Help and Advice (FAQ)

Cakes

When buying a wedding cake, you have many choices. In addition to the cake's design, consider convenience, experience and cost when choosing your baker.

Who should design my cake?
Caterer Or Reception Hall
The most convenient option, and sometimes a required option, is to order the cake from your caterer or the restaurant or club where your reception is being held. Both will usually charge a price per guest for the cake and will handle the delivery of the cake for you.

Independent Off-Premise Baker
If your caterer or reception hall will allow it, you can also order you cake from an independent off-premise bakery. Selecting an off-premise bakery often gives you more choices in cake designs than your caterer or reception site might offer.

Inquire from your baker if they will deliver and set-up your wedding cake and ask if there is a delivery charge for this service. Do not have your mom or dad go and pick it up. Many layered and tiered cakes have to be assembled on site and their layers are transported separately. Assembling a cake could prove to be a nightmare for someone who is not a professional.

Friend Or Family Member
The third option is for those of you who are having a small wedding, to have a friend or relative make the cake. Please ask your "home-baker" to practice several times and invite friends over for a viewing and tasting each time. Making your birthday cake is much different than making your wedding cake. Don’t take the word of your “home-baker” that “everything will be fine”. It is your wedding and you should be sure that your cake is going to be as beautiful and delicious as you dreamed it to be.

How do I find a good baker?
Word of mouth is the best answer we can give to you. Ask everyone you are working with; the reception site coordinator, the photographer, the florist, etc. They have all done hundreds of weddings and have seen hundreds of cakes. Ask for their suggestions.

Make appointments with several different bakers. The baker will need to know approximately how many guests you are expecting, and the time and the location of the reception.

Be sure to look at real pictures of cakes they have made and don't settle for cake design books only. Also, be sure to taste samples of their cakes. If the sample doesn’t taste good, your wedding cake won’t either.

What do I ask a baker?
Can I see photos of previous wedding cakes you have designed?
This is essential. If the baker won't show you photographs, look elsewhere.

Can I have a taste test?
Many small bakers won't have samples on hand for you to taste. If your baker doesn't have any for you to taste at the time of your visit, ask if the baker will be hosting any "Cake Tasting" in the near future. You must be able to taste your cake.

Is there an extra charge for special fillings or icings, delivery, set-up, etc.?
Extra charges for these items are pretty standard, but you need to know up front for the sake of your budget.

Will the bakery decorate the cake with fresh or silk flowers or will they work with my florist?
Unless the baker's floral decorating skills are excellent, ask your baker if your florist can handle silk or fresh flower decorations.

How far in advance will the cake be prepared?
If the cake is being prepared well in advance and frozen, ask the baker how long it will take the cake to thaw. I have attended more than one wedding where the cake was still somewhat frozen.