the real deal on wedding cakes

do I have to have a wedding cake?

Technically no, but we think the tradition is definitely worth keeping. If you decide to forgo a cake, offer your guests some other kind of sweet treat, be it a plated dessert or passed chocolates. If you’re skipping the cake solely to save money, consider scaling back instead. Keep your add-ons and decoration requests simple— the less ornate the design, the less time-consuming (and costly) to make. Avoid exotic fillings, such as fresh guava, and instead order classic flavors that can easily be sourced. If you still need to come down on price, ask your baker about having two cakes. Order a small one- or a two-tier confection you can cut, then supplement with a sheet cake in the kitchen.

is buttercream less expensive than fondant?

Sort of—the cost of a bowl