How Much Does a Wedding Cake Cost in the UK? (2027 Prices)
If you're planning a wedding, the cake is one of those costs that's hard to pin down until you start asking. Prices vary hugely depending on size, finish and how much detail goes into the design.
The short answer: a handmade wedding cake from an independent UK cake maker usually starts at around £300 to £400 for two tiers, and from around £430 for three tiers. At Kimmi's Cakes in Swindon, wedding cakes start from £340.
Here's what goes into the price, our real starting prices, and some honest ways to make your budget go further, including cutting cakes with cupcake towers and rectangle cakes.
What affects the cost of a wedding cake?
1. How many portions you need
Size is the biggest factor. More guests means more tiers or bigger tiers, which means more sponge, filling, ganache, support and time. A wedding portion is a finger of cake about 1 inch by 1 inch by 4 inches tall. If your cake is being served as the dessert, plan on dessert portions, which are twice the size.
2. The finish
Semi-naked and naked cakes are usually the most affordable, buttercream sits in the middle, and fondant is typically the most expensive because of the extra layers and time involved. Ganache finishes give the sharpest edges and are popular for modern designs.
3. Decoration and detail
Every handmade detail adds time: sugar flowers, hand painting, piped vintage detail, pearls, stencilling or fondant figures of the two of you (and the dog). A simple design and a highly detailed one can be the same size and very different prices.
4. Delivery and set up
Wedding cakes are delivered, stacked and set up at your venue. Delivery is quoted for your venue, based on the distance from our Swindon studio and how long the set up takes.
Kimmi's Cakes wedding cake prices
These are our starting prices, so you can see how size changes the cost.
Two tier
Medium 2 tier (5" and 7"), 48 wedding portions: from £340
Large 2 tier (6" and 8"), 72 wedding portions: from £405
XL 2 tier (7" and 9"), 95 wedding portions: from £457
Three tier
Small 3 tier (4", 6" and 8"), 84 wedding portions: from £430
Medium 3 tier (5", 7" and 9"), 111 wedding portions: from £518
Large 3 tier (6", 8" and 10"), 148 wedding portions: from £665
Four tier
Small 4 tier (4", 6", 8" and 10"), 160 wedding portions: from £695
Medium 4 tier (5", 7", 9" and 11"), 202 wedding portions: from £832
Large 4 tier (6", 8", 10" and 12"), 260 wedding portions: from £994
Every cake is designed for you, so your final quote depends on your design, flavours and venue. See all our wedding cakes and prices.
Cutting cake with a cupcake tower
A small cutting cake sitting on top of a tower of cupcakes gives you the moment of cutting the cake together, with an easy, individual portion for every guest. Each guest can pick their own flavour, there's no cutting or plating for your venue, and you can mix in vegan or made without gluten cupcakes so everyone's catered for.
Cupcakes start from £3.50 each, or from £4.50 with decoration or personalised toppers, with a minimum of 12 per flavour. We can display them on our acrylic cupcake stand, which is £25 to hire plus a £125 refundable deposit.
Example: a Medium 2 tier cake (5" and 7", 48 wedding portions) from £340, with 60 decorated cupcakes at £4.50 each (£270), comes to £610, plus £25 cupcake stand hire. That feeds over 100 guests with a cake to cut together and a cupcake for everyone.
Rectangle cakes
A rectangle cake is one of the most cost effective ways to feed a lot of guests. It cuts neatly into even portions, so it works brilliantly as a kitchen cake served alongside a smaller display cake, or as the main cake for a relaxed or evening celebration. It can still be finished beautifully in buttercream, with piped detail, pressed flowers or a stencilled design.
How to make your wedding cake budget go further
Choose buttercream or semi-naked. They look beautiful and usually cost less than fondant.
Go for a cutting cake and cupcake tower. You still get to cut the cake together, and every guest gets their own cupcake.
Add a rectangle kitchen cake. Keep the display cake smaller and serve extra portions from a rectangle cake in the kitchen.
Add favours or a dessert table. Iced shortbread favours start from £3 each, and double up as a thank you for your guests.
Keep the cake for the evening. If you already have a dessert, you only need wedding portions, not dessert portions.
Use fresh flowers. Your florist can dress the cake with flowers from your bouquets, instead of handmade sugar flowers.
When should you book your wedding cake?
Most couples book 6 to 12 months ahead, and popular summer Saturdays go first. A £150 booking fee secures your date, and the balance is due 4 weeks before the wedding. We then have a consultation around 3 months before to finalise the design, flavours and portions.
Not sure which flavours to choose? Our taster boxes start from £30 so you can try them at home first.
Ready to talk about your wedding cake?
Send us your date, venue and guest numbers and we'll come back to you with ideas and a quote. See our wedding cakes or get in touch.
Comments