Wedding cakes and desserts

What’s the damage on wedding cake prices these days? I’m strictly looking for a classic crunch topping kind of vibe.

Sandra Campbell9, looking at that link placidsurfer15 posted—I’m pretty sure they’re talking about the 20th anniversary cake, which goes for $533. It looks like that massive one on the billboard right outside the Cheesecake Factory, except this one is entirely white. I'm certain about that part

Hey everyone, does anyone happen to know where I can find some affordable plastic pastry boxes? Also, I was wondering what the best dimensions are for packaging homemade treats... thanks so much!😉

Justin Martinez3 said:Sandra Campbell9, looking at that link placidsurfer15 posted—I’m pretty sure they’re talking about the 20th anniversary cake, which goes for $533. It looks like that massive one on the billboard right outside the Cheesecake Factory, except this one is entirely white. I'm certain about that part

Thanks!! 🙂

Ladies, if you were planning a teenage birthday party, how much would you actually set aside for the cake?

Personally, I’d be looking for something high-end and perhaps a bit more substantial... if we go with a two-tier design, I think it should have a wider footprint, but if we stick to standard tier heights, then I suppose it should consist of at least four separate cakes.
I also don't really care for those structural pillars between tiers; I’d prefer them just stacked directly on top of one another. To be honest, I feel a bit guilty about the cost because my parents will be footing the entire bill for the guests, so I really shouldn't overdo it with the price tag... though, at the same time, I certainly wouldn't want some tiny, underwhelming little thing.😬

Look, I have a certain limit $5.00/slices. You usually prep a few more than the guest count, but don't go overboard... honestly, I haven't been to a wedding where a third of the cake wasn't left over, regardless of how good it tasted 😬

Thanks for the reply, but... I find myself unable to fully agree with that assessment. You see, we’re expecting roughly 350 guests, and our plan includes a wedding cake along with about a dozen other cakes and assorted pastries. In most instances, the main wedding cake isn't even finished entirely because, well, not everyone eats it—it varies from person to person, I suppose—but naturally, I would love for mine to be a bit more substantial. To my mind, those figures exceeding $500 seem rather excessive.. 😲If we consider what an average cake costs (at least here in the States $43), then a four-tier wedding cake (which is more or less what I am envisioning) should probably run somewhere around $173... And since this is intended to be the centerpiece, and given that I would certainly be willing to pay a premium for high-quality fondant work, I imagine $333 would be a perfectly reasonable amount of wiggle room, ☕hehe.
It seems some people take advantage of the situation, though, and let the prices skyrocket... it's honestly quite dreadful! 🙄

A slice usually runs you about 8-$4.00 for a standard cake—just a heads up.
If you’re looking for those mini cupcakes instead, expect to pay closer to 25-$10 a pop, depending on which bakery you hit.

I have zero clue how you're thinking a cake for 350 people costs only $500—$333 🤷
plus, why on earth do you even need another 12 cakes?

Sandra Campbell9 said:Thanks for the reply, but... I find myself unable to fully agree with that assessment. You see, we’re expecting roughly 350 guests, and our plan includes a wedding cake along with about a dozen other cakes and assorted pastries. In most instances, the main wedding cake isn't even finished entirely because, well, not everyone eats it—it varies from person to person, I suppose—but naturally, I would love for mine to be a bit more substantial. To my mind, those figures exceeding $500 seem rather excessive.. 😲If we consider what an average cake costs (at least here in the States $43), then a four-tier wedding cake (which is more or less what I am envisioning) should probably run somewhere around $173... And since this is intended to be the centerpiece, and given that I would certainly be willing to pay a premium for high-quality fondant work, I imagine $333 would be a perfectly reasonable amount of wiggle room, ☕hehe.
It seems some people take advantage of the situation, though, and let the prices skyrocket... it's honestly quite dreadful! 🙄

I don't even know where you're getting that price for a standard cake $43 or how big this thing actually is—how many slices are we talking about?😕
In New York City, I doubt you can find a basic cake for $43.

I don't think you can just generalize and say anything over $500 is crazy. It's not the same whether you're hosting 100 people or 500.
I paid $500 for mine, and that was for 150 people. If you're saying you'll have 12 other cakes too, then you aren't ordering this main one to feed all 350 people. If those 12 cakes have at least 20 slices each, that's already 240 slices right there. So, this main wedding cake would only need to cover about 100 people...🙂

Ladies, things work a bit differently back home in the Midwest than they do where you are. A "birthday cake" isn't necessarily intended to be the one and only centerpiece for every single guest—no matter how many people show up. There are usually plenty of other, more traditional cakes on the side too... if you catch my drift. 🤔

Like > was saying, take a basic Black Forest cake, for example—it’s basically a total $50 classic, and honestly, that goes for pretty much all the cakes we serve 🤷 anyway
.

