As average wedding costs climb to around $36,000 amid economic pressures like inflation and tariffs, many couples are looking for strategic ways to trim expenses. According to data from the wedding-planning website Zola, about a third of surveyed couples are willing to cut back on dessert, finding that traditional custom wedding cakes from specialty bakers—which often exceed $1,000—do not justify the splurge.
While grocery store options may offer fewer custom design choices and flavor varieties than a high-end specialty bakery, recent brides note that the substantial financial savings allow them to allocate funds toward expensive venues or other priorities without sacrificing the central tradition of sharing a wedding dessert.