Photography: Nick Wild Photography
While you may already have a list of questions to ask your caterer or baker regarding the wedding cake, have you thought of the possible things he or she may ask you?
Before your first meeting, do go through this essential list of questions to ensure you are armed and ready with the right answers. Once you've got housekeeping out of the way, your baker can dive straight into the creation of the perfect cake that complements your wedding celebrations.
What is the theme of the wedding?
This greatly impacts the type and style of cake. A whimsical wedding, for example, might call for cupcakes instead of a standard tiered cake, or a fun rainbow cake, a donut tower or a mixture of many!
What is your budget for the wedding cake?
Cakes are not cheap especially when they are made of expensive materials like fondant or marzipan. If you have budget constraints, your baker can recommend cheaper alternatives like fresh cream or a naked cake.
How many guests are you catering for?
The more guests you have, the larger the cake, the bigger the budget. Perhaps you'd like to mix it up – a single tiered cake for the ceremonial cutting with a tower of cupcakes or macaroons.
Do you want something edible or ornamental?
If it is an edible cake, let your baker know the wedding location – indoors or outdoors. You wouldn't want your cake to be melting under the scorching heat!
Do you have have picture references? Or would you like me to design from scratch?
Some bakers charge more for design work, so do check up on that.
Do you want the cake to be the grand finale or just something that is part of the ceremony?
A grand finale cake should be make a statement when it's rolled out onto the dance floor – either in stature or embellished with flowers or sparklers.
What flavours would you like?
Most cakes are sponge-based but the sky's the limit where flavours are concerned. Popular ones are vanilla, red velvet, chocolate, lemon and carrot.
Do you have any allergies or dietary restrictions?
It's normal to have allergies to wheat and eggs, so do let the baker know if you want to go gluten-free or flourless. Again, this will cost more.
