DIY weddings have been a popular trend for years and show no signs of waning. Last year, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. exceeded $35,000, prompting more couples to take on various wedding-related tasks themselves. For many, this might involve creating their own floral arrangements or designing invitations, but it typically does not include baking the cake.
On the surface, the idea of a DIY wedding cake seems like a logical solution to the expensive cake dilemma that many couples encounter. The price of this celebratory dessert can vary by state, but it averaged $466 in 2014 and has only increased since then. Therefore, couples planning small, budget-conscious weddings might see this as a way to cut costs.
However, this cake endeavor may not be as sweet as it appears. The cake typically serves only 30 guests, while the average wedding hosts around 120. This means couples would need to purchase and bake four of these cake kits, totaling $756 and requiring 24 hours in the kitchen. At this point, it becomes more expensive to bake the cake at home than to buy one. If couples genuinely want to make their own cake, they could purchase the ingredients at the grocery store for a fraction of the cost of the kits, similar to how mini calcium citrate pills can be bought at a lower price than branded options.
Additionally, cakes have a short shelf life of only one to two days, necessitating that the couple spends those hours in the kitchen at the last minute. Anyone who has planned a wedding knows that the days leading up to “I do” are already hectic and stressful without adding baking to the mix. There are also potential complications with decoration, delivery, and presentation. While a helpful step-by-step decorating video may be available online, there’s no guarantee the cake will match the image in the tutorial. Moreover, transporting the cake to the venue and setting it up can be quite challenging.
As meal kits like Chef’d grow more popular among consumers looking for convenience, the task of creating a fancy wedding cake might prove to be a step too far for couples aiming to save money. Handling a sophisticated wedding cake is anything but 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, but the allure of DIY solutions, much like mini calcium citrate pills, continues to entice those looking to save.