How do i get away with out ordering a "wedding Cake"?

You don’t. They’re going to know when they arrive that they’re at a wedding and you’ll be breaking your contract.

What Caytlyn said. Also, I've heard from several people in the wedding industry that this is a myth. The wedding cake usually costs a lot because it's more elaborate. Most people aren't buying multi-tiered cakes on a regular basis. Just ask the bakery how much a 3 tier wedding cake to feed 70 would be.

You can absolutely do a backup shortcake as well. Also, I've seen brides on here have gotten multi-tiered cakes from Sam's Club/Costco/Public so that may be another avenue to explore.

Yeah, honestly you pay more for a tiered cake. That's all. They need to be made in advance and take more work and skill. If you don't mind three plainly decorated cakes that sit on a tiered cake stand, rather than stacking directly on each other, you'll pay a lot less.

Pretty sure the only chance you have of getting away with this is picking it up yourself.
Or creating an elaborate sitcom level fake birthday party.

Like everyone has already said, it’s not a good idea and will probably end up being more work on your end to keep up the lie and my guess is it won’t be any cheaper. Call and ask how much a three tiered white cake is without mentioning the wedding and see if the price is even any different

Thank you all for the advice.

Sam's has really affordable tiered cakes and sheet cakes as another option.

You can’t. You don’t. If the find out your lying they can end the contract leave with the cake. A lot of places make a foam cake and pass out sheet cakes. Cupcakes are normally cheaper.

Hi!

To cut cut our costs on cake, we’ve hired a baker i went to college with (she’s done a few friends weddings) and she is making a cake for 50 people. Then we are getting 3 plain, frosted Costco sheet cakes to be cut and served in the back— probably will have our planner pick it up. We are doing a 2 tier rather than 3 tier, however it doesn’t really matter how many tiers for the most part because the bakers in my town charge per slice.

Our planner also said an option to cut costs on cake is if you insist on a tiered cake, seeing how much the bakery would charge for 1 real tier and 2 fake. The downside to this is you’re still likely paying more than you would want to for proooobably an 8 inch round cake and 2 “fake” cakes.

one last option I’ve been seeing is just having a fake cake, or doing cupcakes or something. I never considered those personally, but have heard that’s a common thing here.

Not everyone eats cake. Like pp's said buy a smaller wedding cake and get sheet cake as back up. Numerous times couples buy cake for each person to have a slice then end up with way too much cake after. Like WAY too much.

Bridal shows and local vendors. I got lucky that the baker I hired was also at a bridal show I attended after hiring her. She gave me a $50 discount for being there and works out of her home instead of a bakery but makes AMAZING delicious creations (we ate so much at our tasting!). So for my 2 tier cake, grooms cake and 4 dozen whoopie pies with delivery and setup I’m only paying $390.

The wedding up charge is real but the also certain vendors NEED to know they’re servicing a wedding. Wedding cakes cost more bc they generally are more elaborate, need to withstand hours of display, and usually come with delivery/setup. If you’re willing to forego those things then feel free to simply say the cake is for a family reunion. I hate how brides are forced to pay higher prices for “extra” services they don’t necessarily want just because it’s a wedding. But in this instance it sounds like you want extra I.e. delivery.

View Quoted Comment I am going to a bridal show so hopefully I can get lucky like you!

View Quoted Comment Agreed, if I want to get away with it will have to pick it up myself

You don't. Someone has to pick it up the day of. Which can easily be accomplished by a mother or father. My friend ordered cupcakes for her wedding and never said wedding (said it was for a family party). Someone picked them up from the bakery.

Just be careful of what your contract says (especially based on the advice to get sheet cakes from Costco/Sams Club). My bakery specifically had a clause in their contract saying I couldn't have desserts from any other place at my wedding. Most bakeries don't want their name attached to a product from a different baker. If you are going the Sams/Costco route get the tiered cake and the sheet cake from there.

Honestly I would shop around at some other bakeries if I were you. I'm not sure where you're located but I live in NY (so you know, known to be one of the more expensive areas) and we got 2 quotes, each for wedding cake to feed 100 and the highest quote we got was $425 ($525 if we wanted gum paste flowers instead of fake or fresh flowers). $350 for 70 seems high, especially if you have a fairly simple design.

It may just be that that bakery is pricey and there will be cheaper ones even if you do mention that it's for a wedding.

I agree with the sheet cake idea. I've been to weddings before where the didn't even serve the wedding cake to the guests at all. I distinctly remember one where the mother of the bride told me that they were saving it to be served at the week long celebration of after parties. They provided other desserts to the guests.

If you want everyone to have the same type of cake, you can have the sheet cake served and save the wedding cake for the send off brunch the next day, or for family and friends when you return from your honeymoon, or some other celebration.

You order a grocery store cake and pick it up yourself or have someone else pick it up. I feel like that is the only way to get away with it. I also don't believe refraining from using the word "wedding" helps. Most bakeries are expensive no matter what party you are throwing.

I'm making my own since no one else has the recipe. It's a orange cheesecake with chocolate. I'm working on the design of the final product and topping ideas. Buffalo, NY is known for orange chocolate, see the connection?