Next to the wedding dress, the cake is probably a wedding’s most important icon. Whether you want a traditional multitiered creation, a miniature yacht or a cupcake tower, your wedding should reflect your personality. Use the following questions as a guide to help you evaluate a potential cake designer. Click here for a printer friendly version of  the PDF Questions to Ask Your Cake Designer
BUSINESS MATTERS

  1. Are you available on my wedding date?
  2. How many wedding cakes do you schedule on the same date? NOTE: You want to feel comfortable that your designer is sufficiently staffed to handle the number of cakes they are scheduled to deliver and set up on your date.
  3. How do you price your cakes? By slice or tier? Does the cost vary depending on the design and flavours I choose?
  4. What recommendations can you give me to maximise my budget?
  5. Do you have a ‘menu’ of cakes and prices I can take with me?
  6. What are the fees for delivery and setup of the cake? Do you decorate the cake table?
  7. What do you do if the cake gets damaged in transit to or at my reception site?
  8. Do you provide or rent cake toppers, cutting knife, cake stands, etc? What are the fees?
  9. How far in advance should I order my cake?
  10. How much is the deposit and when is it due?
  11. When is the final payment due?
  12. Are there any additional fees I should be aware of?
  13. What is your refund policy if for some reason I need to cancel my order? What if I am not happy with the cake?
  14. When can I expect to receive my contract from you?

BACKGROUND CHECK

  1. How long have you been in the business? Are you licensed and/or insured?
  2. How many weddings have you done?
  3. Where did you receive your training?
  4. Can you provide me with 3-4 recent brides that I can contact for references?

THE CAKE

  1. Do you have a portfolio of your work I can view, and did you make all the cakes in it?
  2. What are your specialties?
  3. Can you design a custom cake to match my theme, dress, colour scheme or do I have to select from set designs?
  4. If I provide you with a picture of what I’d like, can you recreate it? Does it cost extra for a custom design?
  5. If I don’t have a clear vision of what I would like, can you offer some design ideas based on my theme and budget?
  6. What flavours and fillings do you offer?
  7. What are the different ingredients you typically use? Can you accommodate my dietary needs such as gluten free, nut free cake etc?
  8. Do you have cake tastings? Is there a charge?
  9. Do you do both fondant and buttercream icing?
  10. Are there any other icing options I should consider? Which do you recommend for my cake design?
  11. Can you create sugar paste, gum paste or chocolate flowers? If I decide to use fresh flowers, will you work with my decorator or will you obtain and arrange them yourself?
  12. Will you preserve the top tier of my cake for my first wedding anniversary or do you provide a special cake for that?
  13. How far in advance of the wedding is the cake actually made? Do you freeze your cakes?
  14. Do you provide other items that I can give my guests as favours?

USEFUL TIPS

  • Arrange a consultation with your potential cake designer in person and do a tasting before you sign a contract. Remember not all cake tastings are complimentary.
  • Make sure your cake designer specialises in wedding cakes. A wedding cake is usually more elaborate than a birthday or graduation cake.
  • In general, you should order your cake 4-6 months prior to your wedding.
  • You might be able to save some money by choosing one overall flavour for your cake or having a small cake for display and the cake cutting accompanied by a sheet cake to serve to your guests.

Happy Planning!

 

Related Links:

Choosing Your Perfect Wedding Cake

Pinterest: Wedding Cakes

29 July 2020

I cannot thank you enough for the blog.Really thank you! Great.

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