Your wedding cake can be supplied by a specialist bakery, your wedding caterer
or one of several sources of recommendation.
Wherever you order your wedding cake from, these helpful tips will make
the process easier and should avoid some of the pitfalls that occasionally
present themselves. Most wedding
cake suppliers will have a photo portfolio of their previous creations for you
to look at and help you decide if they are able to supply the wedding cake that
you have in mind.
Finding Your Wedding cake Supplier
When making your initial enquiries, have an idea of the number of guests
that you will have at your wedding and reception, this will help to
determine the size and amount of cake you are likely to need.
You will need to have clear information about the date, time and
location of your wedding reception when speaking to potential wedding
cake suppliers. Agree on
deadline dates for any changes to the cake size or design, delivery
details and provide the address and a location map for the wedding
reception (ensure that someone will be available at the location to
receive and check the cake on arrival).
If you are having a cake to match your dress or wedding colour scheme
take along swatches of material or colour samples.
Photographs don’t always portray an exact colour match and
pictures can fade over a short time.
If you have been searching for the ideal size and design of
wedding cake that you want, then remember to take these pictures along
with you when discussing the cake design.
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Finding Your Wedding Cake Supplier
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Points To
Cover With Your Wedding Cake Supplier
Below, we have listed a number of questions that you should include in
your discussions with the wedding cake supplier.
It is your wedding day, the most special day of your life, you
have every right to ask questions and determine exactly what you want
and a good and specialist supplier will appreciate this!
(Suggestion: Consider printing these and taking them along with you, you
will certainly find it easier to ensure you have covered the points!)
1. Can your supplier’s
baker/cake decorator produce a custom wedding cake to your instructions,
to look like the picture you have chosen as your ideal wedding cake
creation?
2. What types of cake
and icing are available for your wedding cake?
If you have already decided on the type of cake (fruit cake,
sponge, etc.), or have an idea on the type of icing you prefer, then
simply ask them “Can you make a (type of cake), with (flavour/type) of
icing?”
3. Ask to sample some
of the cakes that they have previously made of the same type as you
propose to have for your own wedding.
If you’re not pleased with the taste of the samples, ask for
additional or alternative choices.
Even if you have to order a small cake to be made to the same
specifications, the cost of this sample is a small price to pay for
peace of mind and your satisfaction.
If you still remain unconvinced, maybe it’s time to reconsider
your choice of supplier?
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4. If your proposed
wedding cake is to have fresh flowers as a part of the decoration, ask
if the cake supplier will source them for you or if you need to include
them in your discussions with your wedding florist.
5. If you’re not
offered them as part of your initial discussions, ask to see pictures of
wedding cakes that the supplier has produced previously.
Go through their photo album and decide if you like the looks and
quality of the finish on the cakes they have made previously.
It is also worth enquiring how far back the pictures date and if
the person who has created the decorations will be the same person who
will decorate your wedding cake.
6. Do the kitchens and
decoration areas have the required health certificates, indicating that
their standards have passed health inspection from the licensing
authority? Most suppliers
and bakeries will be pleased for you to view their kitchen and
preparation areas, this is probably as reassuring as viewing the license
itself. |
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7. Some busy wedding
cake suppliers will prepare and freeze a cake in advance of the required
date. Ask if your supplier
is likely to do this if you’re concerned about the process.
However, you should also understand that some professionals are
of the opinion that the taste of certain types of cakes improves after a
period of freezing.
8. Ask how long before
the actual wedding date the cake will be prepared and how it would be
stored prior to delivery. If
you have any concerns about the time period or the method of storage
affecting the freshness of your cake, then take this opportunity to
discuss this, the alternatives or the reassurances you may be given.
The supplier will both explain and demonstrate that it will not present
a problem, to reassure you, or they will suggest an alternative, shorter
length of time, for the storage of your wedding cake.
They may even be able to show you cakes which have been stored
for the period of time or let you sample cakes that have undergone this
storage. Some types of cakes
keep well, or even improve, when frozen, yet others do not! If you
remain dissatisfied and the supplier cannot offer you an acceptable
alternative, then you should use a different supplier for your wedding
cake. |
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9. Ask how many orders
the supplier typically has (or expects to have) for the date of your
wedding. This should give
you an indication of the amount of time that they will have to spend on
preparing your wedding cake.
Of course, if they have a number of staff dedicated to the production of
wedding cakes, then you should try to establish the potential workload
for the member of staff who will be working on your cake.
A large order book for wedding cakes can be an indication that the time
and attention to detail can be spread thinly amongst each of their
productions. However, it can
also indicate that many people have been impressed with it’s previous
orders and they have created a good reputation and a level of trust in
their work and service. Most
professional suppliers will restrict the number of orders for a
particular date, to fit their production schedule and to give them
sufficient time to pay attention to each client’s individual
requirements. |
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10. Ask about the cake
decorator’s experience and which of the cakes on the gallery or photo album
they have decorated. The purpose
of going through this exercise is to ensure that you receive the same
quality of wedding cake decoration that the supplier is using to promote
their goods. There is little
point in ordering a wedding cake that meets your requirements, only to find
that your cake will be produced by someone else, who may not have the skills
and experience to match the samples that you have seen.
11. Ask to be introduced
to the people who will be producing your wedding cake (this may mean making
a further appointment to meet them).
There may be questions that you have or particular points you wish to
discuss.
If you don’t have anything you wish to discuss with them, it may still be a
good move to meet them anyway.
This gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself, for them to remember
your face and your name and makes their work on your wedding cake a far more
personal involvement. Show your
pleasure at meeting the people who have created such masterpieces of
confection and make sure they know that you have decided to place your order
with them because you’re so impressed with their skills and previous
results. Try to make as good an
impression on them as you hope they will make for you on your wedding cake!
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12. If you are
concerned by the ingredients, ask if your cake will be mixed and baked
from scratch or if pre-packed mixes are used.
Very few professional bakers will use pre-packed ingredients,
especially as they are so much more expensive.
If you’re not particularly concerned about how the ingredients
are mixed, do you care whether the cake is mixed from scratch or not, as
long as you have your desired taste and texture in the final outcome?
13. Ask for a firm
price quotation on your agreed wedding cake.
If the supplier is only able to give you an estimate at the time,
then establish the price range that the final price may vary from the
estimated price given.
14. Ask for references
from previous wedding customers, so that you can seek their opinions.
Then make the effort to actually talk with them and enquire about
their experiences of the supplier and their opinions of the cakes they
had produced. Most people
will be pleased to give you an honest opinion and quite happy to have
been contacted by you.
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15. Ask for a written
agreement of your order for the wedding cake.
A written agreement/contract with your wedding cake supplier will
help to avoid any misunderstandings.
The document should include your agreed specifications for size,
shape, colour, decoration, cake topper, date, time and place of delivery
and the quoted price for producing your wedding cake.
Most wedding cake suppliers will have their own form of order
sheet, giving the cake specifications – such a form will help them to
produce the cake exactly to your specifications and should avoid any
confusion later. The
agreement for producing your wedding cake should be signed by both you
and the supplier and you should retain a copy for your own further
reference later.
Would you like to learn more about cakes? Do you need wedding cake
ideas, pictures, cake toppers or other supplies? Looking for bakery?
Visit
CakeChannel.com
See you there :-)
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