How Much Does a Wedding Cake Cost? A Guide to Prices, Styles & What Affects the Cost

Primrose Cakes
May 19
5 min read

If you’ve never ordered a bespoke wedding cake before (and let’s face it, most people haven’t!), the cost can come as a bit of a surprise. You might be thinking, “But it’s just cake… right?”

Well, not quite. Your wedding cake is so much more than dessert. It’s a beautifully designed showpiece, one of the most photographed elements of your day, and a lasting memory for both you and your guests. When you invest in a professionally made wedding cake, you're paying for so much more than flour and eggs.

Let’s explore what really goes into the cost of a luxury wedding cake and what’s worth investing in to make it truly unforgettable.

What Affects the Cost of a Wedding Cake?

1. The Number of Tiers and Servings

The more guests you want to serve, the more cake you’ll need, and naturally, that means a higher price. A 3-tier cake (6", 8", and 10" tiers) serves around 120 finger portions. I always recommend catering for at least 85% of your guests, especially if you have additional desserts on offer.

Interestingly, I don’t charge extra for different flavours in each tier, so you can treat your guests to a variety of cakes at no additional cost.

2. The Cake Style: Semi-Naked vs. Iced

Semi-naked cakes are finished with a delicate coating of buttercream to seal in moisture and provide a softly rustic look. Iced cakes, on the other hand, are coated in white chocolate ganache and covered with sugarpaste for a flawlessly smooth, elegant finish. This adds extra structure, polish, and time to the process.

Starting prices:

Semi-naked designs (serving up to 80) start from £580
Iced designs start from £790

3. Decoration and Detail

This is where a cake truly becomes yours. From hand-crafted sugar flowers to gold leaf, monogrammed charms, or colour matched icing, the design details you choose can significantly influence the final price.

Here’s a rough idea:

Sugar flowers: £15–£35 each (depending on type)
Add-ons like stencilling, silk or fresh flowers, gold leaf, coloured icing, biscuit favours, or charms will incur additional costs.

Time consuming elements, such as sugar flowers and intricate stencilling, are a luxury detail that make a huge visual impact and are priced accordingly.

4. Florals: Sugar, Fresh, or Silk?

I use florals in nearly every cake I make. They bring beauty, movement, and meaning to your design.

Sugar flowers are the most premium option. I hand-make each one to match your wedding flowers and colour scheme. They’re delicate, time-intensive, and often kept as keepsakes.
Fresh flowers (usually supplied by your florist) are a more budget-conscious option and can still create an incredible visual impact.
Silk flowers offer a middle ground, beautiful and long-lasting with less fragility.

Whichever option you choose, I liaise directly with your florist or stylist to make sure everything is food-safe, structurally sound, and styled to perfection.

5. Delivery and Set Up

Set up and delivery are part of my professional service, and for good reason. I’m the only person who handles the cake once it leaves my kitchen. That includes placing every flower and styling it exactly as planned.

Delivery fees depend on your venue’s distance.
Set-up fees are based on how long I’ll need to be at your venue, which depends on the complexity of your cake’s design.

No one else applies decorations, not even the florist, because I’m the one responsible for food safety, and I am a cake flower specialist, ensuring only safe, fresh flowers are added to your cake.

6. My Professionalism and Expertise

Let’s not forget the skills, training, and professionalism behind every wedding cake I create. It’s not just about baking, it’s about years of research, recipe development, and hands on experience. From carefully tested flavour combinations to expertly practiced decoration techniques, a huge amount of knowledge goes into every step. This includes food safety, structural integrity, and knowing how to safely transport and assemble a tall, delicate cake.

It also means understanding your venue, liaising with florists and stylists, and ensuring your cake compliments your overall wedding aesthetic. Every detail is considered to ensure the final result is not only beautiful, but also delivered and set up seamlessly. When you book with me, you’re not just booking a cake, you’re investing in a professional who’s dedicated to making this part of your day completely stress-free and unforgettable.

What’s Worth the Investment?

You want a cake that looks breathtaking and leaves your guests raving. Here are a few areas where a little more investment goes a long way:

Choosing different flavours for each tier - having your favourite as well as pleasing your guests.
Meaningful details - like a sugar version of your favourite flower, a monogram, or a design inspired by your wedding stationery.
Colour matching - I offer a bespoke colour-matching service that ensures your cake ties in seamlessly with your theme, whether that’s bridesmaid dresses or styling.
Hiring the right cake stand - I offer a selection of beautiful stands that enhance your design and are approved for the size and weight of your cake. (Quite often the stands supplied by the venue are not in keeping with your theme either!)
Edible biscuit favours - a gorgeous touch for your tables and always appreciated by guests.

How We Work with Budget (Realistically)

While I’m not the cake designer to slash designs to meet unrealistic budgets, I do help couples spend smartly.

If you have a specific budget in mind, I can suggest design options that align with it, for example:

Using fresh or silk flowers instead of sugar flowers
Simplifying certain decorative elements
Including a faux tier to add height without extra portions

Ultimately, it’s about prioritising what matters most to you, whether that’s flavours, floral detail, or visual impact.

Booking and Pricing Info

Most couples book their wedding cake around 12 months in advance, and I only take on one wedding cake per week to give each design the attention it deserves.

I review my pricing 2–3 times a year, so enquiring early is the best way to access my current rates. A £150 booking fee secures your date, and includes a full design consultation and tasting samples. Many couples choose to secure their date first, then finalise the design a little later.