How to calculate the weight of a wedding cake

It is difficult to imagine a wedding without a festive treat, which is served almost at the end of the evening. Some people choose a classic cake for their celebration, others choose a wedding cake with cupcakes. Whatever option you choose, it is important to know how to calculate a wedding cake so that all your family and friends can enjoy a delicious treat, advises the Svadbaholik.ru portal.

Which confectionery masterpiece should you choose?

Choosing the right treats for the sweet table is an art.
You can ask for help from a banquet organizer who has experience in wedding feasts. Confectioners who prepare such sweets every week can also help. Pay attention to fashion trends that will give you bright ideas for a wedding.

Before you finally determine the amount of sweets for your wedding banquet, decide whether the treat will be with or without mastic. Cream layers can be made of heavy sweet cream or light curd filling. The cost of the purchase also depends on this. Don’t make a mistake with your choice – this confectionery product will be remembered for a long time.

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Delivery, storage and preparation

It is better to entrust the delivery of such fragile cargo to a confectionery shop. Firstly, they know exactly under what conditions and in what packaging the cake you have chosen needs to be transported. Secondly, if something happens to it during transportation, the confectioner will bear full responsibility for it and will be able to correct the damage in time. To reduce all the risks associated with storing the cake, you can order delivery at a specific time, 2 hours before serving.

But even in this case, you should take care of storing the cake in advance, even at the stage of planning the menu for the banquet. Cakes with fresh berries, fruits, cream and white chocolate are especially demanding when it comes to storage. From the moment of delivery until the official cutting ceremony, the cake must be refrigerated. Therefore, you need to leave free space there in advance. Such that the cake will fit, especially if it is multi-tiered. In addition, you need to make sure that fish, meat or other products that can transfer their smell to the delicate dessert will not be stored near the cake.

If the cake requires additional assembly, then it should begin 2-3 hours before its ceremonial serving. The pastry chef will need a special place where he can work quietly. Therefore, you need to take care of such a place in advance by discussing this issue with the banquet manager. Immediately coordinate with the pastry chef so that after collecting the cake, he instructs the waiters about the features of serving and cutting it.

Birthday Cakes

At holidays or simple family gatherings, it is always difficult to calculate a certain number of guests. But each of them needs not only to try, but also to eat. If there are too many treats, this will cause unnecessary expenses. The products will spoil, and after the celebration there will be no place to store them

It is important to accurately calculate the required cake size. In the modern world there are many different methods for this.

What is taken into account when preparing a birthday cake?

Determining the size involves taking into account various indicators. The following methods are available:

Independent calculation;
Providing the ability to calculate sizes by confectionery companies that can take into account the number of guests and customer wishes;
Professional holiday organizers who are hired by the “heroes of the occasion” will be able to independently determine the size of the treat.

Sometimes it’s better to rely on the opinions of people who have been doing this for years. But if you are confident in your abilities, then you can do all this yourself, knowing the financial capabilities and quality of the guests. Chefs must provide information on volume-to-weight ratios, calorie content, and composition. It is recommended to assess the demand for dessert dishes at the time they are served. This will affect the final volume of sweets. Other calculations are made by calculators and tables, which can be easily found on the Internet.

Number of guests

The size of the birthday cake is calculated based on the total number of guests. But here too there are factors influencing the demand for the product:

Many people limit their consumption of sweets due to health reasons. They should not be taken into account when calculating;
Distribution to go. If the organizers intend to distribute it to your home, then the cake should be slightly larger than the stated volume;
Replenishment of personal stock. You should not order food exclusively for guests. It will be nice if there are a couple of pieces of cake left the day after the main celebrations;
Auction. There is a tradition at weddings - buying wedding cakes. As a rule, the first portion is bought at a high price for the purpose of financial assistance. Everyone will receive a treat, but such a fun tradition will help regulate the final volume.

Calorie content of other dishes

When identifying the calorie content and volume of a dessert, the nature of the entire menu is important. The following factors need to be taken into account:

If the feast is planned to be small, then there should be more than one piece of dessert, since it will be the main treat for the guests;
If the holiday menu has many different dishes and a long program, then a lot of dessert is not required. One hundred grams is enough to satiate the guests;
If the dishes served are not high in calories, but there are a lot of them, then you need more than one piece of sweets;
If the treat is airy, but not heavy, then you can serve more than the usual portion;
When using heavy and high-calorie cakes, do not serve many pieces. One or several small sizes is enough.

Calculation example

The weight of the cake is calculated taking into account the number of guests.

less than 30 guests - 200 grams per person;
30-60 guests - 150 grams per person;
60-100 guests - 100 grams per person.

