What to Know About Walmart Wedding Cakes

A custom wedding cake from a pro baker is worth every penny. But if the average wedding cake cost will tip you over your wedding budget, you're likely looking at other options. The good news? Walmart wedding cakes do exist, and they're among the most affordable wedding cakes on the market, no matter how you slice it.

There are, of course, some limitations and logistical concerns to contend with if you choose a big-box store over a skilled baker, so be sure to get educated on what a typical wedding budget in your area looks like before you select your wedding sweets. You can see average baker costs and wedding budget breakdowns on The Knot Budget Advisor and find local bakers that suit your preferred spend on The Knot Vendor Marketplace. Input your wedding location, then filter by different cake and dessert styles as well as by price. Keep reading to learn the deal with Walmart bakery wedding cakes, including smart, alternative ways to use these confections.

In this article: Does Walmart Make Wedding Cakes? | Catalog | Price | Ordering Process | Things to Keep In Mind

Does Walmart Make Wedding Cakes?

Yes, there are wedding cakes at Walmart. However, they aren't fully customizable like a traditional baker-made wedding cake would be. The store's bakery section offers a few wedding-focused cake designs (think tiered, white confections with flower details and lace-like icing patterns), but you can technically customize the text on any of their cakes (not just those intended for weddings) if your bash skews more colorful. You may also choose from a small selection of different flavors, frostings and fillings. "For clients with a stricter budget or other budget priorities, Walmart is a great choice," says Marley Bredehoeft, logistics director at 402 Events in Omaha, Nebraska. "It's also a great choice for large weddings where you need to accommodate dessert for 250+ guests."

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Walmart Wedding Cake Catalog

There are eight wedding options in Walmart's current catalog of cakes. Most of these wedding cakes are made up of two tiers (save for one single-tier option, there are also no available three-tier wedding cakes at Walmart). All of them are decked out in monochromatic white design themes and include a 10" bottom layer and 6" top layer. Some have details like frosting flowers, fancy piping, rhinestone strips and golden pearls—all of which are pretty neutral and will blend with any wedding color palette.

Additionally, you'll find a handful of other colorful cake designs intended for birthdays and other occasions (most of which come in a single-tier, double-tier and sheet cake version). If the color scheme for your nuptials (or even your wedding shower or engagement party) is more vibrant or thematic, you might find an unexpected option in one of these confections, which are adorned with elements like watercolor swipes, butterflies, geometric patterns and celestial motifs. And if you're really looking to keep it simple, you can order a semi-custom sheet cake or round cake, where you can add a classic border of flowers and optional colored icing text.

Walmart Wedding Cake Prices

How much are wedding cakes at Walmart? All of the wedding-intended, two-tier white cakes start at $68, but can cost up to $74 with the addition of inter-layered filling. This price includes your choice of cake type and frosting as well as any custom text you'd like to add. Each two-tier cake serves 64 people, so if your guest count hits three figures, you may choose to keep a wedding sheet cake or two on hand to round out your slice count or grab a few extra desserts to act as wedding cake alternatives. The store's sheet cakes range from around $25 to $69 depending on their size, while the single-tier round cakes cost from $15 to $33.

How Does Ordering a Wedding Cake From Walmart Work?

Whether you order in-store, over the phone or online, you'll be asked the same six questions during your Walmart wedding cake ordering process after you specify your pickup window and store location. You can order a Walmart cake up to 30 days in advance (which we recommend doing, plus following up a week out to ensure they have your order) and with a minimum of 48 hours. Then, you can select your cake design and flavor. Choose from all chocolate, all vanilla or one layer of each, then do the same for the second tier. After that, select if you'd like to add Bavarian cream or strawberry filling for an additional $6, then choose your preferred style of frosting (rich buttercream or whipped frosting). Lastly, you can opt for a 50-character custom message to finish off your Walmart cake order, if you'd like. You'll have to pick up your cake yourself the day it's ready, as delivery is not available.

Things to Keep In Mind If You're Ordering a Wedding Cake From Walmart

Keep in mind that while Walmart wedding cakes are technically made by professionals, you won't get the same level of service and expertise from a grocery store bakery as you would if you chose to hire an expert baker. Part of the reason why wedding cakes are so expensive is to account for this high level of skill, customization and care. Plus, a big-box store bakery will have many more orders to fill than a baker, many of which aren't for occasions as high stakes as weddings, so there's always a risk involved. "We're never going to disregard Walmart cakes, we just want to make sure our couples understand the full scope of that decision and how it impacts the rest of their wedding," says Bredehoeft. Here are some additional factors to keep top of mind:

Transportation

Because there's no official delivery option for Walmart wedding cakes, you'll have to pick up the cake yourself the morning of your wedding, which can be stressful as you try to focus on saying "I do," and not to mention precarious, given you have to transport a two-tier cake properly and safely. If you don't handle this yourself, you'll have to put that pressure on a wedding party member. And if you choose to grab the cake a day or two ahead of the nuptials, you'll have to contend with quality control, proper storage in addition to transport, which would all otherwise be handled by a pro baker.

Lack of Customization Options

With custom cakes from Walmart, you're limited to a few preset designs and a tiny selection of flavors and fillings. If you're hoping for something truly bespoke, it's wise to skip the wedding cakes at Walmart and perhaps pick up an array of sweets from the store instead to build out your dessert display. "For couples that have very specific and important design elements, Walmart cakes may not be a great fit," says Bredehoeft. "Pro bakers can create much more unique and design-heavy cakes, whereas Walmart's are going to be more basic, which isn't always a bad thing."

DIY Works Better for a Low-Stakes Cake

You've probably seen those videos circulating on social media where a cake from Walmart is gussied up into a custom confection. And if you find yourself on YouTube, you've probably seen @SheriWilson pop up on your feed. The baker and cake artist famously gave a Walmart cake a DIY makeover. Testing out your DIY skills on your wedding cake is risky business, but perhaps you can get inspired by this approach on a lower-stakes cake, like one for your engagement party or bridal shower.

"I began redecorating cakes from Walmart after moving across the country and didn't have access to a kitchen right away," says Wilson. "Walmart offers plain, frosted cakes from the bakery in any size. You can also purchase extra frosting in tubs if you want to add some cute piping designs. Order plain frosted cakes in multiple sizes, stack, then add flowers to match the colors of the venue. Other ways to customize a store bought cake is by adding candy, fresh fruit, satin bows and, of course, florals."

It Doesn't Have to Be All or Nothing

There's no doubt that Walmart is a mecca of money saving, but it can also feel a little funny to trust a detail as important as your wedding cake to a retailer whose premise is to offer no-frills merchandise at a fair price. That said, a wedding-style Walmart cake can make a stunning dessert for a wedding shower or other prewedding event. Many of the designs also can take shape as lovely groom's cakes and pair well with the store's slate of cupcakes (which look great arranged on a dessert table).

You can also commission a small, special cutting cake from a professional baker, but use Walmart's plain white sheet cakes to serve and satisfy the sweet tooth of each guest. Though, Bredehoeft urges that you check with your baker beforehand, since some may not agree to the job if their cake won't stand alone. "It's another thing to think about when it comes to how important design versus budget is when it comes to cake," she says. But if it's allowed, this will definitely save you some dough (or should we say batter?) in the long run.