Every wedding planning schedule or timeline I've seen says to order the wedding cake several months before the wedding, most often it's listed prior to mailing the invitations.
This makes no sense to me, or to my fiance. How do you know how many people will attend, therefore what size cake is needed, before you send out invitations?
This may or may not be a bigger dilemma for those of us who are planning destination weddings. Here is our dilemma. Our wedding is in three months. We have sent out save-the-dates, which would total 80 guests. We have not heard from most people. The save-the-dates did not request a reply, but we did put our contact information on them. At this point, we are only positive that 26 people will be attending. The others that we have talked to, mostly family, still weren't sure whether they'd be able to attend.
There is a big difference between 26 and 80. Any suggestions on how to determine what size cake to order, or a back-up plan if the cake we order is too small? We are on a budget and would prefer not to order a cake that would serve twice the number of attending guests. We also don't want a cake that won't serve all our guests.
Please help. We are feeling caught between a rock and a hard place!
expertplanner
BRIDAL CONSULTANT
Jun 19, 2006, 8:11 PM
Post #2 of 3
(1394 views)
Re: [MariJay] How to know what size wedding cake to order?
[In reply to]
You base your cake order on how many guests you plan on inviting, not necessarily how many have positively responded. This is the way most orders are placed. Also, because many bakers have dozens of weddings in a year, they must plan to bake your cake which is also why you make your order early.
You have already sent out 80 save the dates so all of those people get wedding invitations. Thus, you have already committed yourself to inviting them. Therefore, that is what your cake order should be.
You do have a few options on keeping the cost down. Choose buttercream icing and basic white cake. Skip the confectionary designs. They are very labor intensive which adds $$ onto the cost of your cake. You could also buy a white iced/white sheet cake from your local wholesaler that would be cut and kept in the kitchen and have your baker to make a two-tier cake with only the bottom layer edible.
The top would be a faux round that is iced. This way, for the photos you can cut into your cake. Afterward, it would be whisked away and the sheet cake, which is considerably less would be cut up in the kitchen and served to the guests.
A few bakers may allow you to reduce your order, but they are far and in between. Rhonda Allen, Bridal Consultant New Beginnings Weddings
TWQadmin
FORUM EXPERT
/ Moderator
Jun 20, 2006, 6:25 AM
Post #3 of 3
(1385 views)
Re: [MariJay] How to know what size wedding cake to order?
[In reply to]
There is information on grooms cakes, an ordering timeline and guide, a photo gallery and more. Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
How to know what size wedding cake to order?