1st tier - up to three kg;
2 tiers - up to five kg;
3 tiers - up to eight kg;
4 tiers - up to ten kg;
5 tiers - up to twenty kg;
cake ZD - up to four kg;

A cake with cupcakes and mini-cakes is calculated in portions taking into account the number of guests:

30 people — 2 kilogram cake and 25 mini-cakes;
40 people — 2.5 kilogram cake and 35 mini-cakes;
50 people — 2.5 kilogram cake and 40 mini-cakes;
60 people — 2.5 kilogram cake and 50 mini-cakes;
70 people — 3 kilogram cake and 60 mini-cakes;
80 people — 3 kilogram cake and 65 mini-cakes;
90 people — 3 kilogram cake and 70 mini-cakes;
100 people — 3 kilogram cake and 80 mini-cakes.

After taking into account the main indicators, you should consider the number of tiers and the composition of the cream. All design decisions will be secondary for holiday guests if the cake is not the main treat.

Carrying out the cake at a wedding reception

If you are preparing for your wedding with the help of planners, they will probably offer to turn the cake serving into a real show! But even with self-preparation, you can add entertainment to this moment. At a minimum, you can play with lighting and choose suitable music (discuss this with the host in advance). Pyrotechnic effects, candles, and heavy smoke look beautiful. In the summer, an excellent solution would be to serve the cake on the street near the exit registration site, having thought through the lighting and music accompaniment.

Important! Make sure the establishment has a decent cake cart, as well as a nice knife and spatula. Sometimes such little things spoil the impression of even the most effective presentation.

The cart and set can be rented.

The number of tiers of the cake depending on its weight

If you want to order a three- or two-tier wedding cake, then first think about whether this will be appropriate for the calculated weight of the treat.

Wedding cake for 15-20 people

A wedding cake weighing 2-3 kg is suitable for a celebration to which 15-20 people are invited. It will be almost impossible to implement even in 2 tiers. And even if it is possible, cutting and serving it will be extremely inconvenient. All desserts up to three kilograms are best made in the form of a single-tier cake or in the form of individual cakes. In order for them to look as solemn as a cake, they can be placed on a beautiful bookcase.

Wedding cake for 30 people

Do you know how much a wedding cake for 30 people should weigh? Correct: 4.5 kg. This weight can already be played in two tiers. The lower tier is 2 kg, the upper tier is 1.5 kg. Or you can leave the main weight on the lower tier and make it more massive, and make the upper one small and decorative. The latter will be intended for the bride and groom.

Of course, you can make a wedding cake weighing about 5 kg single-tiered. Then it should be about 12-13 cm high, not including decorations. The pastry chef will also have to think about it! To prevent one tier from looking boring, you can decorate the cake with flowers or a beautiful inscription.

Wedding cake for 40 people

But a wedding cake for 40 people, which will weigh about 6 kg, can already be made in 3 tiers. It will look impressive and stylish. For such a dessert, you can use a variety of voluminous decorations, which, if the weight is small, would overload the cake itself. Do not forget that the weight of decorations is usually not included in the actual weight of the treat itself, even if we are talking about edible decorations, such as mastic flowers, birds, caramel beads, etc. Most often only children eat them.

Wedding cake for 50 people

A wedding cake for 50 people should weigh at least 7-7.5 kg. This is already quite a big wedding, which means the celebration will be appropriate. Taking out the holiday treats will be an important stage in the holiday scenario. He should look the part!

Think carefully about how to decorate your wedding cake. First, order at least 3 tiers. Secondly, consider the style of the cake. If the wedding itself is organized in a classic style and light colors, then the dessert can be covered with cream-colored mastic and decorated with caramel pearls, mastic flowers, etc.

A large wedding cake with open layers, as in the photo, lightly coated around the edges with white cream and decorated with white roses, peonies or other flowers to suit the style of the celebration, is also suitable.

Types of Wedding Cakes

The first thing you need to decide when choosing a wedding cake is its type and appearance. What will be the main decoration of the banquet? A wedding cake can be rectangular, oval, or the more common round one, made from one or more cake layers. However, the most popular is the multi-tiered cake made from sponge cake, cream and sugar mastic.

