What you should expect to pay
A three-tier fondant cake from a Metro Manila bakeshop typically runs ₱12,000 to ₱25,000. Boutique cake artists with sugar flowers start around ₱30,000 and climb quickly. Outside NCR, expect roughly 20–30% less, but add delivery.
Many reception packages already include a cake. Read the inclusion carefully: it is often a dummy cake with one edible tier, which is fine — just don't pay twice for the same thing.
Sizing it for your guest count
A tier serves roughly its diameter in slices: a 10-inch tier gives about 40 wedding-size slices, an 8-inch about 25, a 6-inch about 12. For 150 guests, a 10-8-6 stack plus one sheet cake in the back kitchen is the cheapest way to feed everyone.
If you're serving plated dessert, cut the cake budget. Most guests won't eat both.
Dummy tiers are not cheating
Tall, dramatic cakes are mostly styrofoam under fondant. Dummy tiers cost a fraction of real ones and hold up far better in Philippine heat. Ask for a quote with the height you want and only the tiers you need to serve.
Questions to ask before paying the deposit
Is delivery and setup included, and up to what distance? Who supplies the cake stand and cutting set? What happens if the fondant sweats at an outdoor reception? Is there a refrigerated holding time before the program? Get the answers in writing on the contract, not over Messenger.
Timeline
Book 4–6 months out for popular bakeshops, 2–3 months for most others. Do the tasting only after you've locked the reception style — flavours are easy, but the design brief depends on your styling.