What size wedding cake do I need according to my guest list size?

What a fantastic question! We think a little differently at Cornelius Cheesemongers, mostly because cheese is a)amazing and b) heavier than pastry cakes. A 3 - 4 tier cake is going to weigh in at around 9kg for 150 guests. More than enough cheese for everyone and visually striking to book. 

As a guide we offer the following guidelines: 

As part of a larger dessert offer: between 40 and 60 grams per head.

For a Harvest Table between ceremony and reception: 80-100 grams per head.

For a cocktail reception between 100 and 150 grams per head.

Having said this, every cheese tower we make is tailored to your tastes, both visual and flavour wise. We've made cakes up to 120 kilograms for 120 person weddings simply because the visual appeal was so striking. 

Hello,

When planning your menu you need to decide whether you would like your wedding cake served as desert or to have after with coffee. 

Also take into consideration type of cake - fruit cake, mudcake, naked cake or many other flavours and shape of cake and the number of guests

We can help you select a wedding cake of your choice when taking in the above considerations. 

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This depends on the size of the cake, if the cakes are taller tiers and there are many tiers part of these will be fake and part cake.  If the cakes are single tiers then these can feed up to 130 people.  It will be deceiving and most people cannot tell between a single tier and taller tiers and this is where we come in and explain the whole process.

Hi Saascha, i usually ask how many guests you are feeding and if it is incorporated as dessert or coffee cake ,then thats i work on what sizes you will need to have, always allowing top tier to be an extra for your 1st Anniversary.

The first place to look is the internet. There are many cake serving charts on line. From there you can work out what height you want your cake to be. This is very important to create the "look" you want . My standard cakes are 4" high, so a 6"8'&10" round serve 100 for desert. It's always a good idea to ask the cake decorator what is their standard height . also many decorators like myself have foam dummies so when you go for a tasting they can physically show you the finished size.

If you provide your cake supplier with your guest numbers and whether you are serving your cake for dessert or after the meal as finger serves, they will be able to give you an idea of how much cake you need and a guide on price. For example, the standard 6x8x10' three tier cake provides 80 dessert serves or 150 coffee (finger )serves.

when I deliver cakes I give cutting instructions which tell you how many portions you get and I use the same instructions myself to determine the size of cake needed as it can vary from dessert to finger size But as a guide 2.5 cm square x 8cm + deep for finger size , 5cm x2.5cm x 8cm + deep

At consultations I discuss the size and often demonstrate the size and often offer samples when asked...

Hi Saascha,

Firstly ; Congratulations!
May I ask how many guests you have? and I'll be able to tell you the size/s you could go for (e.g if you have 100 - we could create either a larger 2 tier, or a smaller 3 tier)
Generally we quote based on coffee serves as most venues already include dessert, but if you'd like dessert serves, (a LOT of cake!) then just mention that and we can quote based on that!
Happy Wedding Planning!
Danielle @ Sweetcheeks Cookies and Cakes

Firstly, the brides need to know if they will be serving their cakes for coffee or dessert?

Coffee cake is served at the end of the night with tea /coffee. Coffee servings are 1 inch x 1 inch x 4 inch high.

Dessert cake is served to each guest as part of the meal. Dessert servings are 2 inch x 1 inch x 4 inch high.

Coffee cake for 100 people would usually be large 2 tier or a small 3 tiered cake. Dessert cake for 100 people would need to be a large 3 tier cake.

As a general guide, this is how we estimate the size of cake you will need -

If you are already having dessert as part of the menu, then a coffee portion of 2.5 centimetres by 2.5 centimetres by height of cake (1 inch X 1 inch X height) will be sufficient. Be mindful that most wedding cakes today have taller tiers than in the past. Whilst it may not seem like a lot, it is quite substantial after a full three course meal.

Alternatively, if you are going to serve the wedding cake as the only dessert, with condiments such as fresh cream, ice cream or berries, then you will need the larger individual dessert portions of 5 centimetres by 2.5 centimetres by height of cake ( of 2 inch X 2 inch X height).

Actual quantities may change depending on the person cutting the cake and whether they have been briefed on the decided portion sizes. Always add extra servings as you might invite last minute guests, or guests may want second helpings!