• Cake with cream. Delicate sponge cakes and buttercream between them - it’s so delicious! As a cream, you can use whipped cream with fillings (mascarpone, fruits, berries, cottage cheese), classic butter creams with fillings, mousses, etc. • Open cake - a simple and laconic design for a homely and soulful wedding. As a rule, this is a small cake consisting of several open layers with cream, decorated with berries and fruits between the tiers. • Soufflé cake. This cake will be light and at the same time dense in consistency. The soufflé can be multi-colored and with different additives (curd, yogurt, bird's milk). • Cake with fondant - a more traditional option for a classic wedding

Typically, such samples are decorated with icing - a pattern in tiers, berries, flowers and other decorative elements. Please note that the total weight of such a cake will be greater, since the mastic weighs quite a lot, and it will taste sweeter than a cake with cream.

• Marzipan cake. Marzipan is a mixture of grated almonds and powdered sugar.

Such cakes are not decorated with fruits or berries, as the juice destroys the marzipan. Marzipan covering, like mastic, makes the cake smooth and elegant, but it cannot be used to make decorations and details for the cake. • French croquembouche is a tall, cone-shaped dessert made from individual cakes, such as profiteroles, and held together with caramel. Instead of profiteroles on such a wedding cake, cupcakes or individual portioned cakes can be used, laid out on a multi-tiered stand in the form of a wedding cake.

Different types of wedding cakes can be decorated with icing, nuts, coconut or chocolate chips, fruits, ribbons, flowers, etc. Traditionally, the top of a wedding cake is decorated with figures of the bride and groom, but you can use any other toppers: hearts, doves, cats, deer, etc.

Photo by: Maria Munitsina | Nika and Lesha's wedding

This is interesting: How to choose a wedding cake, what should you pay attention to when ordering a wedding cake?

Table for calculating the weight of the product by number of people

So, now you have before your eyes certain information regarding the banquet. This is the number of people who will eat the delicious sweet.

This is the variety of menu provided at the banquet. Having two accurate data, using the table, you can easily independently calculate the size and dimensions of the main confectionery product of the wedding banquet.

Number of guests	Cake weight (kg)	Possible tiers
20	3	1
30	4	2
40	5	3
50	6	4

It is customary to expect an average of 100-150 grams per person. At the same time, be sure to make additional pieces. They can be either 1 or 2 kilograms. The weight of the additional pieces of cake will depend on whether you want to keep the sweetness for yourself afterwards to try in the morning.

Believe me, it's very convenient. Firstly, there is no need to think about what to cook on your first morning together. Secondly, your stomach will already be light and empty, so there will be a completely unusual opportunity to try sweetness on an empty stomach and appreciate its taste.

What should you consider when calculating the weight of a cake?

The size of the cake can be calculated in different ways:

Experienced confectionery shops can calculate the required size of the product themselves, based on the number of guests and your wishes.
Wedding planners hired professionally can focus on the proportions of food given to the number of guests.
You can calculate the weight yourself.

In the first two cases, you should trust specialists who truly understand this issue. If you are not confident in them, then it is better to rely on yourself, because you know the invited guests and your financial capabilities better. Chefs should check the ratio of the volume of the cake to its weight, calorie content and composition. Organizers can help estimate the demand for dessert at the time it is served, which also influences the quantity required. The rest of the calculations will help you make special tables and calculators to calculate the weight of the wedding confectionery.

Number of people invited

The cake is ordered based on the number of guests. However, there are some nuances that need to be taken into account:

Not all invitees eat sweets for health reasons. Do not take them into account when determining the required weight.
Cake auction. A tradition at weddings is an auction, where the lot is a portion of the wedding cake. If you sell portions of dessert to guests without fail, then those who do not eat sweets will still receive it (having respected the young people with money for the auction lot). If the entire cake is sold out, it will be difficult to regulate how many pieces will be consumed, because guests may either not buy a single one or buy up everything in order to help the newlyweds financially.
Personal stock. You shouldn’t order a cake just for a wedding celebration; let some be left over for the next day, when desserts are especially in demand and the newlyweds want to eat a few pieces in a relaxed atmosphere.
Home delivery. The newlyweds can give some of the cake to their guests. If this is provided, then it is worth ordering a product that weighs a little more than necessary.

Calorie content of cooked dishes

When determining the size and calorie content of a dessert, the nature of the holiday menu also matters:

If the dinner event is small (wedding buffet), there should be more than 1 piece of dessert, because the cake itself will be the main treat of the sweet table.
If the event involves a wide menu with a change of dishes and a long celebration, then there may be little dessert, 100 g per person will be enough, since the guests will already be full by the time it is served.
If the menu is wide, but not high in calories, then there can be more than 1 piece of sweets per person.
If the cake is airy, but not heavy, then it may be more than normal.
If the cakes are heavy and high in calories, then the pieces may be smaller or one standard cake will be enough.

