Cake Rental??

Is it a real cake or is it foam? Only the bride knows!

Yes, you can rent a wedding cake.  Why would you want to rent a wedding cake?  It’s one way you can save money on your wedding without looking cheap.  Here’s how it works.

You rent a cake from one of the cake rental companies (see below for some ideas).  The “cake” itself is foam but is covered with fondant or frosting in your choice of designs.  Many of these cakes include a compartment for a piece of real cake so the bride and groom can cut a piece together.  The guests are then served pieces from a sheet cake that has been kept in the kitchen.

The advantages of renting a centerpiece fake cake are mostly financial.  Sheet cake is much less expensive than a tiered wedding cake, and cake rental costs a couple of hundred dollars, including shipping, depending on what company you use and whether you use one of their designs or one of your own.

But if you’re having an outdoor wedding or a wedding in a hot location, you might also want to consider renting a cake.  The foam cakes do not slip in the heat and can stand up to the hottest weather and still look beautiful.  I have personally coordinated two weddings where either the cake collapsed in the heat or it almost did.  A foam cake might be a very inexpensive insurance policy if you are concerned about keeping a tiered cake standing on a hot day.

Some of the cake companies even claim that a fake cake is more eco-friendly than a real one.  They claim that since their cakes do not need baking or refrigeration, they save energy.  I would have to counter that by saying that they use additional energy beyond what is used in the cake that is actually eaten, and they also use energy in shipping.  They say that the foam for the cakes is re-used or recycled, but most kinds of foam are not actually recyclable.  But even if this idea is not particularly green, it could still save you money if you’re on a budget.  And if you want it to be as green as possible, find a vendor as close to you as possible so the shipping distance is short.

I have found two companies that rent wedding cakes.  This is not an endorsement of either, as I have not worked with them.  Please use your best judgment and check their references.  Rent the Cake of Your Dreams is in East Aurora, New York.  Cake Rental is in Grandville, Michigan.  I’m sure there are more people providing this service, as well.  A little research will turn them up and then you can have a beautfiul wedding cake without breaking the bank.