Things
every bride needs to know when she is shopping for a wedding cake
By Earlene Moore
Reserve
your date with the decorator or bakery
1. Call the bakeries or cake decorators in your area to check for date availability. If
the date is open, that will then give you the opportunity to go in and check out the designs, taste and skill level of the
business. Depending on the decorator, you may need to call in as far as 6 months or even a year in advanced to reserve
your date. Many specialty cake decorators limit the number of wedding cakes they do each week where bakeries have a
larger staff and can do a larger quantity of cakes. Thursdays through Saturdays are hectic for baking, decorating and
delivering wedding cakes. Most weddings are on the weekends and therefore the bakers deadlines coincide with that timetable.
A phone call to make an appointment to visit with the individual or bakery about your cake will be appreciated. Just
walking in and expecting undivided attention might lead to disappointment if they simply do not have time to visit with you
that day.
Deposits
2. Be prepared to leave
a substantial deposit to ensure that the bakery or individual reserves the date for you.
Taste
is important
3. The taste, flavor and texture of the cake itself is the most important decision you will
make when you order your cake. The outside beauty of your wedding cake will be important for your pictures and your
personal statement. But, the inside of that cake is what you will be serving to your guests. You want a cake
that is flavorful, moist and yummy to eat. Ask friends or people who have attended recent weddings about how the wedding
cake tasted. If you have a specific flavor of a cake you would like to sample, you may want to ask ahead of time to
see if it is available for you to taste. Most bakeries offer there standard flavors but may accomodate if you want to
try a premium.
Outdoor Pitfalls
4. If you are planning an
outdoor wedding in the summer heat remember - flies love sweets, heat melts most icings, and high humidity will also turn
gumpast flowers limp, chocolate curls will melt and fresh flowers will wilt in prolonged exposure to heat.
Rain and wind can cause havoc
such as collapsing tents and blowing table cloths right off of the tables. You need to have a backup site just in case for
unforseen extreme weather conditions. Of course if the weather cooperates an outdoor wedding is the best. Just
be prepared if mother nature turnes on you.
Sugar Flowers
5.
If you choose to use gumpaste flowers on your cake, you must be prepared to pay for the time it takes to make these exquisite
flowers. Many of these flowers may be made on wires or toothpicks to acheive the look and arrangement you want.
These must be removed from the cake as it is served.
Color
6.
If you expect the cake decorator to come close to the colors of your wedding, you must take a swatch of fabric to her at least
3 inches square. Preferably solid color in each swatch.
Cake Servings
7. The cake designer or
bakery can guide you as to the number of servings you will need. But it is ultimately you and your mother who must decide
on numbers.
Fruit Fillings
8. Be considerate of your
guests. Seeds and coconut in your fillings may be difficult for some, so try to make different layers different flavors
so there are more choices to choose from.
Cake Placement At Your Reception
9.
Where will your cakes be placed in the reception area? Consult the reception site consultant as well as your cake person.
Look at the walls and consider the background for your wedding pictures when planning where the cake will be placed.
Person to cut the cake
10. Don't assume the
cake decorator or reception site personnel will be cutting your cake. You should ask if this service is included and
if not, how much the fee will be for this service. Also, ask if the decorator is providing the cake serving knives.
Many of them do not. If you ask a personal good friend of yours to serve the cake, are you asking them to work your wedding
party event? Are you bestowing an honor on them? Or are you cutting corners at the expense of your party guests.
Remember, your cake was made to serve a specific number of people. If the cake is not cut properly by a professional,
some of your guest may get cheated out of cake.
Final Cake Payments
11.
Final payment for your cake will vary with individual bakeries or decorators. Two-four weeks in advanced is reasonable
for basic cakes. When you consider that your name and residence will be changing it is very reasonable for payment to
expected in advanced.
Cancellation
12. If for some reason you
must cancel your wedding, you should notify the bakery or decorator as soon as possible. A forfeiture of the deposit
may be required.
Unexpected Happenings
13. Expect to have the most wonderful day
of your life. But with all the advanced planning and numerous people required to complete your wedding plans, something
will probably go wrong. Only life threatening circumstances should warrant you truly getting upset. Cake decorators,
florists, coordinators, etc. do the best they can for each of you individually. If a mistake is made, don't
let it upset your day. Just chalk it up to a future fun memory. Memories are not made up of all the things that
go right.
