Everyone knows that paying for a wedding can cost an arm and a leg. Above all it is the wedding reception that costs the most. Between the flowers, food and the wedding cake, the costs of a wedding reception spiral out of control. Finding ways to shave a little off the costs at every opportunity can mean the difference between starting a marriage with a healthy bank balance and committing to a relationship with early debts.

Every bride dreams of having the picture perfect cake at the center of her reception for all to admire, but having to pay for such enormous castles of icing cause a heart attack. The good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune to serve your friends and family a delicious cake. Here are a few tips on how to stretch your precious wedding money even further and, most importantly, to get the best wedding cake you can for your money.

The first thing to consider is using butter cream icing rather than fondant icing. Using fondant is so labor-intensive that it is usually the most expensive type of icing. However, any skilled wedding cake decorator should be able to create a cake that is just as beautiful using the more affordable type of icing. The cake will be cheaper but should look and taste just as fantastic.

Another tip is to save money on the decoration by scaling it down. Why should you need to use icing at all? A simple, elegant ribbon completes a cake with dignity and little expense. Floral decorations or artificial flowers can also be ordered for a low price.

Couples who want to show off with a large, towering wedding cake but don’t want to spend a lot of money can choose to add some false layers into their cake’s structure. The bride and groom can order enough servings to feed their guests but add extra layers of frosting covered icing. The guests won’t know that part of the cake was only for show, unless you tell them.

Sheet cakes make the ideal budget wedding cake. You could have a smaller cake made and decorated just for the cake cutting ceremony, then a large sheet cake to serve to the guests. That way you get the joy of having a beautiful centerpiece for the reception along with the simplicity of an affordable cake. Sheet cakes are not only cheaper but they are also much easier to serve.

Finally, the best way to save a whole lot of money on your wedding cake is to ask a member of the family or wedding party to bake the cake for you.  If one of your friends or family members is gifted in the art of baking then this is an excellent way to add personality and meaning to your reception whilst saving bucket loads on an otherwise expensive cake.  The cake could count as a wedding gift to you or just a favor that you won’t soon forget.