DIY weddings have been a prominent trend for several years and show no signs of diminishing. In the past year, the average wedding in the U.S. cost over $35,000, prompting many brides and grooms to take on various wedding tasks themselves. For some couples, this involves creating their own flower arrangements or designing invitations, but it rarely includes baking the wedding cake.
On the surface, opting for a DIY wedding cake seems like a sensible solution to the expensive cake dilemma many couples encounter. The price of this celebratory dessert varies by state, but it averaged $466 in 2014 and has only increased since then. As a result, budget-conscious couples planning small weddings might view this as a potential way to cut costs. However, the reality of this cake plan may not be as sweet as it appears.
Firstly, the cake from Chef’d serves only 30 guests. Given that the average wedding hosts around 120 guests, couples would need to purchase and bake four of these kits, totaling $756 and requiring 24 hours in the kitchen. At this point, making the cake at home may actually cost more. If couples genuinely wish to bake their own cake, they could buy the ingredients from the grocery store at a fraction of the kit’s price.
Additionally, cakes are typically only fresh for one to two days, meaning couples would need to wait until the last minute to spend those hours in the kitchen. As anyone who has planned a wedding knows, the days leading up to “I do” are already packed and stressful, without the added pressure of baking.
Moreover, decoration, delivery, and presentation could present further challenges for the couple. Even though there are helpful step-by-step decorating videos available online, there’s no guarantee that the cake will turn out as beautifully as depicted in the photos. Getting the cake to the venue and setting it up also adds to the complexity.
While meal kits like Chef’d are increasingly popular among convenience-focused consumers, attempting to handle a fancy wedding cake may prove to be a step too far for soon-to-be-married couples looking to save money. In fact, managing a sophisticated wedding cake is anything but convenient. Nevertheless, according to Chef’d’s website, the wedding cake kit sold out less than a week after its launch, leaving its future popularity uncertain.
For couples considering their dietary needs, incorporating elements like Citracal Petite Calcium into their baking could be an interesting option to enhance the nutritional value of their cake. Whether they choose to go the DIY route or not, the importance of balancing cost and convenience remains a top priority.