Bottom line

A wedding cake is a special type of culinary creativity. Not only children, but also adults eat it with joy. If you have the financial means, then you can certainly order a much larger product.

Brides often like to show off their cake, showing how big, beautiful and delicious it is. In addition, not everyone is invited to a celebration these days, but if you give each guest a piece, you can please absolutely everyone present.

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Where does a wedding menu begin?

The first thing on the menu is alcoholic drinks. Surely any couple begins to think in advance about how much and what kind of alcohol to buy. You can calculate how much alcoholic beverages you will need based on the following data:

Be sure to take into account the age category of the guests, gender (men most often drink stronger drinks, women prefer champagne or wine) It is also necessary to take into account the time of year in which you are going to have the wedding (if the weather is cold, then the guests will prefer stronger alcohol) How long will the banquet last (as a rule, the standard duration of this kind of celebration is approximately 6-7 hours) Another point is drinking and non-drinking guests (it is very important to take into account how many people will be from one category or another)

The most convenient way to decide on the amount of alcohol before planning the menu for a wedding banquet is to make a list of guests and ask each of them what they prefer to drink and whether they drink at all.

According to the rule, alcoholic drinks are purchased per 10 people. That is, for ten people you will need to buy:

Wine 4-6 bottles
Champagne 2-3 bottles
Vodka 3-5 bottles

Based on this, it is much easier to determine how much alcohol you will need. Here's an example:

The wedding banquet will be attended by 50 people, the duration of the event will be 6 hours. It follows that for such a number of guests you will need:

20-30 bottles of wine (there should be a few more bottles of red)
Vodka 15-20 bottles
Champagne 10-15 bottles

Most often, champagne is consumed either on the way to the banquet, or only at the beginning of the banquet, so given this fact, champagne can be limited to only the newlyweds. The most important thing is that when purchasing alcoholic beverages, you do not forget about two special bottles of champagne. The first of them opens on the wedding anniversary, and the second when the child is born. When purchasing drinks, do not forget about non-alcoholic products.

Here the calculation is completely different. It is worth taking into account the important factor that juices should have a maximum volume; they will be poured from packages into special containers; mineral water should be of two types, with and without gas. Don’t buy juices of different flavors, limit yourself to two, that will be enough

When purchasing juices, it is important to consider what dishes will be on your holiday table. Remember, if there are a large number of vegetable and fish dishes, you buy mostly juice, meat dishes - mineral water is perfect for them

Now it's time to talk about dishes

It is important to take into account the fact that the maximum number of dishes should not exceed six

It is also very important to pay attention to the combination of dishes offered to guests; they should complement each other. Don’t forget about the design of the dishes; it’s worthwhile to diversify their color scheme.

Depends on the season

If the weather on the wedding day is hot, then it is advisable to diversify the menu of the wedding banquet for 20 people with light snacks and cold desserts. For example, the following dishes may be placed on the table for a summer or autumn wedding:

canapés with oranges, fried chicken and pineapples;
tartlets with tomatoes, melted cheese, mayonnaise and garlic;
sandwiches or toast with red caviar;
vegetable mix;
cold cuts;
“Red Sea” salad made of tomatoes, crab sticks, cheese, garlic and mayonnaise;
“Lady” salad made from Chinese cabbage, ham, corn, croutons and mayonnaise;
“Mood” salad made of white and red beans, corn, cabbage, tomatoes, herbs and mayonnaise;
chicken aspic;
pork fricassee with mushrooms, sour cream and melted cheese, and rice as a side dish;
portioned ice cream, jelly, soufflé or mousse.

In summer and autumn, nature delights with fresh fruits, so if the banquet is held at home, then be sure to include a large amount of vegetables in the wedding menu for 20 people. In winter, on the contrary, the menu should contain a lot of meat or fish:

canapés with salmon, curd cheese and quail eggs;
tartlets with liver pate;
sandwiches or toast with red caviar;
cold cuts;
vegetable mix;
sausage and cheese slices;
salad with chicken breast, hard cheese, eggs, mushrooms, onions and mayonnaise;
“Inspiration” salad with beef, tomatoes, hard cheese, herbs, garlic and mayonnaise;
“Funchoza” salad with cucumber, pepper, carrots and mushrooms;
fish in batter;
beef langet with potatoes;
chocolate cupcake with hot liquid chocolate inside.

