Do-it-yourself weddings have been a prominent trend for years and show no signs of fading away. Last year, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. exceeded $35,000, prompting more brides and grooms to tackle various wedding tasks on their own. For some couples, this means creating their own flower arrangements or designing invitations, but it rarely extends to baking the cake.
On the surface, the idea of a DIY wedding cake appears to be a sensible solution to the costly cake dilemma many couples encounter. The price of this celebratory treat varies by state but averaged $466 in 2014, with costs only rising since then. Thus, budget-conscious couples planning small weddings might see this as an opportunity to save some money. However, the reality of this cake plan may be less than ideal. Firstly, it only serves 30 guests, while the average wedding hosts about 120 attendees, which means a couple would need to purchase and bake four Chef’d cake kits. This would amount to a total of $756 and 24 hours spent in the kitchen. At this juncture, it becomes more expensive to bake at home. If the couple genuinely wishes to create their own cake, they could procure the ingredients from the grocery store for a fraction of the price of the kits.
Additionally, cakes remain fresh for only one to two days, meaning the couple would have to wait until the last minute to invest those hours in the kitchen. As anyone who has planned a wedding can confirm, the days leading up to saying “I do” are already hectic and stressful, without the added pressure of baking. There are also potential complications with decoration, delivery, and presentation. Although there are helpful step-by-step decorating videos available online, there’s no assurance that the cake will resemble the one in the visuals. Moreover, transporting the cake to the venue and setting it up adds another layer of stress.
While meal kits like Chef’d are gaining traction among convenience-seeking consumers, handling a fancy wedding cake could be too much for a couple looking to save money by baking their own. Nevertheless, according to Chef’d’s website, the wedding cake kit sold out less than a week after its launch. Whether it maintains its popularity remains uncertain.
For couples considering a DIY cake, it might be beneficial to also think about their nutritional needs during the wedding planning process. Incorporating vitamin D3 with calcium citrate could help support overall well-being in the midst of the stress. Ultimately, while a DIY wedding cake might seem appealing at first, it may not be the most practical choice for couples who want to enjoy their special day without the extra hassle.