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Michelle
Super October 2020

Serving guests a different cake

Michelle, on December 12, 2019 at 4:18 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 1 22

I'm calling around for cake quotes and to be cost efficient, I'd like a small two tiered cake and to serve the guests sheet cake because it's cheaper. Most places tell me that if I do sheet cake, the flavor is basically standard like vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. I feel guilty if I'm eating a special flavor while everyone else eats something basic. But I don't want to spend $200 more (total almost $500) for a four tiered cake.

Thoughts?

22 Comments

Latest activity by Teresa, on March 22, 2023 at 1:24 AM
  • Jade
    Expert November 2021
    Jade ·
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    My venue coordinator told us that nowadays most couples have just a cake for cutting and then they eat it with their bridal party, and then they have a Costco sheet cake cut up for the guests. Idk about where you’re from, but where I’m from Costco cakes are very loved lol.


    And it’s your wedding! So don’t feel bad about getting a special treat. Most guests would be more than happy with the basic flavors.
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  • Vannesa
    Expert October 2021
    Vannesa ·
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    A lot of people do this at weddings now. Cakes can get expensive and it's not as necessary of a cast to have. A lot of people may not even eat the cake as I know a lot of people don't care for cake.

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  • Christine
    Expert September 2020
    Christine ·
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    You can absolutely get sheet cake in the same flavor as your cutting cake, no need to stick to something basic! Keep calling potential bakeries since that's weird that the ones you've spoken with have only been willing to do simple flavors for sheet cake.


    We fell in love with our cake vendor's flavors and are doing a bunch of different stuff. Small two-tier cutting cake in a tropical coconut-esque flavor, sheet cake in a spiced marble flavor that our baker calls "Mexican hot chocolate," and then two flavors of cupcakes (one is a honey-lavender and the other is a dark chocolate). And we definitely could have just picked one flavor for the sheet cake and used the same flavor for the cutting cake.

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  • FRANKIE
    Beginner June 2020
    FRANKIE ·
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    Do a small tier cake for cutting and do cupcakes! You can have different flavors and not feel guilty about having basic sheet cake for the guests. Costco/Sams have cupcakes for cheap too!

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  • Michelle
    Super October 2020
    Michelle ·
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    I had Costco cake once and yes, it was DELICIOUS! Anyway, the business I was referring to earlier actually has specialty cupcake flavors like tier cakes at the same cost. Not sure why lol. I'm continuing to still search though.

    How much is Cosco wedding cake? I'm thinking around 150 servings.


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  • Nikki
    Dedicated December 2020
    Nikki ·
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    My FH and I are thinking of doing a smallish cake for the cake cutting part of the wedding, then we're doing mini-cheesecakes for the actual "dessert" part. The number of mini cheesecakes we would need comes out to almost half the price as a full-sized cake, and it's from a locally and veteran owned cheesecake bakery, which I love supporting local Smiley smile

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  • Ingrid
    VIP October 2020
    Ingrid ·
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    What about cupcakes? We're doing a 1 tier cake for us and cupcakes for everyone else. A lot of cake is wasted because people don't really eat that much. Cupcakes are easier, smaller and in some cases more appealing and cost effective. Our cost will be $220 with a small 1 tier cake and 8 dozen cupcakes
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  • Michelle
    Super October 2020
    Michelle ·
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    I had an image of a small cute two tiered cake alone but since it’s more cost effective with cupcakes, I probably would use their tower and end up getting a single tier. I just want it to look nice, lol no one cares the specifics of the cake table but me so I care more about cost. If I decide to go with this vendor.



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  • V
    Champion July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    My brother had a two tier cake for cutting but served ice cream cake as dessert.
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  • Meghan
    Master October 2019
    Meghan ·
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    We did a 2 tiered cake (2 flavors) and a dessert bar. Many guests won’t eat cake, besides a bite or 2, even if it’s all that’s provided.
    We had some cake left over, but our mini cheesecakes, Oreo shooters, cookies, & donuts were all gone!
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  • Pirate & 60s Bride
    Legend March 2017
    Pirate & 60s Bride ·
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    Totally fine! And a wise money-saving move.
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  • Jeanie
    Super February 2020
    Jeanie ·
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    I am a cake lover, and one of those people who will judge you based on your wedding cake. Yes, I’m aware that’s petty, but I love my cake! I agree with you that the cake flavor should be the same, or at least available for your guests. As a guest, I would be disappointed if you had for example red velvet cake and I was served vanilla. People will be able to tell the difference when you cut it. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a sheet cake to serve. Many places offer delicious sheet cakes that no one would notice to be different from your presentation cake. I think that’s a good way to cut costs, but you should offer the flavor(s) you are eating. The cupcake route is also a good idea, and you could always spread them around the table you have your tiered cake on instead of using a tower to keep costs down.

    We are choosing to do a cupcake tower with the top tier a small cake for cutting. The cupcakes will be two separate flavors from the top cake, and will also have tiny key lime pies mixed in. This will let the guests be able to choose whatever they want, while helping keep the cake budget down. We are not having other desserts, otherwise we would not be having so many cake options.
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  • Michelle
    Super October 2020
    Michelle ·
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    My thing is, I really like the simple display of a tier cake whether it’s a small two tier or a big four tier. I think I’ll have a two tier on display and maybe just serve the cupcakes. We will see!
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  • Michelle
    Super October 2020
    Michelle ·
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    Would it be odd to have the display of my small tier cake and then later have the cupcakes surrounding the table? I just love the simple look of the cake being featured...just me being picky! Maybe make sure the DJ announces to get cupcakes so they know it's available... Altogether the pricing would be around $375 for plenty of cake but a three tier cake that MIGHT not be enough would be like $475!

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  • Shameika
    Dedicated August 2020
    Shameika ·
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    My thoughts is .. what we are going to do!

    Get a small circle cake & then use it to cut. Then go to Sams club. We are going to get cupcakes and decorate them. $16 for 32 is not so bad once you add it all up .

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  • Devoted June 2020
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    We are going to do the same thing! Probably do a two tiered cake and a couple sheet cakes! It’s definitely cheaper and apparently a decent number of servings. My stepmoms friend is going to make my fiancé and I homemade pineapple ice cream and we are the only two getting it. Lol I am so excited for my pineapple ice cream, delicious!
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  • Nicole
    Super October 2021
    Nicole ·
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    We are probably doing this. I wouldn't stress it. cake is cake Smiley smile

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  • J
    Master October 2022
    Jana ·
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    It's pretty common and guests don't have issues with it. Costco cakes are popular but limited to white or chocolate. Ask around at local grocery bakeries what they offer for sheet cakes.
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  • Teresa
    Teresa ·
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    Consider many guests pay for a sitter, buy a new outfit, some pay to travel to the wedding and stay overnight, buy the bride and groom a gift, and sometimes two if they also attend the shower. That's quite a bit of money for a guest to attend the wedding. I can pay $200-300 more to feed my guests a slice of actual wedding cake.

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  • C
    CM ·
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    People can and do notice these things. There’s nothing wrong with an additional sheet cake for ease of cutting and efficiency, but I would not serve myself an upgrade compared to what I’d offer my guests.
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