Recommendations for choosing filling:

* Most importantly, everything in the wedding cake should be made from high-quality and fresh ingredients;

* As a rule, the choice of filling for a birthday cake is one of the most controversial issues. Here everything depends on the taste wishes of the newlyweds - of course, you shouldn’t forget about the guests (it’s unlikely that most of them will like something too exotic). It’s impossible to please everyone, but there is a list of the most popular fillings that are worth using. The main thing is to avoid too bold combinations of products

Be careful about the presence of nuts and kiwi in the recipe - many people are allergic to these products

* If you want a cake with several fillings, please note that they must be combined with each other. This point can be clarified with the pastry chef, but to be more confident, we recommend that you order a tasting set with the selected flavors. He will dispel all doubts.

*Particular attention should be paid to the cream - it should not be too fatty and rich. Wedding cake - the easiest dessert possible

It is recommended to use whipped cream, parfait, yogurt, berry or lemon cream as a filling - all this will help avoid the “overload” of the dessert.

* Even if you have chosen one filling, order a small cake to try. Make sure your expectations match reality.

* To make it convenient to cut your dessert in front of guests, it is better to choose fillings that can simply be cut with a special cake knife. It is not too spicy, so cutting some of the fillings risks ruining the whole cake.

What is the price of a wedding cake?

When choosing a cake for a wedding, you will notice that prices vary greatly. There is a certain average cost, which some confectioners noticeably increase, while others, on the contrary, reduce.

The most expensive cake decor:

gold and silver paints;
marzipan coating (their sugared almonds);
flowers with complex technique;
hand-sculpted figurines of newlyweds.

When you need a cake that is light in weight but still looks like a real masterpiece, you can use a cardboard frame. This technology allows even a small dessert to look very impressive.

The frame is able to shape the cake and decorate it with complex decorations that are impossible for a small cake. This way, you can save money without spending it on extra pounds of dessert.

The cost also depends on what filling is chosen:

a creamy butter-based filling will be the most inexpensive, but heaviest food to complete a hearty evening;
cake based on a light soufflé - average in cost, withstands various dessert decorations;
A cake made from yogurt or marzipan will cost more than all the others, its main advantage is that such a dessert is both beautiful in appearance and very tasty.

Four tier wedding cake with ribbon weighing 9 kg

If you take into account the nuances of choosing a wedding cake and follow all the recommendations, then the unpleasant situation of a lack of dessert for guests will be eliminated. There will be enough desired delicacy for all the invited people and for the newlyweds themselves. Wedding cake is a delicious tradition at every such celebration. And traditions must be maintained and respected!

Effect of composition on weight

Meringue-based cakes are considered the lightest, but the lightness of the dough is compensated by the use of dense butter creams in such recipes.

Biscuit desserts with impregnation and light creams (butter, soufflé) belong to the middle category. Decoration of jelly or fresh berries increases the weight by 5-10%.

The heaviest are cakes based on dense cake layers (cake dough, dense biscuits) with mastic. Finishing with mastic adds 15-40% to the weight of the base cakes and cream (soufflé). The satiety (calorie content) of baked goods also affects the final weight of the product.

Attention: some pastry shops calculate the weight and cost of the main part of the baked goods and the decorations on it separately from each other.

Inedible decor (flowers, ribbons, paper decorations) are not added to the weight of the cake, but are paid separately.

When using complex decorations made of chocolate, mastic paste, or marzipan, their weight is chosen in such a way that the delicate cakes do not “float” under load. Experienced confectioners usually separate such decorations into a separate tier or mount them on special stands in the body of the cake.

Figures that are difficult to make are available for an additional fee.

When calculating the cost of a wedding dessert depending on weight, you need to remember:

The more complex the design, the more expensive the product will cost. The initial price of cakes and cream can be increased two to three times only due to decoration;
the cost of the stand is either included in the final price or its rental is paid;
A model with an individual design costs 3-5 times more than standard options.

Tips for calculating the weight of a wedding cake

Tea at a wedding usually begins after the end of the entertainment program. Guests can take a break from dancing and competitions and enjoy a delicious cake. Even those who are indifferent to sweets will not miss the opportunity to taste the festive dessert.

To calculate for yourself how many kg of cake you need for a wedding, you need to start from the main menu. If there are a lot of hearty dishes, salads and appetizers at the banquet, then by the end of the evening it is unlikely that the guests will be able to eat a large piece of cake. In this case, the portion may be slightly smaller.

Another nuance is the filling of the dessert. A layer of soufflé between the cake layers will give it a large volume, but in weight it will be much lighter than a cake with boiled condensed milk cream.

When a dessert consists of an airy filling, you need to focus on its size, not weight. Cakes wrapped in fondant will be heavier than cream cakes, but they are about the same in terms of satiety.

