^{Image Courtesy of Marielle Hayes Photography}

An LDS Wedding Cake Serving Guide

Let’s Slice Into the Details

Choosing your wedding cake might seem simple—until you start thinking about sizes, tiers, and how many guests you actually need to feed. Add in a temple ceremony, a ring exchange, and a full reception, and suddenly your cake is doing double (or triple!) duty.

Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Let’s break down everything you need to know to choose the perfect LDS wedding cake size for your big day.

Start with Your Guest List

Before you fall in love with a design, talk with your baker about your guest count. A general rule is one serving per guest, but you can adjust slightly depending on how your reception is structured:

• Full meal + dessert: Plan for 80–90% of guests to eat cake.

• Dessert-only reception: Plan for 100% of guests to enjoy a slice.

• Open house style: Plan for 60–70% of guests to take one.

Your baker can help you scale up or down accordingly, but the infographic below gives a great starting point.

Understanding Cake Servings

Tiered cakes can be surprisingly efficient!

• A simple 6" + 8" cake serves about 40 guests.

• A 6" + 8" + 10" + 12" combination can serve 210 guests.

• Most LDS wedding receptions average between 100–150 guests, so a three-tier cake (6", 9", and 12") is a sweet spot—plenty for serving with a little left over for your parents or in-laws to take home.

Your cake designer will also consider slice size, height, and structure, so it’s perfectly okay if your cake doesn’t match these numbers exactly.

Keep Costs in Check

The number of servings directly impacts your budget. Here’s how to make it beautiful and budget-friendly:

• Fake a tier: Use a foam dummy layer for height without extra cost.

• Sheet cake backup: Keep a decorated display cake for photos and serve sheet cake to guests behind the scenes.

• Simplify the design: Smooth buttercream or textured frosting costs less than intricate fondant detailing.

You can also balance your budget by pairing a smaller display cake with cupcakes or mini desserts for variety (and Instagram-worthy charm).

LDS Reception Tip

If you’re hosting an open house or ring ceremony, plan your cake cutting early in the evening—before guests begin to trickle out. This lets everyone share in the moment and gives your photographer time to capture that sweet, symbolic “first slice.”

Your wedding cake doesn’t just serve dessert—it serves memories. Whether you’re going grand and tiered or simple and sweet, choose a cake that fits your love story, your guest list, and your day.

Because no matter how you slice it, it’s going to be beautiful.