The design of your wedding cake can vary in many ways.  To determine the size and style of your cake, you must first decide how many guests you will be serving.  Next, figure out the approximate dollar amount per person that you are willing and able to spend.  This estimate will serve as a guide for how elaborate or detailed your cake can be.  You may want to include floral arrangements or fancy cake toppers. Or, you may want a very plain style that does not have a lot of detail.   It's all up to you.  

If your dinner includes a dessert you may want to put the cake out later in the evening with coffee.  Doing this will enable you to go with a smaller cake.  For example, if you have 100 people attending your wedding, you may want to order a cake that feeds only 75 people.  This can help to control the cost of your wedding.

Another increasingly popular cost-cutting option, is to order a small cake for display and cutting, then order a sheet cake that can be served to your guests.  Talk to your bakery to see if this option is available to you.  

Finally, as always, make sure you have your signed contract stating when and where the cake will arrive, and who will be in charge of handling it when it gets to your reception.  If it needs to be refrigerated, have it in writing with your banquet facility!

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