Post # 7

Member
5295 posts
Bee Keeper
Goodness – my cake total will be right around $450. My wedding is 250 people and the way my baker did it was take the 80% of the number you are inviting as actual attendees, and then 80% of that because not everyone will eat cake. We are doing a three-tier cake and then supplementing with sheet cake, that will be the same flavors as the main cake so no one feels slighted. It is faux-fondant and no fancy sugar flowers or anything like that. There is a $35 delivery/set-up fee. That makes it about $1.80 per person. Plain buttercream would be less, actual fondant would be more.
I’m in the Midwest and my baker is smaller, doing it out of her in-home bakery, with very good reviews and modest prices for what I compared to. I would guess you must be in a much more urban area or are doing something more elaborate for a cake? If not, that sounds pretty high to me.
Post # 8

Member
560 posts
Busy bee
I got a really good price $1.75 per slice, and we are having around 220 people, and we are paying for 200 people. We are having a 4 tiered cake, free delivery.
Post # 9

Member
2116 posts
Buzzing bee
I would also go the sheet cake route, that would be a huge cake anyways- I think the cake will look nice smaller. We’re having approx 120 guests, $4 per person but only ordered for 110.