Easy ways to save on your cake

Your wedding cake should make a statement, but you can have an amazing one without blowing the budget!

1) Call in the family
If you've got some friends or relatives with amazing baking skills, ask them if they'd like to make your cake for you. If you don't want to put that much pressure on one person, enlist a few to make a tier each – they could all be different flavours for maximum effect!

2) Dummy layers
If you want a big, tiered cake but don't have enough guests to eat it all, talk to your cake maker about having some dummy tiers. These are iced to look like real cake but don't have any cake inside, making them a cheaper option.

3) Get creative
It's easy to make a plain cake look amazing by adding a couple of details. Try a cool cake topper, decorate with ribbon and pretty vintage brooches, or use fresh flowers that fit with your colour scheme.

4) Hit the supermarket
Supermarkets such as Marks & Spencer and Waitrose now have impressive wedding cake ranges, and they can save you a lot! You can also choose from a variety of different flavours, so you don't have to go for traditional fruit cake.

5) Play the numbers game
Although one amazing cake makes a real impact, you can create that wow-factor by having a whole table of homemade cakes! Ask your closest friends and family to each make you their favourite cake (anything from a Victoria sponge to chocolate brownies) and display them all on a dessert table – thrifty and on-trend!