TNWS supplier Ann’s Designer Cakes offers key advice for how to plan your wedding cake from design to delivery.
You’ve booked the venue, you’ve chosen your dress and now it’s time to decide on all those extra elements that will make your wedding day a day to remember forever. Here at Ann’s Designer Cakes we appreciate the thought and detail that goes into creating your individual wedding so we’ve put together a guide to help you.
Beginning Your Search
Some wedding venues, particularly unique listed buildings, have a list of preferred suppliers that you will be required to use, so double check this with your venue before starting your research.
If you are free to bring in your own suppliers then the ideal time to start looking for your wedding cake supplier is at least six months prior to your wedding day to ensure that they will have the availability to cater for your event. Some professional cake designers will already have their diaries filled with orders at least a year in advance so if you have a particular company in mind it would be a good idea to get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Make the most of the wedding planning experience by attending wedding fairs and showcases such as The National Wedding Show. It’s a fantastic place to meet suppliers and see the quality of their work all under one roof.
You can generally get a good feel for a cake designer’s flare and style from the showcase of cakes featured on their website, but it’s always good to have an initial phone conversation to discuss your vision and requirements to gauge whether they are the right designer for you.
Before you meet with your potential cake designer, collate any photographs from magazines or websites that have caught your eye. Have to hand as much information as possible such as the level of formality, location, dress, colours, theme, flowers, menu; even your invitations as all these factors can really inspire your designer and help them to gauge an overall image of your big day.
Meeting With Your Cake Designer
After your research and initial phone conversation it’s important that you meet with your cake designer to look through a portfolio of their work and discuss your requirements in more detail.
Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions if they are important to your wedding cake vision. A consultation isn’t just about discussing designs and flavours, it’s about building a rapport with your supplier which will enable them to interpret your design aspirations.
If you have any specific requirements in mind that you would like to view or taste, such as a particular flavour of cake, any dietary requirements or see a sample of their handmade sugar flower decorations, then ask in advance so that your designer can be prepared for your meeting. It’s your wedding day- you can have your wedding cake and eat it!
Be sure to taste samples of the bakers work– the flavour and texture of the cake is just as important as the finished design appearance and it’s usually the part that your guests will remember the most. Everyone loves a yummy memorable wedding cake!
How many guests would you like to cater for with your wedding cake? Be sure to know a rough figure so that your cake designer can quote accurately as portions dictate the size of cake you will require.
Aspects to Consider
You need to set a realistic budget to suit your design aspirations. But fear not, let your cake designer know if you are working towards a particular budget so that they can try and work with it to help achieve your design. Remember you’ll need to be flexible with your vision for it to suit your budget though.
If you are planning a wedding in the summer months, avoid cakes with whipped cream, meringue and buttercream as they melt. Ask your designer about summer icing options. You may wish to opt for a Royal Iced cake or a Fondant Finished cake as these will not need to be refrigerated.
If your dream cake vision is for it to be complimented with fresh flowers, then ask if your cake designer is happy to work alongside your florist to make this work.
Decide when you would like your cake to be served to your guests: in the evening or as a dessert. As an addition you can liaise with your caterer to serve your cake with ice cream, fruit coulis or chocolate sauce as an extra treat for your guests.
There are so many alternatives to having a traditional tiered wedding cake such as cupcakes, mini cakes, a chocolate decorated cake or even pavlova, so don’t be afraid of asking your cake designer to come up with something a little different.
Transport is something people tend to forget about until the last minute. It’s important to discuss early on, who will deliver your cake to the wedding venue. Most cake designers charge delivery as an additional cost which may be tempting to waiver, but bear in mind that cakes are heavy, extremely fragile and sometimes tricky to arrange an ensemble of tiers so can be a huge responsibility to pass on to a family member. It is usually worth the fee just for peace of mind.
Once you have booked your cake designer, keep in touch so that both parties are on the same track in the lead up to your big day.
Ann’s Designer Cakes are a leading artisan cake company, and have been making cakes of distinction for over fifteen years. Visit their website here.
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