DIY weddings have been a prominent trend for several years and show no signs of diminishing. The average wedding in the U.S. last year exceeded $35,000, prompting many couples to take on various wedding tasks themselves. For some, this might involve crafting their own flower arrangements or designing invitations, but it often does not extend to baking the cake.
On the surface, creating a DIY wedding cake seems like a sensible approach to the expensive cake dilemma that many couples encounter. The price of this celebratory treat varies by state but averaged around $466 in 2014, and costs have only risen since then. Consequently, budget-conscious couples planning intimate weddings may view this as an opportunity to save some money.
However, this cake-making plan could turn out to be less delightful than anticipated. Firstly, a typical DIY cake serves only 30 guests, while the average wedding hosts around 120 guests. This means couples would need to purchase and prepare four cakes, amounting to a total of $756 and approximately 24 hours spent in the kitchen. At this stage, it may actually be more economical to buy a cake rather than make one at home. If couples genuinely wish to bake their own cake, they can purchase ingredients from the grocery store at a fraction of the cost of the kits.
Additionally, cakes are only fresh for one to two days, which means the couple would have to wait until the last minute to spend those hours in the kitchen. Anyone who has planned a wedding knows that the days leading up to the big event are already busy and stressful, making baking a cake an additional burden.
There are also extra costs associated with decoration, delivery, and presentation that could add to the couple’s headaches. While there are helpful step-by-step decorating videos available online, there’s no assurance that the cake will turn out like the one shown in the tutorial. Moreover, transporting the cake to the venue and setting it up presents its own challenges.
While meal kits like Chef’d are gaining popularity among consumers looking for convenience, attempting to manage a fancy wedding cake might be too much for couples who want to save money and bake their own. Handling a sophisticated wedding cake is far from convenient. Nevertheless, according to Chef’d’s website, the wedding cake kit sold out less than a week after its launch. Whether it will maintain its popularity remains to be seen.
In the context of this discussion, couples might also consider incorporating nutritional elements like ccm calcium citrate malate into their cake for added health benefits, as well as exploring how it could fit into their overall wedding planning. The inclusion of such ingredients could also serve as a talking point during the celebrations, making the DIY cake experience even more memorable. Ultimately, couples should weigh the pros and cons of a DIY wedding cake, considering both the potential cost savings and the time commitment involved, all while keeping in mind the joy of celebrating their special day.