The most delicious and fun part of wedding planning. Your wedding cake should be a big part of your special day. It is the highly anticipated centerpiece of the reception and it also serves as the final note of your guest’s meal.
When it comes to the cake that you'll be serving on your wedding day, what comes to mind? Do you envision a multi-tiered ornate cake with a grande cake topper? A simpler modest cake with florals or personal decor? Or do you envision skipping the cake altogether and going with something different such as a dessert table, donut board or cake pops/cupcakes tower?
Whatever you envision for the dessert on your special day, you will need to select a baker who is aligned with your vision. Finding the perfect baker to make your vision come to fruition can be a daunting task or it can be a fun task, however you want to look at it.
Before researching bakeries, there are some key questions you want to ask yourself to gain clarity on what you really want. Here is a list of some things you may want to get clear before reaching out to bakers:
Do you even want a cake? Many couples are getting creative with alternatives to cake such as the examples mentioned above.
Do you want a traditional design or do you want a show stopping cake that will be the talk of the town?
Pinterest is a great place to start looking for wedding cake designs. If you don't already have an account, create one, then create a "board" for wedding cake designs. Search for designs you may be interested in and add them to your board. Boards can be shared so you can share it with your potential wedding cake baker to help them envision what you are looking for.
What flavors do you and your partner like? Do you want to keep it simple and traditional so your guests will not be put off by unusual flavors? Or do you want more out-of-the-ordinary flavors because you are tired of the same ole, same ole?
How much of your budget did you allocate for your dream wedding cake? Do you want high-end services by a wedding cake specialist who will offer you perks that a local bakery does not offer? Or do you want to go with a popular local bakery who you often purchase cupcakes or small cakes from?
Keep all of these questions in mind when searching for the perfect wedding cake baker for you.
Once you have these questions answered, now for the adventure in securing a wedding cake baker. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Have you been to a wedding lately and loved the design and/or taste of the wedding cake? If so, reach out to the bride/groom and ask who was their baker. You can add this baker to your list of bakers to contact.
Do you have a wedding planner or caterer? As industry pros, they will no doubt have suggestions for talented wedding cake bakers for you to research. A wedding planner may even handle contacting bakers for you and arranging the cake tasting.
As with any wedding vendor, finding a personality fit is important. During your initial conversation, see how willing they are to work with your vision in mind. You want them to show a real interest in your visions, your inspirations, and want to hear your ideas.
You want to be sure your wedding cake flavors are on top also, not just the design. Many bakers will focus on design and then provide average flavors. This is why the cake tasting is important. It gives you a feel for what the baker is capable of in creating wonderful flavors.
Be sure your wedding cake baker has the skill sets to make your cake art piece. Check out their online portfolio if they have one, or their Instagram page. You can learn a lot about a baker by browsing through their past cakes. If you are looking for an elaborate designed cake, and a baker has photos on their website of only simply decorated cakes such as buttercream rosettes, this person is not the baker for you.
Selecting your wedding cake is one of the most highly anticipated decisions leading up to your special day. You want to be sure your cake maker can live up to your expectations for a dream cake. You also need to keep in mind that the baker of your choice may not be available for your wedding date. Plan on reaching out to bakers at least six months in advance or as soon as you secure your wedding date. High demand bakers are sometimes booked over a year in advance. On the other hand, bakers, including high demand, may have an opening that happens to fall on your event date so don't get discouraged. Always reach out and find out if your favorite baker is available for your wedding date and if they are committed to creating the cake you always dreamed of for your wedding day. A last minute cake can sometimes be squeezed in no matter how close you are to the date.
I hope these tips have helped you in your journey to find the perfect baker for your wedding cake. Feel free to browse my portfolio of wedding cakes here. If you like what you see, let's chat to see if we are a good fit! Inquire here.
Bye for now,
Patty
Comments