How many servings do you need for a wedding cake?

The short answer

For a Harare wedding, plan for one slice of cake per guest, then add a small buffer. Most weddings end up cutting a tier per 50 guests.

How tier sizes serve

Standard wedding cake portion sizes (assuming a finger size slice, 1 inch by 1 inch by tier height):

• Two tiers (8 inch base + 6 inch top): serves 60 to 90 guests.
• Three tiers (10 + 8 + 6): serves 100 to 150 guests.
• Four tiers (12 + 10 + 8 + 6): serves 180 to 250 guests.
• Adding a fifth tier or going to 14 inch bases: serves 300 plus.

Why the range

Each tier count gives a serving range, not a fixed number. Two things move that range. The first is portion size: a finger slice serves more people than a dessert slice. The second is whether all guests actually want cake (in our experience, around 80 percent do).

For a 100 person wedding, a three tier cake is comfortable. A two tier cake will feed everyone but you will be short on leftovers.

Serving the elders

In Harare weddings, the elders traditionally get a slice of the rich fruit base tier (and often the top tier goes home with the bride and groom as a keepsake). Plan portions so the elders do not run out before the dancing starts.

When in doubt

Send us your guest count when you enquire and we will recommend a tier count that is comfortable, not tight. We would rather you have a few slices left over than be short.