For many aspects of wedding planning, you can spend as much as you want to spend. Since the sky is not the limit when you are planning a wedding on a budget, it is important to decide how much you can afford to spend on each category in advance. This is also true when you are shopping for a budget wedding cake, since it is all too easy to get swept off your feet when you are having a cake tasting in a boutique bakery. Here’s how to have your cake and afford it, too.

1. Pick your bakery wisely.

Shop around before you pick the bakery that will best be able to serve your budget wedding needs. It is best to not tempt yourself with a wedding cake tasting at a bakery that is likely to be out of your price range. It can be hard to think straight when chocolate is involved. Some grocery stores create delicious wedding cakes for a better price than local retailers. But depending on where you live, you might also get a far better deal from a local pastry chef than a national chain. Call around, look at websites, and ask any recently married friends and family who they used.

2. Opt for smaller cakes.

When you’re planning a wedding on a budget, you probably don’t want to choose a six-tier wedding cake decorated with expensive flowers from the best bakery in town, unless you have budgeted for that particular splurge. It’s a smart idea to choose a very small tiered cake that is decorated however you like, then supplement it with a less formal groom’s sheet cake. Even the best bakeries will offer simply decorated sheet cakes for much less money than tiered wedding cakes. Choose a different flavor for the bride’s cake and groom’s cake so that guests will appreciate having a choice of cake flavor.

3. Choose cupcakes.

One recent trend is to serve wedding cupcakes. Cupcakes might be a good choice for your budget wedding because they are easy to make, easy to transport, and easy to serve. You don’t need to worry about having a special cake knife or someone to serve the cake. Cupcakes are small, so they don’t need do be decorated in an elaborate fashion. You could probably even ask a trustworthy friend or family member with excellent baking skills to make wedding cupcakes for your special day as a wedding gift, rather than paying a bakery.

What are your ideas for fitting a beautiful wedding cake into your budget?

Photo Credit: CleverCupcakes