You know it’s all about that Cake
It seems fitting that my first blog post will be about cake! If you know our story, you will know that is where it all began. In my Spill the Sugar Blog posts, I will talk about everything that you need to know inside the world of weddings.
Now, cake!
Wedding cakes are a staple of almost every wedding, dating back to ancient Rome when cakes made with wheat or barley were broken over the brides head. Um… hello hair and makeup touch up!!
Fast forward centuries later, and there is a vast variety of wedding cakes from small and simple to grand statement pieces. With all the variables, there are some things that hold true for every Bride -
What do you need to know when ordering?
Why can they get so expensive?!
What trends are we seeing for 2026?
What to know when ordering -
First, how many guests do you want to serve? I always tell my brides that they know their people. Big dessert fans? Come in right around your guest count. Not as much? Shoot for under your guest count by at least 15 servings. There really are few things as sad as wasted cake!
Secondly, have an idea of what design or look fits your day and your vibe. Always keep in mind that all cake decorators in the area will always have their own style. Creating a carbon copy of an inspiration will never happen, even recreating our own work again will turn out slightly different.
Lastly, your timeframe of booking should be no less than 3-4 months out and even that is cutting it too soon for many bakers. Charleston is one of the top wedding destination locations in the US, and most bakers are a year out on their calendars. The good thing is, most bakers give you time to iron out the details so focus on booking the bakery that you want, and add the details later!
Okay, so what is with the cost?
I know hearing $800 plus for a cake (we are talking 3 tier.. one tier would be bananas) sounds wild, but it is important to keep a few things in mind -
A. Cost of supplies - A good solid cake takes support. Items like cake drums, cake dowels, cake boards between each tier adds up quickly.
B. Cost of ingredients - a three tier cake can take anywhere from 6 to 8 batches of vanilla buttercream, and each batch is around $12 to make! This does not even include the cost of the cake!
C. Investments - Transporting a three or higher tier cake probably shaves a few months of my life off each time I deliver and to make that process a little less intense, investing in products like a cake safe helps ensure that your cake makes it to you in one piece. This piece of mind is not cheap, and theses business expenses go into the overall cost of the quality you receive.
D. Prep, clean up, and utility usage - hours of shopping, prepping, 5-7 business days of clean up, an oven that constantly tells me “I’m tired Boss”, along with two baking refrigerators (one for ingredients, another for finished cakes) all adds up!
E. Skill - So much of what you’re paying for is our ability to create it, we really are just amazing like that. Whether you are hiring a pastry chef with years of training, or a self taught artist, you are paying for the skill and talent it takes to create a wedding cake.
2026 Trends?
I have to say, the vintage style is holding on strong and I am completely okay with it and the simple elegance it offers. I am also seeing more people add color, especially with fresh florals or a pallet style.