When I was in baking school, we had a bride who needed a cake for 60 people, but wanted the look and size of cake for 200 people. A five tier cake. This was mostly for pictures.
So I made the bottom two sizes in a dummy cake, then the top three sizes in cake.. the dummy cakes came back to the school and she was thrilled with the look and the price.
I do not do very large wedding cakes any more, and use this idea all the time for smaller weddings. Azure
You DID charge her SOMETHING for the dummies, though, right? 
shoot, if someone wants a twinkee for a wedding cake, just send them this photo...
Setup and Delivery is extra of course.
At least everyone gets a Twinkie, Ding Dong, Hostess Cupcake or Zinger. Not just the bride and groom. hehehe 
Seriously. If Twinkies are all you can afford, I'm OK with that. If WM is all you can afford, I'm OK with that too. I've actually had a pretty decent WM wedding cake.
Thing is, again, our collective clientele is not the bride looking to save money, is it? Those brides are standing at the cake counter at Wal-Mart and Kroger. The ones calling a custom cake maker, and actually booking an appointment are in general, the ones who want a custom cake, yes? And she's willing to pay for it?
What do they care how much it costs? They're trying to impress the other girls in their social/economic circle, with the biggest, best, fanciest cake.
I find the news to be more of an entertainment program nowadays rather than actual newsworthy topics that are discussed. As for the dummy cakes and the cupcakes there are different types of people. Not all people will have a sit down 7 course meal. And not all people will have just an hordeurve reception. Its just the way it is.
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