7 Tips and FAQ on Creating and Ordering Your Dream Wedding Cake

1.
How soon should I order my wedding cake?  
I would say at least 4 - 8 months before the wedding.  We limit the amount of wedding cakes we do a weekend so sometimes we book up fast for popular dates.

2.
What do we discuss at the consultation?  
What vision do you have of your wedding cake at the reception?  Do you have a theme/colours that you are using?  It is good to come prepared with these wedding details. Also, and initial thoughts you may have for the cake design. Pinterest is a place to start gathering idea's.

3.
How many flavours of cake should I order?  
The more flavors you offer your guests, the more they want to try.  It is best to limit your flavors to 2-3.

4.
Do I have to put down a deposit?
Yes, most bakeries and cake shops need a deposit to book and hold your date.  Your deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.  Why?  Because we holds the date for your wedding. We might have turn other brides away because we knew we were making your wedding cake.  That means lost revenue.  Also, we might have started making some of the decorations for your cake, ex. Sugar flowers.

5.
Do we need to order enough cake for all of our guests?  
Yes, you do.  You don’t want any guest to go without cake. I use to suggest providing 3/4 serving of cake for your guests IF you are supplementing with a dessert bar- I used this number at my own wedding and had relatives and friends who where truly upset they did not get to try the cake. Lesson learned! Order cake for ALL your guests.

6.
How do I keep costs down?  
Let us know from the beginning of the appointment what your budget is, be upfront and honest. We can give you ideas on what will fit into your budget. For example,  a smaller wedding cake and sheet cakes is more economical than getting all of your servings out of the wedding cake.

Be realistic with your budget.  Why is cake so expensive?  Relatively speaking, the wedding cake is one of your least expensive items for your wedding.  Be prepared to spend $5.00-$15.00 a serving for your wedding cake.  Sheet cakes and cupcakes are a bit less than that.  Most couples spend $500-$1000 for their wedding cake and additional servings.  The more intricate the design, the higher the price.  Labor is a big portion of the cost of the wedding cake. If you are on a tight budget, pick out a simple design and your costs won’t be as much. For example-  there are lots of ways to translate blush pink peonies into a wedding cake. If you’re on a tight budget, think about having an oversized statement sugar flower or blocks of colour, rather than a floral cascade.

7.
What is the difference in buttercream compared to rolled fondant?
Buttercream is the smooth icing that covers your cake.  Rolled fondant is just another covering of sugar paste that is put on over the buttercream. Fondant is expensive, and applying to your cake is labour intensive so expect to pay more for it. Some designs have to be done in fondant, and it does gives you a lot more options for design.
Many people say to me that they think/heard fondant tastes "gross". Good quality fondant tastes, well - good!