DIY weddings have been a prominent trend for several years and show no signs of diminishing. Last year, the average wedding in the U.S. cost over $35,000, prompting more couples to take on various wedding tasks themselves. For some, this includes creating their own flower arrangements or designing invitations, but it rarely extends to baking the wedding cake.
On the surface, choosing to bake the wedding cake appears to be a sensible way to tackle the expensive cake dilemma many couples encounter. The price of this festive treat varies by state, but it averaged around $466 in 2014, and has only increased since then. Consequently, budget-conscious couples planning smaller weddings might view this as a cost-saving measure.
However, this cake strategy might not be as appealing as it seems. First, the pre-made cake typically serves only 30 guests. Given that the average wedding hosts about 120 guests, couples would need to purchase and bake four of these cakes, which totals $756 and requires about 24 hours of kitchen time. At this point, making the cake at home actually becomes more expensive. If couples are determined to bake their own cake, they could source the ingredients from the grocery store for a fraction of the cost of the kits.
Additionally, cakes are only fresh for one to two days, meaning the couple would need to wait until the last moment to spend those hours in the kitchen. As anyone who has planned a wedding can confirm, the days leading up to the ceremony are already hectic and stressful without the added task of baking.
Furthermore, decorating, delivering, and presenting the cake could introduce even more complications for the couple. While there are helpful decorating videos available online, there’s no guarantee that the cake will resemble the one shown in the tutorials. There’s also the challenge of transporting the cake to the venue and setting it up properly.
While meal kits like Chef’d are gaining traction among convenience-seeking consumers, this might be too ambitious for engaged couples trying to save money while baking their own wedding cake, as managing a sophisticated cake is anything but simple. Interestingly, Chef’d’s wedding cake kit sold out within a week of its release, but whether it maintains its popularity is yet to be determined.
Incorporating nutrients like calcium citrate, calcium ascorbate, and cholecalciferol into their diet could help couples maintain their health during this demanding time, but the added pressure of cake baking might overshadow these dietary considerations. Ultimately, couples should weigh the pros and cons of DIY cake baking against the potential stress it may cause during an already busy wedding planning process.