Cake vs. Cup Cakes

Cost depends on where you go and how fancy you get. Almost every baker I checked with, cupcakes were cheaper. Just recently I checked prices at a local grocery for our 2nd reception and the cake/cupcakes were about the same price. We are having regular cake for our main reception but for the 2nd reception I'm doing cupcakes for the simple fact that no one will have to cut/serve and it'll be faster/easier.

Personally, I would be disappointed if I went to a wedding and didn't get a piece of cake! I also prefer the look of a real cake on the table vs cupcakes. To me the cupcakes seem a bit childish, great for birthday parties or even showers, but not a wedding. But people say the same thing about balloons...and I love balloon decor at a weddding (when it's done right!).

I was at a reception this weekend where they had a tiered stand of cupcakes with different flavors of cake and frosting -- the key lime cupcake was great!

I am actually thinking of doing both, we have a ton of kids comig ot our weding so i am doing a cake and a cupcake tree

I'm absolutely doing cupcakes! Mainly because I'm not a huge cake fan, but I love cupcakes ha. I just love that the cupcakes can have all different designs on them. I'm also doing a small cake for the FH and I to cut, but everyone else will be eating cupcakes.

As you can see by my profile photo-I specialize in tiered wedding cupcake towers. I felt compelled to write a quick post--there are so many options for brides who want to do cupcakes. You can do a small cutting cake on the top tier and personalize it however you'd like. Whether a fondant topper with the bride and grooms monogram/initial, a duplicate flower made of fondant/gumpaste to match the brides bouquet, a color theme or simple buttercream-the possibilities are endless. The cupcake towers make a great display piece at the reception and make great conversation starter for your guests. The idea that you can choose multiple flavors is always favorable to brides too! One final thing many brides are doing is cupcakes as favors in a small windowed box with pretty ribbons or cupcake pops in a sleeved bag with cute ribbons. Just something to think about!

Wow! I was not expecting so many responses. All of them are great! Not sure I like square cup cakes, but they are pretty cool looking. And I think the best part of a cupcake is that it is messy. I hope no one tries to eat them with a fork, that will take all the fun out of it. (j/k) My job is very messy and that's what I love about it! We probably wont have any kids at the wedding, so it will be strictly a bunch of adults acting like kids. I found cup cakes to be much cheaper than a cake. (about 1/2 the cost) And you can get more than one flavor and even filled. (like a cake) And I was having a hard time trying to decide on favors, but I think the cupcake idea is a good one....along with the other things I am making for everyone. :-D I have always said that people need to just "let go" and show their childish side. Our wedding will be far from traditional in almost every way. I just had no idea my ideas are now a "trend". Ha!

@ Potter just lick the icing off first hat is he best part anyway

Hmmmm my t didnt work lol

I think either is good! Do whichever you like best!

Coming from an etiquette standpoint - along with traditions of other cultures - cupcakes are perfectly acceptable. They used to make small 'cakes' and drizzle them all with honey for the 'cake' in one culture. The guests would bring them, stack them up, and then the bride and groom were supposed to kiss over the top without knocking it over in another.

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I would recommend a small 2 tier cake for the topper though. The reason is that the cake cutting is a ceremony and a fundamental part of the wedding day celebration (I can explain more but I only have so much room ). This way you can pull the top, cut the 1st tier and then have the option of cupcakes or cake.

- FYI: With cupcakes people tend to get more 'cake'.

Personally, I don't care about cake-cutting, and neither does FH, so we skipped the topper cake. Ultimately, it's about what is important and "fundamental" to YOU, the couple.

It comes down to the look you want at your wedding. Both a cake and cupcakes can be made to work with a formal or casual event.

Since having a small wedding, cupcakes will take up more square inch space thus looking more impressive than a small 2 tiered cake.

In most cases cupcakes are cheaper. But, final price will depend on the complexity of the design and the type of cupcake liners you want.

Well, I am not a traditionalist and don't really care why people do things now. Some of the original stories stemming from the now traditions are very interesting and a fun bit of information, however quite demoralizing in my opinion and make the woman out to be a piece of property. I appreciate everyone's comments, they are all very interesting and in some cases inspiring. However, I think that cupcakes just suit our personality better. I think we will skip the cake all together and just take a big bite out of the cupcake. No face mushing though......that's just not nice.

Congratulations on your decision!

We use the traditions to find significance - leaving out those reasons that are inappropriate for a celebration of love and families coming together. Not all traditions are right for all people... (I really hope I didn't sound pushy in my original post... nor this one... - We just love to help!)

I love cupcakes so I had to have them. But ours cost $1.50 more per serving each which kinda sucked.

MusicalMeister: Nooooo. You did not sound pushy or anything. That was not my intent on my response. I really appreciate it.

Cupcakes can be SPENDY! I wanted to do them for my daughters shower....but with 30 guests, the cupcakes would run $180! They figure 4 per guest, of the mini cupcakes.

In our case, the cake will cost $515 sand feed 130 guests. $3.96 per person vs $6.00 per person for cupcakes, based on 4 minis per person.

That's an insane cost. I found a great place, with great cupcakes (better than cake for 1.50 a cupcake. I ordered 50 of them. They even have the fancy wrappers. I think what helped is that I am providing the stand. (?)

That is the price I quoted...$1.50 per cupcake....4 per person. That adds up to $6 per person. ;-)