are dummy cakes REALLY cheaper than real cakes?
A 3 tier fondant wedding cake made with dummy tiers.
If you’re planning your wedding cake and trying to balance design with budget, you may have come across the idea of using dummy tiers instead of real cake. It’s often suggested as a way to reduce costs while still achieving a taller or more dramatic cake. And it’s a fair question - on the surface, it makes sense to assume that less real cake means a lower price.
Dummy tiers (also known as fake or polystyrene tiers) are solid cake-shaped forms that are decorated to look just like real cake. They’re often used to add height, create a particular look, or reduce the number of edible portions needed. From the outside, you’d never know the difference.
However, whether dummy tiers actually make a wedding cake cheaper isn’t as straightforward as it first appears. In practice, the cost of a wedding cake is far less about what’s inside the tiers and much more about the time, skill, customer experience and the care that goes into designing and decorating the outside. That’s where many couples are surprised - and where this question deserves a clearer, more honest answer.
What are dummy wedding cakes?
Dummy tiers are solid cake-shaped forms, usually made from polystyrene, that are covered and decorated in the same way as real cake. Once iced and finished, they look identical to real tiers and are often used to add height or create a particular design without increasing the number of portions.
They’re commonly used in display cakes, large venue settings, or when a couple wants a statement look without serving a huge amount of cake. From a visual point of view, dummy tiers can be very effective - but they don’t automatically mean a cheaper cake overall.
Why do couples consider dummy tiers?
Most couples look into dummy tiers for one main reason: cost. The assumption is that less cake inside must mean less work and therefore a lower price.
Other reasons include:
Wanting a taller cake for visual impact
Having fewer guests than the size of cake they love
Reducing leftover cake at the end of the day
All of these are completely valid reasons. Dummy tiers can be a useful design tool, but it’s important to understand where wedding cake costs actually come from before deciding whether they’re the right option for you.
Are Dummy Cakes Cheaper Than Real Cake?
This is where the myth usually needs clearing up.
In most cases, dummy tiers don’t significantly reduce the cost of a wedding cake. That’s because the main cost of a cake isn’t the sponge or fillings inside - it’s the time, skill, and detail involved in decorating the outside.
Whether a tier is real or dummy, it still needs to be:
Covered in ganache or buttercream
Finished with fondant or buttercream
Decorated to match the rest of the cake
Carefully assembled and set up
From a decorating point of view, a dummy tier takes almost the same amount of work as a real one. This is often surprising for couples, but it’s an important part of understanding how wedding cakes are priced.
Dummy tiers can make sense in some situations, for example, if you want a large visual cake but plan to serve kitchen cake separately - but they’re not a guaranteed cost-saving option on their own.
Can you put buttercream or fondant on a dummy cake?
Yes. Dummy tiers can be finished in buttercream, ganache, or fondant just like real cake. The aim is for the entire cake to look seamless, so guests wouldn’t be able to tell which tiers are real and which aren’t.
Because of this, dummy tiers still need careful preparation and finishing. They’re treated with the same level of care as edible tiers to ensure the cake looks consistent, polished, and professional from every angle.
How long do dummy cakes last?
Dummy tiers don’t have the same time limits as real cake, but they still need to be handled properly. Once decorated, they can last for a long time, provided they’re stored and transported carefully.
That said, they can still mark, dent, or pick up dust if not handled well - which is why professional setup and handling are just as important with dummy tiers as they are with real cake.
When Do Dummy Tiers Make Sense?
Dummy tiers can be a good option if:
You love the look of a larger cake but don’t need lots of servings
Your venue calls for a statement cake display
You’re combining a small, real cutting cake with dummy tiers to create height and visual impact while keeping the number of servings manageable
The key is that dummy tiers should be chosen for design reasons first, not purely as a way to reduce cost. When used thoughtfully, they can support your overall vision - but they work best when planned alongside the rest of your cake design.
So, Are Dummy Wedding Cakes Cheaper?
The short answer is: not usually in the way people expect.
Dummy tiers don’t dramatically lower the price of a wedding cake because the real value lies in the design, decoration, and expertise involved. The better question to ask is whether dummy tiers help you achieve the look, feel, and experience you want for your wedding.
That’s where a conversation with your cake designer makes all the difference - weighing up guest numbers, design goals, and how you want the cake moment to feel on the day.
Next Steps
Curious whether dummy tiers could work for your wedding cake? I’d love to help you explore your ideas, find the right balance between design and servings, and create a cake design that feels right for you and your day. Let’s have a chat and see what’s possible. If you’d like to learn more, check out my guide to bespoke wedding cakes or see how wedding cakes are calculated.