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Beginner August 2016

How many portions of wedding cake do you actually need?

Chale, 3 of January of 2016 at 17:38 Posted on Planning 0 11

We are inviting 85 people to the service and wedding breakfast, and a further 65 to the evening do, giving a total of 150 (maximum, but the actual number may be smaller).

Does that mean we need 150 portions of wedding cake? Or should we over/under cater? I want to make sure there is enough for everyone that wants some, with maybe a small amount leftover (but not loads). Our friends are making our cake for us and I want to figure out how many portions we'll need so that I can tell them what size cake tins they need to buy/hire.

Any input much appreciated!

11 replies

Latest activity by Karen84, 6 of January of 2016 at 13:33
  • E
    Beginner May 2016
    ExpensivePinkCars201 ·
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    It's not just the number, but the size of the portion. If it's for guests to take home then the portion size is usually smaller than if you were to have cake for dessert. Also, not everyone likes cake anyway (crazy people!) so I wouldn't cater for every guest. If you're expecting 150 guests I would cater for about 120 and you'll more than likely still be left with some at the end.

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  • C
    Beginner August 2016
    Chale ·
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    The cake is to take home/be handed round later in the evening, rather than to be served as pudding. I know what you mean about not everyone wanting some. I went to four weddings last year and I think I only ate the cake at one of them (it was amazing though, red velvet!).

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  • E
    Beginner May 2016
    ExpensivePinkCars201 ·
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    Sorry it is potato quality but this seems quite useful. I'd go for 120 portions if you are expecting 150 people.

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  • L
    Beginner October 2014
    LalaC1988 ·
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    But if you was guest 121 who wanted cake and guest 120 had took said cake, wouldn't you be disappointed? Or auntie may deciding cousin sue (who wasn't invited) would love some cake taking home, and hey look there's loooooads so auntie may takes several peices. Imo and maybe it was me bring cautious I believe you should cover one per item to each guest plus 10% I know my cake was an important element so I over catered

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  • E
    Beginner May 2016
    ExpensivePinkCars201 ·
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    If it doesn't make too much difference to the cost and you're ok with binning some I suppose you could just cater for the full 150. I'm just going off of what several bakers told us when we were making inquiries for our cake and it made sense to me.

    My sister had cupcakes for her wedding cake and she did one for everyone (about 90 people). My fiancé and I had a couple each as it was nearly the end of the night and it was clear the cakes weren't going anywhere. My sister later told me that only 30-40 of the cakes went meaning over half went to waste. This would have been the case if she'd only catered for 80 but it would have still meant 10 less in the bin!

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  • Stephisaur
    Beginner April 2017
    Stephisaur ·
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    Our cake will cater for about 120 people and we're expecting to invite 100-120 (we think)

    In your case, I would make a cake for 150 people. I think the people who take more than their share will balance out the people who don't want any Smiley smile

    I tend to use this guide when working out serving sizes


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  • N
    Beginner January 2016
    NoMoore ·
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    We have 111 during the day and 30-40 extra in the evening. Our cake works out at 176 portions (oops)... it's because our main cake is chocolate with chocolate ganache, and then I have bars of lemon sponge, plain sponge and fruit cake to cover all bases. The cake will get eaten at some point, even if it's with coffee the following morning.

    Always better to have too much than not enough and look too tight to buy enough cake Smiley smile

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  • E
    Beginner May 2016
    ExpensivePinkCars201 ·
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    Hmmmm, I would never consider myself "tight" and my other half would certainly argue that I am the exact opposite of tight and wishes I was a bit more frugal!

    The numbers that I have suggested and will go by myself are based on the opinions of several bakers who do this week in week out. Being as it is their business, it would make more sense for them to oversell but every baker advised less portions than the number of people estimated to attend. We will also be having a candy cart with cookies and brownies in the evening so there will be plenty to go around for those with a sweet tooth.

    The amount of cake left at my sisters wedding was criminal, and I don't want to be left with 40 portions of cake to eat the next day as much as I love cake I think I would be sick, haha!

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  • N
    Beginner January 2016
    NoMoore ·
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    I wasn't suggesting you were tight. You asked a question and I gave my opinion... I would be mortified if there wasn't enough cake to go round everyone that wanted some. If there is lots leftover I will just send some home with everyone in the morning and have some with coffee as we did at my sister in laws wedding. I've also asked that the venue keep a tier whole if it's not required so we can take it home and freeze it. My friends just defrosted theirs and had it on their first anniversary.

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  • S
    Beginner September 2017
    Sorbet ·
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    I have honestly never had cake at a wedding and ive heard from many friend in catering that the staff often eat it or it just ends up in the bin with only a token amount being kept

    but then it depends on your group of friends ive seen (on tv only mind you) places get mobbed for the cake before... one show about extravigant cakes even had people climing up furniture to steal the decerations on top tiers ?

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  • Neil Walker Photography
    Neil Walker Photography ·
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    I think this is one of those times when a bit of professional advice would be wonderful. Knowing all the facts about your wedding would really help, for instance if you are having other food served at the same time as the cake comes out etc etc

    You could ask at the venue, or ring a cake maker & ask. I really don't mind if people ask me photography related questions about their wedding day, even if the couple asking aren't going to book me for their photography.

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  • Karen84
    Beginner July 2016
    Karen84 ·
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    View quoted message

    This is a great diagram, much more straight forward than others I've seen. Going back to the OPs question, I think you are better off over catering than under. Particularly if you are having it out in the evening, say as part of the buffet. I don't think I've ever taken a piece of cake home in my life, but if it's out for people to pick at I would probably have more than one piece. Could you get your friend to make your cake as planned, but have a spare cutting bar that you could have brought out if stocks are running low? M&S do quite a few varieties. It would be fairly cheap so if you don't end up using it, you could always freeze it or take it in to work or something.

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