Wedding cake myths can make planning feel more complicated than it needs to be. Here are five of the most common misconceptions, and the real truth behind them.
1. No one eats the cake anyway - Oh, but they do!
I've had multiple emails from past couples telling me there wasn't a single slice left by the end of the night. Some guests even missed out because others went back for seconds! A delicious cake, served beautifully, is guaranteed to be enjoyed by all.
Image credit: Stephanie and Nicole
“We hardly had any left by the end of the night because everyone loved it so much. Guests were raving not just about how stunning it was, but how delicious every bite turned out to be..”
— Greg & Becky, Sept 2025
A few things make a big difference:
When it's cut:
Cutting the cake earlier in the day means it can be served earlier, and your guests will happily tuck in.
Where it's served:
Visibility matters. If guests are handed cake, they eat it. If it's tucked away on a side table, far less gets taken.
Offering a variety:
Each tier can be a different flavour, which means more guests find something they love, and more cake is eaten.
Pro tip:
Avoid competing desserts (e.g., sweet carts, doughnut walls) in the evening. If cake is the star of the sweet options, it will be devoured.
“Everyone at our wedding agreed it was the best cake they’ve had!”
— Mia & Will, Aug 2025
Image credit: Rebecca Carpenter photography
“Not only did it look great but usually a lot of cake gets left behind at weddings but our guests just kept going back for more because the flavours were incredible.”
— Jade & Luke, Aug 2024
Image credit: Alex Buckland Photography
2. Fondant is horrible. - Not the fondant I use.
Stay with me on this one.
If your only experience of fondant is from a supermarket cake, I completely understand why you might not be a fan. That version is thick, overly sweet, and… well… not the nicest.
But that is not what I use.
For my wedding cakes, I use a luxury fondant that I can roll incredibly thin, just a couple of millimetres, with a soft, subtle vanilla flavour. High-quality fondant (or sugarpaste) gives that flawless, satin-smooth finish my couples love. It also creates the perfect seal around your cake, keeping it fresh while it sits proudly on display throughout the day.
And if it's the thought of marzipan putting you off, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Those days are long gone. Instead, your cake is wrapped in silky white chocolate ganache before the fondant goes on, adding richness and elevating the flavour even more.
3. A fake cake will save us money - Not really.
This one is the biggest misconception of all.
A display (dummy) cake doesn't massively reduce the cost because most of the work, and therefore most of the cost, is in the decoration, not the cake inside. Whether it's real cake or polystyrene, I still need to ice, finish, and decorate it to the same standard.
And if you're planning to serve cutting cakes from the kitchen, those also need baking, filling, icing, and finishing.
In short:
Fake cake + cutting cakes = almost double the work.
So it rarely saves you money.
Want the full story on display cakes vs. real cakes? You can dive into the dedicated blog here.
4. You have to have a traditional fruit cake - Absolutely not.
I can count on one hand how many fruit cakes I've made over the past couple of years. When they are ordered, it's usually just a small top tier chosen for grandparents… or occasionally a groom who fancies keeping one all to himself 👈🏻true story!
Most couples choose sponge cakes, and often more than one flavour, so there's something for everyone.
5. You have to cut the cake in the evening - This tradition needs a refresh.
Cutting the cake in the evening became popular because couples often invited additional guests in the evening. They believed that those guests should witness the couple cutting the cake to feel more included in the celebration. But that tradition is long outdated, and there are so many better moments to choose from.
My favourite alternative, and the one I chose for my own wedding. Is to cut the cake as soon as you enter the wedding breakfast. The music is playing, the energy is high, your guests are still standing and cheering… it makes for a beautiful, joyful moment.
There's absolutely no reason to leave it until late when energy levels dip, and some guests have wandered off to the bar or dance floor.
For more inspiration on choosing the perfect cake-cutting moment - you can read the full post here
Image credit: Alex Buckland Photography