How to calculate a cake for a wedding - first of all, you need to know the exact number of guests who will come to the celebration. On average, you need to allocate from 100 to 200-250 grams per guest. dessert, depending on its composition.

How many grams of cake are needed for 1 person, if the main menu consists of light dishes - the amount of dessert in this case is 250 grams. per guest. But most often at weddings the table is bursting with a variety of dishes, so the optimal weight is 150 grams. per person.

Wedding cake portion per person

Additional ways to calculate a wedding cake

There are several other methods and nuances that are worth paying attention to when choosing the quantity of cake for a wedding. If you plan to organize a small buffet or buffet, then one guest is entitled to not one, but two standard pieces of dessert

If the menu has a lot of meat or fish dishes, then one piece per guest will be enough, which should not be too large. If the menu is large, but low-calorie, then in this case the portion increases again.

It is possible that some of the guests will want to eat more than one serving, or take the delicacy home to treat the children.

A few more nuances to take into account:

There may be people present at the celebration who cannot eat sweets for medical reasons. You need to clarify whether to subtract their portions when calculating the cake, or leave them so that they can take a piece to treat them at home.
If the wedding delicacy consists of several tiers, then the top part will weigh about 500 grams, it is usually reserved for the newlyweds, so the weight is calculated for the guests without the top.
In addition to the cake, you can make small cupcakes. They will become both an additional decoration and a spare amount of dessert. Children will especially like these cakes - this is worth considering if there will be a lot of kids at the wedding.

Berry wedding cake and cupcakes

Calculation of the weight of a wedding cake for a certain number of guests

There are auxiliary ready-made calculations for the weight of the cake based on the number of guests. You can rely on them when choosing a dessert, but you must remember that these are average numbers . And the cake may vary in weight due to its filling and decoration method.

Weight of the cake, if the portion per guest is 150 g:

For a small company of 20 people, a wedding cake of 2-3 kg is enough. But if the main menu is not too filling, then you can play it safe and take a 4 kg cake with a reserve.
When the number of guests reaches 30 people, the best option would be a wedding cake weighing 5 kg. In this case, only 1 tier is not always done.
You need to calculate the budget for a cake weighing 6 kg for a wedding if 30-40 people are invited. In this case, it is recommended to make a dessert in 2-3 floors: it will look more beautiful and impressive.
A three-tier cake weighing on average from 6.5 to 8.5 kg is suitable if there are no more than 50 guests at the wedding. For 50-60 people you will need 9 kg of cake. The number of tiers accordingly increases to 4 pieces.
A wedding cake weighing 10 kg or more should not be too high, otherwise the top tier will break the lower layers. It makes sense to install each tier on a separate stand. Or make the bottom cakes more durable: honey, nut;
A large wedding for 100 people will require a large dessert. A cake weighing 17-17.5 kg will be enough.

Visual hint for calculating the weight of the cake

Calculating the weight of a wedding cake using a calculator

An online calculator for calculating the optimal weight of a cake based on the number of guests is a convenient tool that is very easy to use

With its help, you can take into account such things as the cake auction and the number of people who will not eat sweets.

Of course, the online calculator's calculations will only be approximate , so you need to take into account other factors on how to calculate the weight of a wedding cake:

enter the number of guests invited to the banquet;
then enter the number of those who will definitely refuse dessert for any reason;
roughly estimate how much the guests generally like sweets (this parameter also depends on the calorie content of the main menu, so there are usually 3 answer options: strong, medium, little);
note whether there will be an auction when each piece of cake is sold;
press the “calculate” button.

As a result, the calculator will display the approximate weight of the wedding cake , as well as the average cost. It is calculated based on the average indicators of the most popular confectionery companies.

Photo of a 3 kg wedding cake

Photo of a 5 kg wedding cake

Photo of a 6 kg wedding cake

Selecting the size of the cake

If weight is related to all the previous criteria, then sizes are more based on the ratio of the selected ingredients to each other. For example, if you want a sweet, light cake-based treat, then for a taller tower you should choose a fluffier filling. The more airy the cream that is the filling, the higher your wedding cake. At the same time, its weight will not be so voluminous. However, if you choose, for example, a biscuit, then the weight already increases by several kg, and it’s worth giving up the height in favor of the horizontal plane. Remember that making a cake too high is not only dangerous, but also inconvenient to eat. To increase satiety and weight, you can use cookies, which should not particularly increase the volume of the dish. Viennese waffles are also suitable here.

