Wedding Idea: A less ornate wedding cake will cost less. Decorate the cake with fresh flowers instead of having the baker decorate it with sugar flowers.

Wedding Idea: Have a small wedding cake made for cutting and taking photographs, and order a sheet cake to be cut and served to guests.

Wedding Idea: Choose butter cream frosting instead of fondant. It is less labor intensive and thus costs less.

Wedding Idea: If you prefer whip cream instead of butter cream frosting you can still have whip cream. Have your caterer keep the cake refrigerated until you are ready to cut it and take the pictures.

Wedding Idea: Make sure your wedding cake actually tastes good. The cake is the last item your guests will eat and something that will likely stand out in their memory.

Wedding Idea: Have a friend or relative learn how to set up a cake and pick it up on a day of your wedding to avoid the delivery and set-up fees the bakery would typically charge.

Beware that there may be an additional cake-cutting fee if you don't order your cake from the hotel or restaurant you are having your reception at.

Pictures of real life wedding cakes:

(Cakes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are butter cream and cake 2 - fondant)

Questions to ask when selecting a bakery for your wedding cake:

• How many years have you been baking your cakes?
• What are your wedding cake specialties?
• Do you offer free tasting for your wedding cakes?
• How far in advance should I order my wedding cake?
• What is the cost per serving for my desired cake?
• Is there any rental fee for cake pillars and plate?
• Is this fee refundable upon the return of these items? Are there any disposable items?
• What is your cake delivery and set-up fee?
• What is your payment and cancellation policy?
• What is the name and phone number of my contact person?

There are two types of bakers - commercial and non-commercial. A commercial baker specializes in wedding cakes and makes them in large quantities. He/she already has a wide variety of cakes to choose from. A non-commercial is usually a baker that bakes his/her cakes out of their home or small rented kitchen. They consider themselves artists, because most of the time they try to design a cake that is one of a kind. The non-commercial is usually less expensive than commercial one, although in some instances where the cake is very elaborate, it is the opposite.

There are three basic types of frostings: butter cream, whip cream and fondant. Butter cream has a buttery flavor and is not too sweet. It needs to be refrigerated until a few hours before cake cutting, otherwise it'll melt. It's the least expensive option. Whip cream is very delicate and will not hold up in higher temperatures. Like butter cream, the cake will need to be refrigerated. The decorating options are limited because it has much lighter texture. Fondant is flat and smooth and doesn't need to be refrigerated. It doesn't really taste good and is hard to cut, but it looks great and unlike butter cream will let you put all kinds of decorations on the cake.

Wedding Idea: Consider borrowing from a family member or friend a cake knife and toasting glasses, or use a reception facility's. Another place to buy these at very competitive prices is eBay.

Wedding Idea: Remember to check e-Bay, where you can buy excellent set of cake knifes and other items for very low prices.

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