What should we know before talking to a cake baker?

You should probably start looking for a wedding cake baker four to six months before your wedding, although some very popular bakers are often booked up to a year in advance. The first thing you should do is zero in on the wedding cake style you’re hoping for. Do you want a traditional, tiered cake, or a more modern one, for instance? Browse wedding cake photo galleries and find pictures of cakes that match the one you have in mind. Print them out and keep them with you for a quick reference.

Once you’ve envisioned your dream wedding cake and found a picture of one similar to it, it’s time to set up meetings with cake bakers. Ask to review the baker’s portfolio so you can see photographs of their work, but remember, looks aren’t everything! You want your cake to taste good too. Cake tastings (make sure you try the cake, filling, and icing) are one of the most exciting parts of the wedding planning process -- trust us! Make sure you sample a baker’s work before signing a contract.

When you decide on a baker you like, make sure that the contract spells out all the details of your arrangements, including cake ingredients, flavors, decorations, and, of course, date and time of delivery.