If you’re having dessert, it just doesn’t make sense to spend money on wedding cake as well. Why not serve a cake made from rounds of cheese instead? From a tiny goats cheese as the top tier to a brie or stilton further down.

We saved money by serving this “cake” as an evening buffet for those guests who we couldn’t afford to sit down for the main meal.

My sister in law decorated it with foliage from the garden and it looked fab.
Plus it cost just £100 to buy the cheese separately from the supermarket rather than £600, which is what a lot of professional cake-makers charge over here.

You can also try serving up something different, so instead of the usual fancy 3 or 4 course breakfast, consider an ‘afternoon tea’, barbeque or hog roast, just canapes and champagne or have a sit down buffet. They’re all much cheaper.

If you cut the length of the reception you also don’t have to feed the guests twice. So have a late afternoon wedding and just serve dinner and cut the cake late to be served later as a top up. Saves on a buffet later on.

@ Neimanmarxist – excellent tips, thanks for taking the time to share them. I like the idea of just the appetizers, instead of the meal. Especially if you have an afternoon or early evening wedding.