Fake Wedding Cakes vs Real Wedding Cakes Pros and Cons and What to Choose
- Andi Priddy
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
A Fake Wedding cake (often called a dummy cake) is made from materials like foam, clay, resin or sealed sculpted bases designed to look identical to a real cake. Couples often pair a fake cake with a much less expensive sheet cake that is kept out of view of guests, but gets served to them as a real stacked wedding cake would be. For the cake cutting ceremony, often there is a real piece of cake inserted in the back of the dummy cake from which the married couple can ceremoniously do the traditional cake cutting while the guests are none the wiser.
Pros of Fake Wedding Cakes
They Look Perfect All Day
Fake wedding cakes don’t melt, sag, or crack — even in outdoor summer weddings. The cake looks just as beautiful during golden hour photos as it did at setup.
This makes them ideal for:
outdoor ceremonies
destination weddings
long reception timelines
Significant Cost Savings
Real wedding cakes are priced by tiers, detail, and labor. With a fake cake:
only one small real cake is needed for cutting
guests can be served sheet cake or dessert bars
couples can save hundreds to thousands of dollars
Photographer Approved!
Photographers love fake wedding cakes because:
they can be styled early, there's no rush before the ceremony and
they photograph beautifully under studio of venue lighting.
Fake cakes are especially popular for flat lay wedding photography
No Food Safety or Storage Issues
Fake Wedding Cakes require no refrigeration and never spoil. They aren't affected by long setup times making them easier for planners and venues to manage. They are reusable and sustainable and can be used for styled shoots and even kept as display pieces for anniversaries!
Quality Matters
Low quality fake wedding cakes look shiny or plastic and this is why handcrafted, hyper realistic cakes designed for photography and events are essential
The Pros of Real Wedding Cakes
The traditional look of a real wedding cake is unmatched (well, most of the time) and the traditional cake cutting ceremony is a wonderful thing for the couple and guests to witness during the reception ceremony.
Cons of Real Wedding Cakes
Heat and Time Sensitivity: Real wedding
Cakes are vulnerable to Melting buttercream, cracking fondant, transport damage. Outdoor weddings pose the biggest risk.
High Cost: Each additional guest/tier increases price quickly. Cakes are priced per person and per tier. Don't for get the delivery and set-up charges!
Limited Setup Window: Real cakes must be delivered close to the event time, creating stress for bakers and planners
Who Should Choose a Fake Wedding Cake?
Fake Wedding cakes are ideal for Outdoor or summer weddings, Destination weddings, styled shoots, couples serving dessert bars and budget conscious couples
Final Thoughts: Fake vs Real Wedding Cakes
Both real and fake wedding cakes have their place - but fake wedding cakes offer unmatched reliability, visual perfection and flexibility for modern weddings.
For couples, planners and photographers focused on appearance, budget and stress-free execution, fake wedding cakes are becoming the clear choice
For a FREE ESTIMATE for a FAKE WEDDING CAKE contact us at:
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