Also, don’t forget about various decorations. If you are having a themed event, then you will probably want to make your delicacy a certain shape and decorate it in some style. Some decorations, although edible, are rather tasteless and do not add any weight. There are some decorations that take up a lot of space, which increases the size of the cake. Make sure that despite the beautiful decoration, your cake does not become inconvenient to eat. When decorating a cake with berries and fruits, remember that some guests may be allergic to some of them. Also, some fruits can be too cloyingly sweet, so they need to be balanced with a more neutral cake or cake, which also affects the size.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZDwgCCtOXTw

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Two-tier cake - delicious wedding decoration

If single-tier wedding cakes usually resemble ordinary delicacies, then “multi-tiered” delicacies look luxurious and impressive, both in person and in photos. There are many design options for such treats! Firstly, they can be:

using confectionery mastic;
without mastic.

Mastic cakes

A two-tier wedding cake made of mastic has incredible grace and beauty, because the most unusual shapes and magnificent figures can be made from this magical confectionery material. These can be hearts, flowers, birds and even figures of young people. But, unfortunately, the mastic itself is not the most delicious part of the cake. Therefore, its filling should be, as they say, “finger-licking good.” For example, these could be:

biscuits with vanilla flavor plus strawberry layer and sour cream;
chocolate sponge cake with fruit and sour cream;
honey cakes with milk custard, nuts and dried fruits;
biscuits layered with yoghurt or fruit soufflé;
shortbread with a layer of praline and creamy banana cream.

Two-tier mastic cakes are stored for a relatively long time. Firstly, the mastic itself practically does not deteriorate, and secondly, it protects the cakes and filling from chapping and drying out. The only danger that awaits such a dessert is cracks on the surface. Therefore, you need to store it in a cool, slightly damp place, such as a refrigerator. You can order such a cake 2-3 days before the holiday, and shortbread or sponge cake with praline or protein cream - even 4-5 days before the celebration.

Cakes without mastic

If you prefer cakes without mastic, then take a look at the photos of cream, berry and floral wedding two-tier cakes. They can be:

closed - covered with cream or glaze,
open – the crusts and filling are open for everyone to see.

The cream that covers closed cakes deteriorates much faster than mastic, so you need to pay special attention to their storage and order no earlier than 1-2 days before the holiday. An open type wedding cake, consisting of 2 tiers, appears to guests as a very atmospheric, cute and unusual dessert.

It will perfectly highlight a style of celebration such as rustic or Provence, but it is also suitable for other celebrations, for example, in a loft or boho theme - it all depends on its design

An open wedding cake, consisting of 2 tiers, appears to guests as a very atmospheric, cute and unusual dessert. It will perfectly highlight a style of celebration such as rustic or Provence, but it is also suitable for other celebrations, for example, in a loft or boho theme - it all depends on its design.

The beauty of butter-free cakes is that they can be decorated with fresh or caramelized fruits and berries, as well as flowers: fresh or cream. Such desserts look tender and romantic.

If you really want, you can make a two-tier open wedding cake yourself. You will need a cake pan, ingredients for the dough and cream, and a very sharp wide knife to cut the cakes to the desired size.

Tip: do not use frozen berries and fruits for decoration, as they will release a lot of juice. If you don’t have fresh berries, it’s better to make do with dried fruits, fresh flowers or other floristry.

Additional Tips

Before you calculate your wedding cake, you need to consider that it is better to order with a reserve rather than back to back. Even if there is some leftover cake, it can be put aside until the second day of the wedding or distributed to those friends or relatives who could not come to the wedding. The following nuances should also be taken into account.

There may be people at the wedding with allergies or diabetes - these need to be subtracted from the total when calculating weight. However, they may also ask for a piece to take with them for their relatives, so it’s worth deciding on this point in advance.
If the cake is multi-tiered, then sometimes the top part weighing about 0.5 kg is left for the newlyweds so that they can enjoy the sweet in a relaxed atmosphere after the banquet. In this case, the weight of the remaining tiers is calculated.
It is worth determining how many men, women and children will be at the celebration. Despite the fact that many people think that girls eat little, they still have a sweet tooth, so there is no need to reduce their portion.
Children usually fill up on the main menu, but may ask for a piece of cake to take home, but for men you can reduce the portion if they are indifferent to sweets.

What is dessert for?

At a wedding banquet, dessert served with tea is considered the highlight of the evening. It ends the banquet part of the event, and it is the end of the holiday that is remembered best. Many couples strive to make a cake that is unusual and reflects their individuality, so they turn to experienced confectioners.

Tea drinking usually takes place when the main menu has already been exhausted, but the guests have not yet been escorted home. They can relax, take a break from competitions and entertainment, while enjoying a delicious dessert.

