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Accessorize - It's the big moment - do you want to cut your gorgeous cake with a bread knife from the kitchen? Buy a classy cake server when making your registry selections.
Budget - Big or small, setting aside a portion of your budget for the cake will help you & your baker in the design process. Expect to dedicate 3-5% of your total $ to the cake.
Communicate - To create your dream cake your baker needs to get to know you, so share design ideas, budget concerns, likes & especially dislikes.
Delivery - The marginal added $ to have your cake delivered & set up is worth it. Unless you have a very simple & small cake, don't burden a guest with getting the confection to the reception on time & in one piece.
Elegance - Traditional, modern or unconventional, make sure your designer can pull off the look of the cake with elegance. Look at their past work for precision, neatness & attention to detail. This sets apart a great designer from an average one.
Flavour - Rich chocolate, fragrant vanilla, traditional fruit cake or one of each! With a multi-tiered cake, you are not restricted to one flavour but make sure you have comparable servings of each for your guests.
Groom - Cutting the cake is one of the first tasks you will perform together as a married couple, so give your groom an opportunity to provide input on cake selection & design.
Height - Beautiful cakes have an undeniable presence, a key component of which is height. If you have a long guest list, go tall (not wide) with your cake. Don't want leftovers? Discuss incorporating fake tiers with your designer.
Ingredients - Trite but true, buttercream is made with butter not oil, margarine or shortening. If you want your cake to taste fantastic, quality & freshness matter. Ensure your vendor doesn't cut corners.
Jive - You may not be a dancer but you want to have synchronicity & to connect with your cake designer. If you don't feel comfortable & excited after the first meeting, you probably need to keep looking.
Keepsake - No matter how tasty the day of the wedding, a cake frozen for one year is not appetizing - instead of saving your top tier, ask your baker to make a fresh mini for your anniversary. Want a keepsake from the day? Incorporate a cake stand or a fake top tier into your design.
Location - Cake location at the venue is significant - Will the cake be on a separate table? What is the table placement in the room? Will the cake be visible all around or be against a wall? This information can guide design choices & impact your budget.
Minis - Can't settle on one design? Consider wedding cakes in a smaller scale as centerpieces for each table or minis as gifts for your bridal party.
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Notice - If you want a reputable designer who will take time & care in creating your cake, book 3-6 months in advance.
Openness - It's not likely you booked your cake designer on a whim - you researched & selected this individual. So be open to hearing their ideas & trust their judgement, especially in regards to technical aspects of the cake (appropriate icing choices, structure, etc.). This will ensure a great working relationship & results.
Presentation - If your cake will not be part of a sweet table, it is generally best to display it on a table that is no more than 2-3 times larger than the base of the cake, otherwise it can look small & out of place. A gorgeous tablecloth in an accenting color & delicate light from votives will elevate the overall presentation.
Questions - OK, so this is communication - but it is very important. Ask lots of questions of your cake vendor regarding: the cake & their ideas, their business & history, their approach to baking & design as well as experience & education.
Referrals - Can't find a good cake designer? Ask your friends, family & colleagues. They will have suggestions & will advise if there is someone they do not recommend. If you end up with a fantastic vendor, please provide feedback & pass on their contact information.
Shape & Size - Think beyond round or square...there's petal, oval, hexagon, custom carved or you can combine shapes for a spectacular effect.
As to size, the key question is whether you have a full sweet table. If you do, plan on a cake to serve 60-70% of your guests. If you don't, assume one serving per guest.
Tastings - From my point of view, you & your fiancé are entitled to a tasting. You should be able to sample three to four types of cake of your choosing. You should not be charged for the samples. Enough said.
Unique - If you want a generic bakery-style cake you don't need a custom designer. But if you have booked one, be bold with your ideas - this will ensure you have a cake that is uniquely yours. With time, a good designer will be able to create just about anything out of cake!
Variety - When choosing the cake flavour, keep in mind the dessert being served at dinner & the sweet table so guests have various options to enjoy. For example, if dessert is crème brulée, go for a fruity or citrus scented cake, & use chocolate as the focus of the sweet table.
Wine - While the wedding cake is traditionally served with bubbly, surprise your guests by pairing your sweet confection with a local icewine, a late harvest or a fortified wine such as Port.
X, Y, Z - If you want fresh flowers for your cake or for plating, order pesticide free & remember that not all flowers are edible. Give a √ to Yucca petals but a big X to Zinnias.
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