Let Them Eat Cake...Or Not?
Anyone who knows me knows I have a major sweet tooth. While desserts may not be high on the priority list for most 27-year-olds, for me, the cake was essential. Not just an afterthought or a box to tick, the cake had to be a highlight.
Wedding cake research quickly became my favourite part of the entire planning process. We ordered a mix of sample boxes from both local bakers and a few Instagram finds, and let me tell you, even the price of the tasting boxes revealed just how varied the wedding cake world can be. We tried boxes ranging from £15 to £40, and while each baker brought something different to the table, it was clear that “wedding cake” could mean very different things depending on your budget.
After sampling the most divine coconut and lime cake (truly unforgettable), we were nearly ready to book with the baker. She was warm, professional, and her attention to detail was second to none. But then came the quote: £865 for a three-tier cake. As delicious as it was, we just couldn’t justify the price. I even tried to get cupcakes from her just to keep that flavour in our lives, no luck!
That experience pushed us to narrow our search to local bakers because once you factor in travel or delivery costs, it really starts to snowball.
Enter Sarah of Pink Fluff Cakes
After some research, we found Sarah of Pink Fluff Cakes in Maidenbower, Crawley. Her cakes were not only beautiful and flavourful, but also incredibly reasonably priced. From the very beginning, the experience with her was what every bride dreams of. We communicated easily over WhatsApp, and she even hosted us in her lovely home for a tasting. It felt like a warm and personal consultation, not just a transaction.
We chose a three-tier cake featuring the below flavours:
White chocolate and raspberry
Raspberry ripple
Lemon and blueberry
Each flavour was delicious. We were thrilled with our choices.
But Did We Even Need Three Tiers?
Despite careful planning, only the bottom tier was fully cut and served on the day, while the other two tiers were barely touched. Although our coordinator had been informed to tell the caterer to serve from all three, that didn’t happen. I was so looking forward to our guests tasting all the different flavours, but instead, we ended up bringing home almost two entire tiers. (Not that I’m too mad about it, fridge cake for days!)
Fortunately, we were surrounded by family and friends in the days that followed, so we served the remaining tiers then and everyone finally got to enjoy the other flavours too.
That moment brought me back to early chats I had with cake makers, who often advised that only around 70 percent of guests might have cake. In our case? Probably not even 40 percent. So did we need three tiers? Probably not. Now, I finally understand why people opt for dummy tiers, especially if cake isn’t a big deal for them. For me, it was worth the indulgence, but if you’re less obsessed with sweets, it might not be.
The Sweet Truth: A Great Cake Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune
You don’t need to spend hundreds or thousands to have a beautiful, memorable cake. There are so many talented local bakers who deliver on taste, design, and service without draining your budget.
Instagram is a great tool for finding ideas, but don’t feel pressure to replicate what you see. Use it for inspiration, not instruction. Your wedding cake should reflect your tastes, your priorities, and your budget, not just a trend.
Whether you go for a single-tier beauty, cupcakes, a dessert table, or no cake at all, just know this: you can still have something sweet, thoughtful, and personal. And often, the best things come from close to home.