But why do wedding cakes cost so much? First, just the pans that the cakes are baked in are expensive. They are larger and have to be top quality. Then there is the ingredients. You can not skimp on a top quality cake. Top-of-the-line butter, eggs, cake flower, and whipping cream is required. Commercial food coloring is needed so you get the deep, rich colors that you are looking for. Then of course, not only does it have to taste good, but it has to look even better. It takes a lot of time and practice to learn how to make all of those decorations and to not only make them look great, but they have to taste great too.

So how do you get a wedding cake that looks and tastes great without breaking the bank? One obvious way, since the average cost per slice of cake is $3.00, is to invite fewer people so the cake doesn't have to be as large. That is not always the preferred option though. There are several other ideas that might work better for you.

Check with a local baker or caterer first. You can occasionally find a good deal. Bakers who aren't cake specialists usually cost less, and home bakers don't have the overhead that a commercial bakery has. Check around by asking friends and family if they know of someone.

Check the bakery at your local grocery store. Sometimes supermarkets offer exceptional cakes for much less than a traditional bakery. Check the prices on sheet cakes or non-wedding cakes as an option. As with anything connected with a wedding, just the "wedding" word alone can cause the price to go up. Don"t be afraid to ask for a price break.

If you have a culinary school nearby, check out what their prices might be. If the students are learning to decorate cakes as part of their curriculum, you may be able to get a reduced price.

Another way to reduce your wedding cake cost is to keep things as simple as possible. You can choose a very basic cake and do simple decorations yourself. Check out the price of decorations on ebay. They have great cake toppers and other decorations that you could put on yourself and still get a very professional look.