How to Choose a Wedding Baker!
You’ve been planning for months now and have lots of the big things -venue, bridal party, caterer, DJ, and dress all handled. Now you need a cake! But how do you know what to choose and what person/ company to choose? Not only do I make cakes (I’m currently less than 2 weeks away from my first wedding of the year!), but I’m also going through the wedding process myself. here are my tips based on my experience as a vendor and a bride
First things first…
Get some inspiration! Pinterest is one of my favorite apps to look at for inspo, but I also know how overwhelming to can be. Also think of your personal style, what you two like, your guest list (which may not be completely finalized) and even weddings you may have attended and what you liked or didn’t like. Also remember that baking is an art- you are gathering inspiration for your baker. They cannot and should not try to make an exact replica of a cake you saw online as that defeats the purpose of creating a cake that is unique to and for you and aligns with their style of artistry.
Choose what you want. Do you want a traditional cake to be sliced and served to every guest or would you like a dessert table? A traditional cake can be done a baker and their team, but a dessert table may require to find more dessert vendors, as the baker you ultimately choose may not make specialty desserts.
Now on to the Leg Work…
Gather a list of bakers in your area. Of course you can google and most of the popular local bakeries will come up. But someone like me who doesn’t own a shop (yet), may not come up in your search. How would you find me? Well, Ask friends and family in your area; ask your planner or the manager at your venue for recommendations; go to yelp, Facebook and Instagram. I would definitely recommend social media as many small business owners are on social media, and you can get an instant glimpse of their work before you ever contact them.
Narrow down your list to about 10 or less potential vendors. You may not have 10 and that’s okay. I say 10 though, because your vendor may be booked on your day and you don’t want to be disappointed and not have looked at any other bakers in the area.
Once you’ve called the vendors, make an appointment with about three of them. Now granted only two may have your wedding date, but there’s flexibility here. The goal is to narrow down your options. You want three appointments because even though you like someone’s work, you may not like their final pricing OR you may not connect with that baker. You want to feel comfortable with them and that the decisions they make regarding your dessert will not only be in your best interest, but will contribute to the overall vision of your big day. Oh and don’t forget to ask if there is cost for the tasting, if the tasting fee will be applied to your total order, and how many people can come to your tasting
Meet with the vendors for a cake tasting. You have to do a tasting because it’s fun! And you have a chance to sit down with your potential baker and connect with them. Here you can show them your ideas, tell them about yourself, and figure out the flavors you want for your wedding day. I would also ask them questions such as:
Can you make a cake similar to the visuals we showed you?
How do you price your cakes and can you make a cake within our price range similar to what we want?
Do you have decor for my cake or dessert table or do I need to provide my own?
Can you help me source decor or cake toppers if I need help?
Are you licensed and insured?
Can you deliver the cake to our venue and will that be an extra fee?
Is there a deposit and what is the payment procedure?
7. You’ve tasted the cakes, met the bakers, gone over the numbers. Sometimes it’s hard to choose, and sometimes you are really clear about who to choose. Whatever the case, choose your baker. Make sure that they have all of the information about your venue, planner/ contact person, and any other possible information so they know what to do on your big day and you don’t have to direct them or answer questions. Also make sure to get a contract and sign it. Look over it so you also know their terms in case something happens ( I promise I have heard horror stories about venues burning down or going bankrupt!) You want to make sure your purchase is protected no matter what happens.
Is this a lot? Sure. But you’re spending the money because you want to have the best day ever. and while people may not say if they liked your cake, they will remember if they didn’t like your cake. Don’t let this part go by the wayside by not choosing the right baker for you!
Have a sweet day!