On the wedding day, the newlyweds are a kind of talisman for everyone else, radiating good luck and happiness. This does not mean that their luck will decrease because of this - on the contrary, the guests, when trying the dessert, symbolically wish the resulting married couple more positive events in life.

Cake design

One of the main tasks of a wedding cake is to surprise and delight. This is a dessert that you want to admire for a while, and only then taste it. Professional confectioners today offer a wide selection of decorations, among which everyone will find the ideal option for their wedding. For several years now, sponge cakes with cream cheese (thick cream based on mascarpone cheese) have been popular. This cream allows you to cover the cake perfectly smoothly or, conversely, create different textures. However, the options for creating cream cakes are very limited. For a more complex design, it is impossible to do without sugar mastic or chocolate. Only with their help are real masterpieces obtained. Another way of decoration is painting with food paints, when the cake can become a real work of art.

When choosing a birthday cake, you should consider the concept, style and idea of the wedding. When choosing cake decor, take into account the overall style of the wedding and its color scheme. This way the cake will look harmonious in the photo and will become a bright accent in the concept of your holiday.

How to choose a cake for a summer, autumn, winter wedding?

Wedding cakes differ depending on the season of the celebration. For a summer celebration, you will need a thick cream that will harden in the refrigerator and will hold its shape until the dessert is cut. Creams with added oil work well. You should not decorate with fruits, as they will quickly lose their shape.

For an autumn celebration, a cake with apples, pears and other fresh fruits and berries is suitable. Most often, the cake is decorated with red and yellow leaves.

The main emphasis is that this is harvest time.

Any cake is suitable for a winter wedding, but it is better to give preference to less fatty and more sour ones.

Do not use exotic fruits or berries collected in the spring for decoration or filling.

If the wedding cake is without mastic and consists of several tiers, then you should definitely order delivery from the pastry shop, otherwise the newlyweds risk scraping the dessert off the floor of the car. Professionals know how to transport it correctly, and thanks to special equipment, the cake will not spoil.

When answering the question of how to choose a wedding cake, you need to focus on the style of the event, since the treat should also be in harmony with the festive atmosphere that reigns at the celebration. When choosing a dessert, you should also take into account the wishes of the newlyweds. Happy and sweet wedding!

How to calculate?

The calculation is based on a standard portion – 100-200 grams per person. However, the boundary is blurred.

When inviting 10 guests and ordering a one or two kilogram cake, it’s not scary to make a mistake. But what if there are about a hundred guests? A shortage or excess of dessert can become critical.

In the first case, the participants of the feast risk not getting their “piece of happiness”; in the second, the cost of the cake will be too high.

When calculating a more accurate number of grams per serving, consider:

general menu for the festive table. An abundance of appetizers and hot dishes will satiate guests before it comes to dessert. They may not want to eat the cake. If the banquet is planned in the format of a modest buffet, and the celebration program is designed for active movement, it is better to take care of a larger serving size;
guests' attitude towards sweets. If you have a large number of sweet tooths, it is better to increase the estimated weight;
composition of the cake - type of cream, cake layers, decorative features.

It is also important to keep in mind the number of tiers. Typically one tier weighs from 2 kg

Accordingly, if there are a small number of guests, it is better not to count on a multi-tiered confectionery masterpiece, giving preference to portioned cakes or a traditional single-tier cake.

Approximate weight of a cake with different numbers of tiers:

up to 2 kg – single-tier product. Can be designed in the form of a flat cake with decorations over the entire surface, slides;
2-4 kg – one or two tiers or a single-tier cake, plus a certain number of portioned cakes;
more than 3 kg – two tiers;
4-5 kg – two- or three-tier;
5-7 or more - three or four tiers;
over 7 kg - at least 4 tiers or two or three separate products.

We advise you to read: what equipment are needed to ceremoniously cut a cake at a wedding? Read about the spatula and knife here.

Calculation of diameters and number of tiers based on the number of people:

Important: if there are any doubts that guests will want to eat cake at a banquet, it is better to prepare dessert in the form of portioned cakes in advance and prepare take-away packaging.

Brownie cake

A good solution is to make ready-made portions instead of a whole cake. For this, a special multi-tiered stand is used. A small beautiful cake is placed on the top tier, and neat cakes on the rest. This greatly simplifies the process of treating, and at the end of the tea party there is no feeling of ruin on the table.

Be sure to take into account all the described nuances and recommendations so that such a joyful day is not overshadowed by anything. However, do not worry if the wedding cake ritual did not go perfectly. Any incidents at a wedding are perceived with a smile, turning over time into pleasant memories.