What size of cake do I need?

This is something that always stumps wedding couples. Trying to figure out the correct size of cake to order for your wedding can be a bit of a minefield. If you're working with an experienced cake designer they should be able to guide you through the process and the different styles & sizes of cake that can work for your wedding.

However, if you're not going with a professional cake designer or you just want a bit of guidance before you dive into the world of cake, I've put together this little guide.

Servings Required

This may seem obvious, but knowing exactly how many people you want to feed is your starting point. Knowing how many guests you're expecting and how many of those you want to serve cake to, means your cake designer can start putting together a few different options that would be suitable.

The 80% Rule

To avoid potential waste, a good rule of thumb is to provide enough cake for 80% of your guests. This way the guests that really want cake will enjoy it while leaving minimal waste.

Day-time Guests vs Night-time Guests

There is no rule that states you have to serve cake to all of your guests. If you cut the cake before your evening guests arrive or serve it as dessert, then cake can be something that you reserve just for your extra special day-time guests.

Do you want to take some cake home with you?

Some couples prefer as little cake leftover as possible so it's one less thing to deal with after the wedding. Others love the idea of taking a piece of cake home from their wedding day to keep the celebration going. Either way, this is definitely something to think about and communicate to your baker.

Portion Size

There are 2 common servings sizes that are used for party & wedding cakes. You have 'Party' size which measures 2" x 2" and 'Wedding' size which measure 1" x 2".

If you're having a full 3 course meal followed by a buffet and cake later on, then a traditional wedding size is more than sufficient.

However, if you're serving your cake as the dessert, then a party is size is a bit more filling for your guests.. The portion sizes should be discussed with your caterer or whoever is cutting the cake to ensure you're getting the correct size/number of pieces.

Tiers

If you're having a tiered cake, then knowing whether you'd like 'wedding' or 'party' slices can help your cake designer figure out the sizes of each tier and what number of tiers would work best. The shape of the cake can also affect the number of slices. A square cake will deliver more slices than a round one so could result in smaller / fewer tiers.

Below I've listed a few different configurations for cakes that would feed 100. These configs are given under the assumption that each tier is 3 layers of cake with filling between each.

Wedding Serving

Round 12", 9", 6"

*Round double barrel 10", 8"

Round 8", 6", 4" + 50 cupcakes

Square 10", 8", 6"

Party Serving

Round 12", 10", 8", 6"

Round 9", 7", 5" + 50 cupcakes

Square 12", 10", 8"

These are just a few examples. There are lots of different variations that can be put together to create the look you want while accommodating your guest list.

As a general rule each tier is three to four layers of cake with filling between each layer. Having said that, it's important to note that in order to achieve a desired look, tiers may vary in the number of layers meaning that once the cake is cut there could be varying depths of cake. This is just something to bear in mind when you're discussing different options with your cake designer.

I hope this has given a bit of a peak into what's involved in choosing the correct size of cake and the portion sizes you'd like. However, attached below is my round cake 'wedding' size cutting guide for you to use as a reference :)

Happy Wedding Planning

Kathryn

*A double barrel cake is exactly as it sounds. It's essentially 2 tiers of cake of the same diameter stacked to look like one tall tier. These are usually separated in the middle with a cake card making cutting easier.

Round "wedding" slices