Your wedding cake will be one of the first things people look at as they enter your reception site. There will be pictures of it, and you may even recreate it for anniversaries to come. The centerpiece of your wedding can be costly, yet is extremely important. There are several ways to get a wedding cake on a budget, and even more ways to go all out. Wedding cake costs vary, but you can have the perfect cake on any budget!

If your budget is tight, go for a do it yourself attitude. Before your big day, take several cake decorating classes. The cost is small compared to the hourly cost you will pay for the manual labor of someone else decorating your cake! Buy a few different size pans, depending on the size and shape you want your cake to be. Bake your own cakes from scratch or from a mix the day before the wedding. Enlist the help of friends and family in decorating your cake. For that smooth wedding cake look, buy pre-made fondant at your local craft store or bakery. Fresh or silk flowers will also add a cheap yet elegant look to your wedding cake on a budget. For a low cost, your cake will often taste better than a professionally designed one!

If budget is no matter for you, your options are endless. There are cakes that range anywhere from $8 per serving to over $30 per serving. This cost often includes a tasting and design session for you and your family. This ensures that you will pick the perfect selection for your tastebuds. If you are having your reception at a hotel, their restaurants will oftentimes have a wide selection of gourmet wedding cakes to choose from. For a truly unique cake, contact local bakeries. Almost every large city around the country will have one or two renowned bakeries, famous for their wedding cakes. Before you go to your tasting and design appointment, be sure you know exactly what you are looking for. Many custom bakeries are just that- custom. This means that they will not have a book of cakes for you to look through and choose from. You will come up with your own creative design.

If you are on a moderate budget and can afford to spend some amount on your cake, there are viable options for you, too. Bakeries that mass produce cakes can often make your beautiful wedding cake at a fraction of the cost that custom bakeries will charge you. Give the bakery plenty of notice to avoid any expediting fees. Instead of having the baker decorate the cake by hand, supple them with fresh or silk flowers to adorn the cake. Since cake decorating is often charged for by the hour, placing flowers will take only minutes. This can have a dramatic impact on wedding cake cost.

No matter if you are on a budget or money is no option, you can have a beautiful wedding cake. Plan ahead to make the most of your money and you will end up with a cake fit for a princess!