A pillar of your scenography

Your wedding cake is much more than a dessert. It contributes to the visual ambiance and sensory experience of your reception. It can reflect your floral decoration palette, echo the venue’s architecture, or complement your dress or suit.

You may have already dreamed about it dozens of times, pinned it on Pinterest, imagined it through inspiration photos…

But this cake must reflect you. It must tell your story. And that requires expertise. I got you: what should a wedding cake cost?

How much does a luxury wedding cake cost?

If you’re asking this question — and it’s legitimate — the price of a luxury wedding cake varies based on numerous parameters… but to give you an initial idea, expect between $2,200 and $3,800 for a worthy custom creation.

Why this range? Because a wedding cake isn’t just sponge cake and cream. We’re talking about an edible work of art, designed as the visual centerpiece of your reception. A cake that must make a sensation upon its entrance, enhance your photos, seduce your guests… and delight the palate.

And if you’re wondering how high it can go: fun fact, Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding cake cost over $80,000. Yes, you read that right. Of course, it’s all about the level of expectations and stylistic ambitions. But the idea is there: a luxury wedding cake is a masterpiece, and as such, it deserves to be treated with as much care (and budget) as the rest of your reception design.

©Photo : Valery Villard –  Cake Designer : Les Délices de Gladys – Wedding Planned at Château d’Estoublon, Provence – France

What influences the cost of a luxury wedding cake?

CREATION TIME

Between flavor tastings, sketches, the design itself, and hand-finished decorative details… we’re often talking about 20 to 40 hours of work for a sophisticated tiered cake.

INGREDIENTS

Rare or specific ingredients (organic, vegan, gluten-free, local products…) quickly drive up the bill. A pistachio cake with dark chocolate ganache and mango cream?

Sublime… and more expensive than the classic vanilla-chocolate duo.

SIZE & TIERS COUNT

For a perfectly sized wedding cake, the first question to ask is simple: how many servings do you want to serve?

If the cake is intended as the actual dessert for your seated dinner, you’ll need to plan one serving per guest. However, if you opt for a dessert buffet alongside it (as a complement), you can consider a smaller quantity: not all your guests will necessarily take a slice.

Remember: the more servings you need, the more imposing the cake will be… and the higher the quote will climb.

LEVEL OF DETAIL

Edible gold, ombre gradients, hand-painting, 3D motifs, sugar flowers more realistic than nature… each ornament requires skill and precision. A “simple” design doesn’t necessarily mean “less expensive” if it requires a specific technique.

I once read an example that struck me: a cake designer explained that it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to hand-make a single sugar rose. Now imagine a cake that needs 100… We begin to understand how the price climbs. And we’re not even talking about the cake itself yet — just the flowers. It’s often these handmade details (like sugar flowers or sculpted figurines) that make all the difference… including on the quote.

FROSTING TYPE

  • Buttercream: creamy, elegant, and slightly satin, it offers a natural finish perfect for romantic weddings. More affordable, it allows for textured or floral finishes, but remains sensitive to heat.
  • Fondant/gum paste: for a smooth, structured, and ultra-polished finish. Ideal for sophisticated or artistic designs, but more expensive and technical to achieve.

DELIVERY & SET UP

A cake of this magnitude doesn’t travel alone. You need to plan for:

  • Refrigerated transport
  • On-site assembly
  • Installation in a specific setting

CUSTOMIZATION

Everything is possible — really. From unique sketches to floral sculptures, custom color palettes to bold structures, every custom detail involves time, trials, and expertise.

Moving away from the classic “catalog” gives your wedding cake a true signature.

This requires exchanges, sometimes multiple appointments… and naturally, it has a price.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

  • Tasting (sometimes included, sometimes not)
  • Design/conception appointments
  • Extra tier to save for wedding anniversary (a tradition we love)
  • Stands to rent or buy (pedestals, cake toppers…)

All these elements must be clearly defined upfront with your cake designer.

The more precise the brief, the more faithful the creation will be to your expectations — without unpleasant surprises.

And this is precisely where my role as a wedding planner makes all the difference: I accompany you at every step, I know how to ask the right questions, I ensure everything is understood and validated, and most importantly, I recommend the right partners, those I’m used to working with and who excel in their art.

It’s my job: orchestrating talents so everything is smooth, beautiful… and delicious.

©Photo : Sam Sacramento – Cake Designer : Lisa Bakery – Wedding Planned at Villa Pliniana, Lake Como

A few points to bear in mind when talking about wedding cakes

FOR FLAVORS: BE BOLD

For flavors: be adventurous

This is one of the best-kept secrets in wedding planning: flavor testing! Working with my pastry partner Lisa (founder of Lisa Bakery, a talented and passionate baker operating on Lake Como), we love exploring unexpected yet absolutely delicious flavor combinations.

Some crowd-pleasing classics:

  • Sponge cake: Vanilla, Chocolate, Lemon, Almond, Hazelnut, Praline, Pistachio, Coconut, Red Velvet, Carrot
  • Creams: Vanilla, Chocolate, Lemon, Raspberry, Strawberry, Mango, Exotic Fruits, Passion Fruit, Coffee, Caramel, Cream Cheese
  • Ganaches: Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate

We mix, we taste, we perfect. You’re in complete control of the indulgence factor. And trust me, your guests will be talking about it long after the last bite.

FRESH OR SUGAR FLOWERS?

Thorny subject:

  • Fresh flowers: perfect for natural, organic, bohemian weddings. More affordable, but not all can come into contact with the cake (health regulations).
  • Sugar flowers: stylized, sophisticated. More expensive, and not all cake designers master this technique.

My golden rule: whatever you choose, never mix the two. It’s a taste mistake. And above all… avoid plastic flowers.

PINTEREST – LET’S ADDRESS THE ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Let’s be honest: 90% of future couples arrive with a screenshot. And it’s understandable.

But your cake shouldn’t be a copy. It should speak about you.

Work hand in hand with your wedding planner and cake designer. Think about:

  • What you like to eat
  • What you want to convey
  • The desired visual effect (should it be admired all evening?)
  • Its place in the overall scenography

It’s this combination of intention, taste, and style that creates true luxury.

©Photo : Valery Villard – Cake Designer : Les Délices de Gladys

wedding cake cost

And if you’re still hesitating…

You might be wondering: “What if we opted for a dessert buffet instead, small French mignardises?” It’s a good alternative… but not for all weddings.

As Lisa, whom I mentioned earlier, often says: “Do you really think desserts as mignardises for example, even served in the most beautiful dessert plate ever, can impact the wow effect a wedding cake can create? Bear in mind you hire a fantastic photographer, a virtuoso videographer: such a shame if they don’t have anything to capture for the ‘Cut-the-cake’ moment, isn’t it?”

However, what is possible — and what is done — is to plan a dessert buffet alongside your wedding cake. This way, you can vary the pleasures and please everyone’s tastes. In this case, the wedding cake can be a little smaller, and therefore, a little less expensive.

To conclude

Your wedding cake is much more than a dessert: it’s a work of art, a signature, a moment of grace at the heart of your reception. It reflects your taste, your story, the ambiance you’ve imagined. It’s a centerpiece that must seduce the eyes, amaze the palate, and make hearts beat.

But behind its apparent beauty, a luxury wedding cake requires real expertise, precise exchanges, and the right connections. This is where my role takes on its full meaning. I guide you at every step, I introduce you to the right artisans, I secure the entire process so your cake is as perfect as the rest of your wedding.

wedding cake cost