27 Questions to ask your wedding cake designer

When to book: 6 – 9 months ahead

Next to your dress, the cake is probably a wedding’s most important icon. And whether you want a traditional multitier confection, a miniature Statue of Table Mountain (hey, that’s where he proposed!) or a cupcake tower, your wedding cake should reflect your personality.

Use the following questions as a guide when evaluating a potential cake designer.

1. Do you have my wedding date available?

2. How many wedding cakes do you schedule on the same day? (NOTE: You want to feel comfortable that your designer is sufficiently staffed to handle the number of cakes they’ve scheduled to deliver and set up on your date.)

3. How do you price your cakes? By the slice? Does the cost vary depending on the design and flavours I choose?

4. What is your minimum per-person cake cost?

5. What recommendations can you give me to maximize my budget?

6. Do you have a “menu” of cakes and prices that I can take with me?

7. What are the fees for delivery and setup of the cake? Do you decorate the cake table, too?

8. What do you do if the cake gets damaged in transit to or at my reception site?

9. Do you provide or rent cake toppers, a cake-cutting knife, cake stands, etc.? What are the fees?

10. How far in advance should I order my cake?

11. When is the final payment due?

12. Are there any additional fees that I should be aware of?

13. What is your refund policy if for some reason I need to cancel my order? What if I’m not happy with the cake?

14. When can I expect to receive my contract from you?

15. If I provide you with a picture of what I’d like, can you recreate it? Does it cost extra for a custom design?

16. I have an old family cake recipe. Can you adapt it for my wedding cake design?

17. If I don’t have a clear vision of what I would like, can you offer some design ideas based on my theme and budget?

18. What flavors and fillings do you offer?

19. What are the different ingredients you typically use? Do you offer all organic or vegan options? (TIP: Quality ingredients cost more, but the investment is worth it—

20. the cake will taste better.)

21. Do you have cake tastings? Is there a charge?

22. Do you do both fondant and buttercream icing? 

23. Are there any other icing options I should consider? Which do you recommend for my cake design?

24. Can you create sugar paste, gum paste or chocolate flowers? If I decide to have fresh flowers on my cake will you work with my florist or will you obtain and arrange the flowers yourself?

25. How much in advance of the wedding is the cake actually made? Do you freeze your cakes? (NOTE: Wedding cakes usually take at least a couple of days to make.)

26. Will you preserve the top tier of my cake for my first wedding anniversary or do you provide a special cake for the occasion?

27. Can you make a groom’s cake? Is this priced the same as my wedding cake?

28. Do you charge an extra fee if I need you to stay throughout the ceremony to move arrangements to the reception site?

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