My Wedding Cake Was Fake – And Four Years Later, I Still Have It!

Four years ago, I got married at the beautiful Old Palace in Chester. Like most brides, I wanted a gorgeous wedding cake that would look amazing in our photographs.

But here's something most of our wedding guests probably still don't know...

My entire wedding cake was fake!

And the funniest part? Four years later, I still have it, and it looks just as lovely as it did on our wedding day.

Our guests didn't miss out on cake either. In fact, there wasn't a single crumb left!

Why I Chose a Fake Wedding Cake

When we were planning our wedding, I knew I wanted a beautiful cake. But I also knew that wedding cakes can be expensive, and I couldn't help thinking about how much might end up going to waste.

By the time guests have enjoyed their wedding breakfast, drinks and evening food, there's only so much cake anyone can eat!

So I had an idea.

Instead of ordering a traditional edible wedding cake, I asked my cake maker to create a dummy wedding cake.

The cake was professionally decorated, but underneath the icing was polystyrene rather than sponge.

It meant I could have the beautiful wedding cake I'd imagined, without having to worry about what would happen to all that cake afterwards.

And it also meant I could keep it!

So What Did Our Wedding Guests Actually Eat?

This is where Sainsbury's came to the rescue!

Instead of paying for an expensive wedding cake to serve to everyone, I bought birthday cakes from Sainsbury's.

They were served to our guests as wedding cake, and do you know what?

Nobody noticed!

Well, at least nobody said anything. A few guests even commented on how lovely the cake was.

And the best bit? There wasn't a single piece of Sainsbury's cake left at the end.

Everyone who wanted cake got cake, we saved money, and we didn't have piles of leftovers going to waste.

Sometimes the simplest ideas really are the best!

Is a Fake Wedding Cake Cheaper Than a Real One?

In our case, having a fake wedding cake and serving supermarket cakes worked out considerably cheaper.

However, I wouldn't want anyone to assume that every dummy wedding cake will automatically cost less than a traditional one.

A professional cake maker still needs to spend time decorating it. If you're having intricate icing, handmade sugar flowers or lots of detailed work, the decorating costs can still add up.

I'd recommend asking your cake maker to quote for a few different options:

• A completely fake wedding cake: A professionally decorated display cake, with separate cakes to serve to your guests.
• A mixture of real and dummy tiers: Ideal if you'd still like part of your wedding cake to be edible.
• A smaller real wedding cake: Perfect for the traditional cake-cutting photograph, with additional cakes served separately.
• A dummy cake with supermarket cakes: The option we chose, which worked brilliantly for us.

If you're researching wedding cake alternatives, it's definitely worth comparing the total costs rather than assuming a traditional cake is your only option.

The Little Details That Made Our Wedding Cake Special

Of course, being someone who loves all things creative, I was just as interested in how the cake looked as what was inside it!

Our wedding cake featured beautiful pink, white and sparkling copper tones, with silver diamante-effect ribbon trim adding detail around the tiers.

I loved how the trim caught the light. It gave the cake a beautiful finishing detail without needing lots of individual crystals.

It's actually the very same style of silver diamante-effect ribbon trim that I now sell through The Creative Bride.

And although it looked beautiful on our wedding cake, it's also incredibly versatile for other creative projects.

You could use it to decorate:

• Handmade wedding invitations and stationery boxes
• Wedding favour boxes and gift packaging
• Decorative cake boards and cake surrounds
• Wedding table centrepieces and vases
• Handmade cards and craft projects

It's available in several widths, so you can choose something delicate or create a more noticeable decorative border.

Shop our Silver Diamante-Effect Ribbon Trim

Please note: Our decorative ribbon trim is not edible or food-safe. Always use a suitable food-safe barrier to keep craft decorations separate from edible cake.

Four Years Later, I Still Have My Wedding Cake!

One of my favourite things about choosing a dummy wedding cake is that I still have it today.

It's been four years since our wedding, and the cake still looks just as beautiful.

Most couples keep their wedding photographs, perhaps their flowers or a few special decorations. I managed to keep the entire wedding cake!

It's a lovely reminder of our wedding day, and it always makes me smile knowing what's actually underneath all that icing.

Would I Choose a Fake Wedding Cake Again?

Absolutely. Without a doubt!

We had a beautiful wedding cake for our photographs, everyone enjoyed their cake, and we saved money in the process.

Of course, I know a fake wedding cake won't be for everyone. Some couples love the tradition of cutting and serving their wedding cake, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But if you're looking for ways to reduce your wedding costs without missing out on the details that matter to you, it's certainly an option worth exploring.

And as for serving Sainsbury's birthday cakes at a wedding?

Well, judging by the empty plates, I'd say that was a success too!

I'd love to know what you think. Would you have a fake wedding cake at your wedding, or do you think I've taken wedding budgeting a step too far?