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Essential Shopping Tips
for buying a wedding cake
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You
have several options to
choose from when buying a
wedding cake. In addition to
the cake's design, consider
convenience and cost when
choosing your baker.
Who Should Design and Bake
the Cake?
Your Caterer Or Reception
Hall
The most convenient option,
and sometimes a required
option, is to order the cake
from your caterer or the
restaurant or club where
your reception is being
held. Both will usually
charge a price per head for
the cake and will handle the
delivery of the cake for
you.
An Independent Off-Premise
Baker
If your caterer or reception
hall will allow it, you can
also order you cake from an
independent off-premise
bakery. Selecting an
off-premise bakery often
gives you more choices in
cake designs than your
caterer or reception site
might offer. In addition, an
off-premise bakery can be
less expensive than your
caterer or reception hall.
A bakery may charge you a
flat rate for the cake, but
you will probably have to
make some type of delivery
arrangements. If this is the
case, ask your baker for
qualified delivery
suggestions. You must
arrange for the delivery of
the cake by a professional.
Do not have your mom or dad
go and pick it up. Many
layered and tiered cakes
have to be assembled on site
and their layers are
transported separately.
Assembling a cake could
prove to be a nightmare for
someone who is clueless!!!
Your Grocer's Bakery
A third option is to order
your cake from your grocery
store. I have seen some
absolutely beautiful cakes
come out of Publix! Again,
you may have to arrange for
the delivery of the cake, so
use good judgment and ask
the grocer for suggestions.
A Friend Or Family Member
And for those of you who are
having a small wedding, a
final option would be to
have a friend or relative
make the cake. If you choose
this option, choose a simple
stacked cake design and then
have your florist arrange
fresh flowers on each of the
layers. Also, please ask
your "home-baker" to
practice several times and
invite friends over for a
viewing and tasting each
time. You could also use the
gathering to do something
such as addressing or
stuffing wedding
invitations!
How Do You Find A Good
Baker?
But how do you find a good
baker if you are not using
your caterer or reception
facility? Word of mouth is
the best answer I can give
to you. Ask everyone you are
working with - the reception
site coordinator, the
photographer, the florist,
etc. They have all done
hundreds of weddings and
seen hundreds of cakes -
they will definitely have
suggestions.
Make appointments with
several different bakers.
The baker will need to know
approximately how many
people you are expecting and
the colors of your wedding.
Be sure to look at real
pictures of cakes they have
made - don't settle for cake
design books. Also, be sure
to taste samples of their
cakes.
Questions To Ask Potential
Bakers
-
Can I see photos of
previous wedding cakes you
have designed?
This is essential. If the
baker won't show you
photographs, look
elsewhere.
-
Can I have a taste
test?
Many small bakers won't
have samples on hand for
you to taste. If your
baker doesn't have any for
you to taste at the time
of your visit, ask if the
baker will be hosting any
cake tastings in the near
future.
-
Do you charge extra for
anything such as special
fillings or icings,
delivery, set-up, etc.?
Extra charges for these
items are pretty standard,
but you need to know up
front for the sake of your
budget.
-
Will you decorate the
cake with fresh or silk
flowers or will you work
with my florist?
Unless the baker's floral
decorating skills are
excellent, ask your baker
if your florist can handle
silk or fresh flower
decorations.
-
How far in advance will
the cake be prepared?
If the cake is being
prepared well in advance
and frozen, ask the baker
how long it will take the
cake to thaw. I have
attended more than one
wedding where the cake was
still somewhat frozen.
Saving Tips
Use a small independent
baker - they often charge
less than the larger
companies.
Order less cake than the
number of guests. Many
guests never even see the
cake - much less eat any of
it.
Order a Styrofoam dummy cake
for display and photographs
and serve a less expensive
sheet cake that is waiting
in the kitchen.
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