Many bakeries offer different options, and we encourage you to take the time to visit more than one.
Calling to "price check" is not the most effective way to determine who will serve your needs the best, or
ultimately, who can stay within your budget. There can be many additional costs beyond the basic "price
per serving" at other bakeries, while many of ours are built into our base price. Taking the time to set up a
consultation is the best way to have your questions answered.
full attention. Consultations are generally scheduled earlier in the week, when I'm less busy baking, but I will try to work with your schedule as much
as possible. At your consultation, you will be provided with a variety of samples. Any special requests may require a fee. Although I have many
pictures for you to look at, it is a good idea to search the internet for pictures of cakes that fit the general "feel" of your reception. Bring any photos
you find interesting with you. Cakes can be designed around themes, color, wedding gown design....the possibilities are endless. Other suggestions
on what to bring with you include color samples of your wedding colors (the paint samples are a great place to get these if you don't have a fabric
swatch), pictures of floral arrangements or anything you may want the cake matched to, and specific directions to your reception location, along with
the name and phone number of your coordinator. I also strongly recommend only bringing one to two other people with you. I do not have the
space to accomodate more than this.
Booking your wedding date: In order to book your wedding date, I require a signed contract and a $75 deposit, which is non-refundable. I
strongly suggest you get your date booked as soon as possible. In order to guarantee the best quality service, I only do two weddings per weekend,
which causes dates to fill quickly.
Fresh flowers: Fresh flowers are a beautiful addition to any wedding cake, as long as they are properly placed onto the cake. In order to insure that
your cake is safe for your guests to enjoy, I do prefer to place any fresh flowers used onto the cakes myself. This will give both you and I peace of
mind.
Price per serving: Buttercream cakes start at $3.00 per serving, fondant at $3.75 per serving. This includes any flavor(s) cake you choose, plus the
filling of your choice. It also includes delivery within our local area.
Some of the items that will be additional are edible fondant pearls, sugar dough flowers, and edible toppers (bows, etc.). Cakes are priced
individually based on design, but I will be happy to give you an estimate at our consultation.
Kitchen cakes: I do offer kitchen cakes, to help offset the cost of your cake. Kitchen cakes are double layer sheet cakes. They will be the same
height as your wedding cake, so it will not be apparent to guests that they are not being served from the actual wedding cake. This enables you to
spend more on the cake of your dreams, but to save some money by supplying additional servings from the kitchen. However, I do not allow sheet
cakes from another bakery to be served at the wedding. This is stated in our contract and is strictly enforced. Most of my business is conducted by
word of mouth, and I cannot risk having our reputation tarnished by another bakery.
Outdoor Receptions: It is very important to me that I do everything in my power to make the bride's day as perfect as possible. If her dream is an
outdoor reception, I want to make that happen! However, the reality is that having your buttercream-iced cake outdoors is a nightmare waiting to
happen. Heat, humidity and bugs of all kinds will work against us. In order to eliminate these problems, I will only do outdoors cakes covered in
fondant, not buttercream. Fondant will hold up to the heat much better and won't allow insects to stick to the cake. Please make sure to have a
shady area set up for the cake and that the table is very stable.
Fondant vs. Buttercream: The beauty of fondant is simply unsurpassable. Fondant is a rolled icing that is draped over your buttercream iced cake,
leaving a smooth, flawless finish. It also holds up better in the heat, humidity and during delivery. When fondant is used correctly by an experienced
decorator, it is a very thin layer covering your cake, and the taste is delicious. During your consultation, I will be happy to let you sample our fondant.
Buttercream is more traditional in the U.S. and is also delicious. It is not as stable as fondant and is not recommended for cakes that will be placed
outdoors or in an un-airconditioned area.
If I have not answered all of your questions, please feel free to email me anytime or to call during business hours. I will be happy to meet with you to
discuss the many possibilities for your wedding cake. Thank you!
