Wedding Cake Portions Made Simple

A quick guide to wedding cake portion sizes

(and how to make your cake budget work harder).

With so many things to think about as you plan for your big day it’s no wonder overwhelm can set in, with an ever growing to-do list and a stark realisation of the costs involved!

The fact that you’re reading this tells me that having an incredible wedding cake is important to you, so let me help you figure out exactly where to start.

The first thing we need to establish is when you will be serving your cake; either for dessert after your main meal, or in the evening with your buffet. This will determine what size portions will be needed; Finger Portions or Dessert Portions:

Cake Portion sizes (6 inch deep) - Finger portion left. Dessert portion right.

Finger Portions

Finger portions are the classic sized slices served during the evening, usually alongside your buffet. Approximately 1" x 6" x 1” in size, they are the perfect amount for your guests to help themselves to. There’s no need to cater for all of your guests with this option, around 80% of your total guest number is usually plenty (as my cake tiers are generally 6+ inches deep, this helps maximise the number of portions you will get).

Here’s a little guide to give you an idea of how many tiers you may need:

So as an example, let’s say you are expecting 120 guests in total (day and evening combined), I would recommend a 3 tier cake which gives around 95 portions).

Now, let’s look at dessert portions:

Dessert Portions

If your cake is going to be served as the dessert for your day guests, then you’ll definitely want dessert portions.

These are larger, more generous slices — usually 1" x 6" x 2” and a delicious way to finish your meal (particularly delicious paired with fresh fruit!). With this option you will need to cater for all of your day guests.

The below guide will help you further but remember, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed when it comes to figuring this out. As your cake designer I will be guiding and advising you to ensure you have the perfect amount of cake, as well as a stunning design that will WOW all your guests.

Top Tip!

A super cost‑effective way to increase the number of wedding cake servings without stretching your budget, is to opt for some ‘kitchen cake’ (also called a cutting cake) in addition to your tiered design.

‘Kitchen cake’ is simply filled & iced sheet cake which is held in the kitchen, cut into slices along with your main cake and all served at the same time.

For example; you want a 3 tiered design which gives 95 portions, but you need 120 portions without adding an additional tier; a ‘kitchen cake’ giving 25 extra slices will be perfect (and cheaper than having a 4 tier cake!).

I know there’s a lot to think about but let me reassure you that a key element of my service is providing you with a relaxed and fun experience, so if you feel we would work well together click below, and let’s get you started on your journey!