Couples Find Lower-Cost Wedding Cakes at Costco and Publix

Wedding cakes can be expensive. Going to a specialty baker for a wedding cake can cost more than $1,000. Some couples are looking at other places to buy their cake.

Anna Holleran got married in California's Bay Area this year. She picked up her wedding cake from Costco. A half sheet cake from Costco costs about $30 each, and it works out to about 70 cents per slice. Costco does not list its half sheet as a wedding cake. Costco did not return NPR's request for an interview.

Lily Alana Stewart got married last year in central Alabama. She ordered her cake from Publix. Publix offers couples a tasting flight of four flavors before they order. A slice of Publix wedding cake is about $1.50 cheaper than the average. Publix stores around Birmingham, Alabama, sell about 50% more wedding cakes than before 2020, according to Jeff Brancato.

The average wedding cake costs about $5.50 a slice, according to Zola, a wedding-planning website. Zola also says weddings cost on average about $36,000. About a third of couples surveyed by Zola said they'd consider spending less on cake and dessert.

Wedding spending is also rising. The Bank of America Institute reported that wedding spending among its customers was up 8.5% in May from a year earlier.

In the Birmingham area price guide, a chocolate cake with fondant that serves 94 people costs $388.