WEDDINGS are expensive affairs. There’s so much to pay for – the venue, the dress, the flowers, the ceremony.

The best way to save cash is by making small cutbacks.

Marie Sinclair from Genuine Cakes (www.genuinecakes.co.uk), offers her top tips on how to save money but still get a beautiful wedding cake:

1. Order fewer tiers. Just having a two-tier cake instead of the traditional three can save you almost £200 on average. Choosing a medium and small tier will also help with the budget. If you need more cake for your guests you can order cutting bars, which work out more affordable than that extra tier.
2. Collect the cake yourself. Delivery can start from £1 per mile, which soon clocks-up. Collecting the cake and assembling it yourself will easily save those pounds. Ask the cake maker to show you how the cake will sit together and go for a simple style without pillars to avoid any mishaps.
3. Use flowers that are in season to decorate your cake and reduce costs. Blooms which aren’t in season are often flown in and can be more expensive. Don’t rule out supermarket flowers. They can last longer and if you’re going for something simple they are a great way to add colour and texture.
4. Choose a sponge instead of fruit cake. This can save you £60 on a three-tier cake. There are so many delicious flavours available that you can be sure your guest will be more than happy.