Warning: You may not want to read this post if you are hungry.
I love wedding cakes. I love cupcakes. What’s a girl to do?
I love going to weddings and seeing the big fancy cake. I don’t know about you, but I (unfortunately) do not have a lot of occasions that require multi-tiered, perfectly piped, expertly crafted cakes. So really, the wedding is a fantastic opportunity to get my own fancy-pants cake. Mr. Cheetah and I even love shows like Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes. On the other hand, Mr. Cheetah and I really love cupcakes. We love trying all the cupcake places around L.A. (some faves are: Sprinkles, Frosted Cupcakery, Famous Cupcakes, SusieCakes), and cupcakes are one of my favorite items to bake. So a battle has begun for our wedding dessert: wedding cake vs. cupcakes.
Some cakes I love:
source for two images above
Adorable cupcakes:
Here’s how the battle is breaking down:
Prettiness Factor: cake
Ease of Eating: cupcakes (you don’t need a plate and fork!)
Taste: tie
Price: cupcakes
Cupcakes are inching ahead. Since our dinner and dancing are in two separate (but connected) spaces, the “ease of eating” factor is huge for us. Dessert will be displayed near the dance floor, and it would be so easy for our guests to just grab a cupcake and return to boogying the night away. While a part of me is sad I don’t get to help design a glorious six-tiered cake, images like these make it all better:
Weddingbee’s own Mrs. Swan’s cupcakes
I want to eat them all! Nomnomnomnom…
Would you prefer to eat cake or cupcakes as a wedding guest?
We did mini cupcakes 
Everyone loved it. We were able to have 6 varieties of flavors. Not to mention it was way cheaper. We paid like $350 with delivery for enough cupcakes to feed over 150 people.
hmm…this is a tough one. I love both as well. I agree with you on the whole “this is a once in a lifetime chance to have a huge fancy multi tiered cake” but on the other hand I have heard that cupcakes are somewhat cheaper. Cake brings that whole sophisticated,fancy vibe in my mind. And cupcakes bring a more fun vibe, but at the same time they can definitely be dressed up. The last wedding I went to they had cupcakes and they were super cute and tasted amazing! And the bride said they were way cheaper. I also think cupcakes give you more freedom to choose a variety of flavors. As a guest I really don’t care one way or the other, but for my own wedding I think we’ll be going to the cupcake route.
Every wedding I have been to that has had a traditional cake has tasted super bad. I assume it’s because it’s made a few days in advance etc. Beautiful yes but tasty no. As a guest I’d rather have a cupcake.
We’re going the cupcake route as well. Neither of us have ever liked the cake at any weddings we’ve been to, but both love yellow cake cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Our baker conviced us to go for white cake instead, so we have white cake and chocolate cake cupcakes with a small round cake as a top tier for the cake cutting. Cupcakes rule!
I’ll warn you that some bakers are kind of snotty about wedding cupcakes. I actually had a baker say “Sorry, I don’t like cupcakes for weddings”, and many of them said they’d charge more because they didn’t have enough cupcake-specific baking items (large enough baking tins, wraps etc) so it would be more difficult for them. We found a place that sells only cupcakes (though they do cakes for weddings) and got a decent price for drool-worthy cupcakes!
We’re doing petit fours–cute, inexpensive, and really tasty. It’s kind of the best of both worlds–they look like elegant little cake slices but you can just pick them up and eat them like a cupcake.
We had this delimia too. I wanted a nice big cake and my fi didn’t. I was a little heartbroken but we managed to compromise. We are going to do a small 2-tier cake for us to cut into and then we are going to do 3 flavors of cupcakes (undecided as of right now) that fit into our fall themed wedding. I love that we’re getting the best of both worlds! As for breaking it down price wise, my grandmother did wedding cakes for many years and has agreed to come out of retirement for us so the cake is being done as a gift.
I’m all about the oversized cupcake — it is like a slice of cake & a mini version of a cake!
I personally prefer cake to cupcakes because I find cupcakes to be a little messy (unless you get mini cupcakes). Also, I *LOVE* frosting so I always like to eat the cake with my fork first and save the frosting for last. You can’t do that while standing up and eating a cupcake. However, it sounds like cupcakes might be more feasible in your situation. I most definately would NOT complain if given a cupcake so either way is a big win in my opinion!
i do love cupcakes, but i think as a guest i prefer eating cake. i’m awkward and not in public appropriate when eating cupcakes, so fork + cake is better for me. :p (i usually lick the icing off the top, then eat the bottom. i feel gross doing that in public! i usually end up getting crumbs everywhere with cupcakes.)
Try vanilla bakeshop in la. (near 3d street in Santa Monica. ). Seriously my favorite place ever. I’m doing my cake/cupcakes from them (haven’t decided wither- but it’ll be from there!)
We’re doing cupcakes. It’s much cheaper, more flavors (7 dozen cupcakes with 6 different flavors), free delivery, and even better no cake cutting fee because we have no cake to serve so we save some money there as well. Talk to your venue they might cut that fee out because it saves them too.
as a guest, i’d prefer a traditional cake. any OTHER time, i’m TEAM CUPCAKE, but for all the reasons mrs scissor listed, i have to go with the cake. me+cucpcakes= eye death. licking the frosting and crumbs in the cleavage is not so cute. but as a bride, i’m definitely going with BOTH!
I’d prefer to eat cake too! Easier to eat. The plate and fork are a good thing in this case.
I did both and it was a hit! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13820658&l=0e62452c68&id=540985054
We cut the cake and then froze it for our one year and only TWO cupcakes were left.
I just went to a wedding with cake and I would say 75% of the cake was left over 
team cupcake! we’re having a little cake at the top and lots of different flavored cupcakes on a tiered stand, just like your lovely photos!
either way, your guests will be thrilled! such delicious ideas
This is just my opinion but Ive always figured, you can whip up a batch of cupcakes anytime, but a wedding cake! NO WAY! Its a once in a life time thing! Experience it! Embrace it! And if you really want cupcakes, Id have a SMALL wedding cake to cut, and then cupcakes for guests to eat easily!
I usualyl prefer cake, unless its a really awesome and unique flavor. You have so many pretty inspiration photos!
Why not do a combo?! One small but beautiful cake for cutting, with bonus cupcakes in various flavors?
I totally had (and posted!) this debate too! In the end we are going with cupcakes with sheet cake for cutting. If you do go with cupcakes, I wonder where you’ll get yours from? We are baking ours!
I’m still torn between the two. At a bridal show I went to recently a woman had a pretty tower with the yummiest cupcakes I have ever eaten. Plus, cupcakes allow you to pick lots of flavors. Must…find…sweets
Ms. Cheetah, Los Angeles/Palm Springs Age and Occupation: 31, Artist, Educator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, TV Finance Engagement Date: April 2010 Wedding Date: March 2011 Venue: The Viceroy About Me: I’m a silly, sassy lady with a compulsion to create. I love to sing and dance, despite the fact that I lack any talent doing either. I somehow manage to be messy and organized at the same time. I like to spend my days road tripping, watching '80s movies, reading true crime books, buying things on sale, sending postcards, playing board games, dining at food trucks, snuggling, and drinking ginger ale. I have a weak spot for all things sweet, especially Mr. Cheetah! I’m a Chicago girl and he’s a Nor Cal boy but we love living in the City of Angels. After 10 years as a couple we are planning a fun-filled semi-destination wedding in Palm Springs. Hope you enjoy the ride!
Latest Gallery Pics