Congratulations to all those new engaged couples who are about to embark on the exciting madness known as wedding planning!

Weddings are an expensive business. The venue, the dress, the cars and then the stress doubles once you try to organise the table plans. Most of our friends and family will happily mingle but there is always that one person you never know what to do with. Sadly we can't help you with that part of the process!

As bizarre as it may sound, choosing your wedding cake is just an integral part of organising your wedding day as invites and venue hire. All your guests will want to take photos of you both during the day, but the cutting of the cake photo is the one everyone wants to capture. It's the one your mum is likely to put in a photo frame and it will definitely make the wedding album.

Once you and your beau have chosen your colour scheme, the internet makes it easier to find lots of fabulous ideas to match your chosen theme, with apps such a Pinterest and Instagram offering lots of ideas. There is the flavour to think about, how many people do you need to cater for and the final design. And then there is the cost. Most couples do not factor into their budget the cost of their wedding cake. Yes, you can go to a well known high street store and pick up a relatively inexpensive cake but where is the personal touch? That's what you pay for when you choose your wedding cake supplier. You are paying for their time from your initial consultation to delivery. You are paying for the freshly baked-to-order yumminess and love that goes into each tier, the quality ingredients and the attention to the details that make your cake unique to you.

So how much does a wedding cake cost? Each supplier has their own rates and will charge you accordingly so expect to pay in the region of £500 upwards for a 3 tier fondant finished cake. Obviously the more elaborate and the bigger the cake, the more expensive it will be. Square and hexagon shaped cakes are more expensive also. Once you've chosen your cake maker make sure you tell them your budget up front. This will help them create a design that you can afford and save any disappointment on your part with not being able to have what you really want due to the cost.

Shop around. There will always be someone who fits within your budget but do remember that you get what you pay for! Visit wedding fayres, meet suppliers and choose someone you feel comfortable with.

And most of all, have fun. It is your wedding day after all !