Look, since she hasn't gotten back to me—and honestly, I have no clue where she's from or what their traditions are like—I figured I’d just ask here... what's the deal with those 12 cakes? And how does a wedding for 350 people even run for $500-$333? ☕

Donna Chase12, why are you jumping down my throat so fast?
I never even said that you or anyone else actually knows where it’s from—I was just asking the question. I'm just describing how things work around here, and since she's from my neck of the woods, I figured it was worth mentioning.

And even that little comment of yours—"hm, did they get the point?"—didn't exactly sit right with me... I mean, that was just my gut reaction, because I honestly feel like I asked nicely enough before that. I genuinely didn't get what was going on...
But whatever, it doesn't matter... I can't exactly offer advice to someone from the Midwest who’s playing by a completely different set of rules and prices anyway.

Donna Chase12 said:And even that little comment of yours—"hm, did they get the point?"—didn't exactly sit right with me... I mean, that was just my gut reaction, because I honestly feel like I asked nicely enough before that. I genuinely didn't get what was going on...
But whatever, it doesn't matter... I can't exactly offer advice to someone from the Midwest who’s playing by a completely different set of rules and prices anyway.

I only wrote that bit in bold because I wasn't sure if you guys would understand what I meant, or if I was even making sense 😉just because

Well, my dear ladies... I think there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding, and if I haven't been perfectly clear about my intentions, then please accept my apologies. As Justin Martinez3 mentioned, I grew up in the Midwest, where we have this specific tradition: besides the centerpiece wedding cake on the buffet, you serve a variety of other cakes as well (though the exact number really just depends on the guest count). For a crowd of about 350 people, we were actually advised to have around 12 additional cakes on hand. Of course, my dream is for the main wedding cake to truly stand out, both in scale and design—much like the ones we've been discussing here. Whether every single person eats a slice of that specific cake or just a few guests do doesn't seem to matter much to me, since there will be plenty of other delicious options available for anyone who prefers them. That primary cake is really meant to honor the newlyweds. I’ve been envisioning something grand, perhaps a four-tier tower, or maybe a wider design with two tiers... if you catch my drift.
Regarding the costs, yes, cake prices vary wildly depending on the bakery, much like what I noted earlier. I certainly recognize that the pastry chefs who craft these elaborate wedding masterpieces put in an incredible amount of labor, and they deserve to be compensated accordingly, but the price range is truly vast. I haven't quite made up my mind yet, but honestly, it feels a bit excessive to spend more than $500 on the main cake, especially considering those supplemental cakes are going to cost me at least $600. So, I was mostly curious to see what someone else in a similar situation might budget...

OFFTOPIC: I tried to hop on here after work earlier, but my internet connection was being temperamental and wouldn't cooperate. Thank you all for your efforts; it really warms my heart to see so many kind souls here eager to help. Best wishes to everyone! 👋

Look, everything's cool... I'm just saying it’s a little tough to give you advice (at least for us folks here in New York City) when I have zero clue how things work over where you are😉
Basically, since they usually charge per slice based on the guest count, you just decide how many people you want to feed and they'll build the price around that
But I am curious about the logistics on your end—is that cake reserved for specific guests or what...? And when do those other desserts get served—all at once or earlier in the night?

Hey everyone—does anyone happen to know where I can find the cheapest plastic pastry boxes? Also, what dimensions would you say work best for packaging homemade treats at home? Thanks so much!😉

So, I finally picked up the cake from the bakery over in Brooklyn, $22 and man, let me tell you, we had enough to feed about 270 people $600! I actually got to try both flavors and they were absolutely heavenly 🙂—seriously, if you need dessert, this is my top recommendation 🙂

Donna Chase12 said:Look, everything's cool... I'm just saying it’s a little tough to give you advice (at least for us folks here in New York City) when I have zero clue how things work over where you are😉
Basically, since they usually charge per slice based on the guest count, you just decide how many people you want to feed and they'll build the price around that
But I am curious about the logistics on your end—is that cake reserved for specific guests or what...? And when do those other desserts get served—all at once or earlier in the night?

The wedding cake is usually brought out on a stand somewhere between 10:00 and 11:00 PM (though it varies depending on the couple). The servers bring it over to the newlyweds, who then cut it together and take a bite (some couples choose to feed their godparents or parents, though we certainly won't be doing that 😁). In the meantime, the other cakes are set out on a buffet, and the smaller pastries are served directly to the tables. Once the bride and groom, along with the wedding party, have had their share, the main cake can be moved to the dessert buffet alongside the others, or it can simply stay at the head table if that's what they prefer... It is, of course, available to anyone who wishes to try it. 🙂
That is why I say it isn't particularly vital to me that I feed every single guest with that specific cake, yet I still feel it ought to make an impression through its sheer size. If I am being honest, the part that feels a bit awkward about all of this is that our parents are the ones footing the entire bill for the wedding, so I really wouldn't want to go overboard with the cost of the cake. I suppose I will just have to find some sort of middle ground, if such a thing exists. 😛