How to Have a Show-Stopping Wedding Cake Without Blowing Your Budget

Let’s be honest—wedding cakes can be shockingly expensive. If you’ve ever dreamed of a towering, elegant cake that looks like it belongs on the cover of a bridal magazine, you’ve probably also discovered that a cake of that size can easily run into the hundreds (or even thousands!) of dollars. But here’s a little secret I love sharing with my couples: you don’t need to spend a fortune to get the cake of your dreams.

Enter: the fake wedding cake!

Here’s how it works. Instead of ordering an entire multi-tiered cake made of real cake (and paying for every inch of it), you build your dream cake with mostly styrofoam. Yep, you read that right. The bottom tiers are made of decorated styrofoam, covered in beautiful fondant or buttercream just like the real thing. Only the top two layers are made of actual cake—the very top layer is the one you’ll save for your one-year anniversary, and the layer beneath it is what you’ll cut during the reception.

Your guests will never know the difference when they see your cake displayed at the reception, and you still get that classic cake-cutting moment (with real cake, of course).

But what about serving your guests?

That’s where sheet cakes come in. Order a few sheet cakes in the same flavor(s) as your top tier and have them sliced and served from the kitchen. This way, everyone gets to enjoy delicious cake, and you don’t have to stress about running out or paying a premium for those big, stacked layers.

This hack is perfect for couples who want a statement-making cake moment without sacrificing a big chunk of their budget. More money saved = more room for other fun wedding-day splurges (hello, late-night snacks or upgraded champagne!).

Big cake energy, tiny price tag. It’s a win-win!

If you’re looking for help pulling this off, I’d love to help you plan the details and connect you with talented bakers who are totally on board with the faux cake strategy!