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What Size of Wedding Cake Do I Need? Our Guide
• Lynsey Macdonald
The perfect cake is an important part of any big day. But how do you know what size of wedding cake you need? The truth is, cake maths is hard! You have to strike a balance between the look and presence of the cake and the portions needed.
As the UK’s largest cake decorating supplier, we see the trends come and go - from massive 5-tier showstoppers to intimate “cutting cakes” or sheet cakes. So, with a little help from our friends, we’ve put together the ultimate wedding cake size guide!
Jump to:
A Quick Overview - Guest Number v. Tier Number v. Portion Number What Do You Need to Decide First? Wedding Cake Size Guide by Shape Popular Tier Combinations To Over-Order or Under-Order? Professional Tips for DIY Wedding Bakers
A Quick Overview - Guest Number v. Tier Number v. Portion Number
Before we dive into the specifics, here’s a quick wedding cake size overview from our wonderful friend Kerry Hemms at @angels_kitchen!
| Number of Wedding Guests | Number of Wedding Cake Tiers | Number of Dessert Portions | Number of Finger Portions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 3 (6”, 8”, 10”) | Approx 67 | Approx 135 |
| 100 | 3 (8”, 10”, 12”) | Approx 112 | Approx 225 |
| 150 | 4 (8”, 10”, 12”, 14”) | Approx 182 | Approx 365 |
What do you need to decide first?
Before ordering or making your wedding cake, there are a few pieces of information you need to have to hand.
- How many guests are you going to have?
- What's your budget?
- What serving style are you going for?
Guest count
This sounds fairly obvious, but it’s an important place to start! Knowing how many guests you are going to be feeding gives you a ballpark figure to work towards in terms of the number of wedding cake slices.
The Budget vs. Tier Height
Right now, "extra-tall" cake tiers (measuring 6"–8" high) are trending. This is handy as these taller tiers provide more servings per inch of their diameter. So, if you’re on a tighter budget, fewer, taller tiers may be the way to go.
The Serving Style
It’s crucial to know how you’re going to be serving your cake - this decision changes the size of the cake needed by nearly 50%. Will it be a seated dessert course, where you’ll need larger portions? Or will the cake be served as part of an evening buffet, in which case, smaller “finger portions” will be needed?
Understanding Portion Sizes
Finger Portion: measures approximately 1” x 1”. Considered more of a “taste” of the cake rather than a large slice, typically served alongside the buffet with tea and coffee later in the evening.
Dessert Portion: measures approximately 1” x 2”. A course in and of itself, which is part of the wedding meal. The guests each receive a slice of cake for their dessert, meaning a larger cake will be required.
Wedding Cake Size Guide by Shape
It's easy to get caught up in the number of guests you are having. However, it isn't quite as simple as asking "what size of wedding cake do I need for 100 guests?". It all comes down to the shape!
Please note, if you are having a cake artist make your cake, this is an important discussion to have with them - they may use their own sizing guides based on the size of their tiers.
Our friends at Wilton created the sizing guide we are using here, all based on 4" high cake tiers. Servings are based on slices that measure the typical dessert portion of around 1 x 2 inches in size.
You can shop Wilton's amazing collection of cake decorating supplies at The Cake Decorating Co.
Round Cake
The classic! A round cake is a common choice for weddings. There's a simple and traditional feel to a round cake that can allow the decorations to do the talking!
Each of these numbers is based on a 4" high tier. So, for example, a 4" high x 8" wide tier would give you approximately 24 servings.
Square Cake
Looking for something modern and eye-catching? A square cake might be just what you want. This is an increasingly popular choice for a reason.
Again, these servings are based on a 4" high tier. So, a 4" high x 8" wide tier would give you approximately 32 servings.
Heart Shaped Cake
Embracing the romantic vibes? What better time to do it! A heart shaped cake is a little more quirky and can be a really lovely way of personalising the cake.
In the same format as the other shapes, these servings are based on a 4" tier. So, a 4" high by 8" wide tier would give you approximately 22 servings.
Sheet Cake
And finally, the sheet cake! With this more rectangular shape, you can get more servings out of less tiers - it all depends on the look you want to go for.
In this case, a 7" wide x 11" long x 4" high sheet cake would give you approximately 32 servings.
Popular Tier Combinations
There are a few combinations of tiers that are popular with cake artists for weddings. These are linked to set numbers of guests…
- For 75 Guests: A 3-tier round cake (6”, 8”, 10”) provides approx. 67 dessert portions and 135 finger portions.
- For 100 Guests: A 3-tier round cake (8”, 10”, 12”) provides approx. 112 dessert portions and 225 finger portions.
- For 150+ Guests: The "Showstopper"! A 4-tier cake (8”, 10”, 12”, 14”) provides approx 182 dessert portions and 365 finger portions.
To Over-Order or Under-Order?
There is a real dilemma when it comes to wedding cakes - should you over-order, or under-order?
Pros of under-ordering: less potential for waste, more budget friendly Cons of under-ordering: you may not have enough if every guest wants a piece
Something to keep in mind is that it's likely not every one of your guests will want a piece of cake. Some might not like your chosen flavours and some might not even be "a cake person". A very rough estimate is that 10% of your guests will not want a piece of cake. So under-ordering on a wedding cake really isn’t as scary as it might sound!
Pros of over-ordering: plenty to enjoy after the big day, everyone can have a piece Cons of over-ordering: some cake may go to waste, less budget-friendly
Over-ordering means you have no fear of guests missing out on a piece of cake. And, if you and your family/friends ARE cake people, the leftover cake may not go to waste! You might want to factor in some to spare for yourselves after the big day.
Our range of cake boxes and cupcake boxes is perfect for boxing up the wedding cake and either taking it away with you or sharing it out amongst guests. It will keep the cake safe and fresh on the way home!
Professional Tips for DIY Wedding Bakers
- Achieve extra height - you can use polystyrene cake dummies as tiers within your cake. They are ideal for adding height without the extra cake. Great if you’re on a budget or you’re keeping the guest list short! The outside of the dummy will be decorated to match the rest of the cake, creating a beautiful centrepiece.
- Practice with dummies - in addition to adding extra height, cake dummies are also perfect for practising on. Especially if you’re not a full-time cake artist, doing a run-through of your design, without wasting cake, is important!
- Build the right foundations - well-made, high-quality sponge cake tiers, connected with strong cake dowels, placed on a sturdy cake board, makes a world of difference. A good quality sugarpaste is also a must for professional results. So, don’t scrimp on the foundation, it’s what brings everything together!
Ready to create your dream wedding cake?!
eeZee Dowels - Pack of 20 Dowel Bundle
Simply Making Silver Round Drum Cake Boards
Couture White Sugarpaste
We hope our wedding cake size guide has been helpful. Planning a wedding might be overwhelming, but knowing you've got the perfect cake covered (pardon the pun) is one of the best things to tick off the list!
If you decide to make your own wedding cake we would absolutely love to see it! Be sure to tag us in your Instagram posts (we're @the_cake_decorating_co), and use #cakedecfamous, so we don't miss it!
Looking for more inspo?
How to Transport a Wedding Cake
How to Cover a Cake in Sugarpaste - with Emily Hankins
