Finding The Perfect Wedding Cake: How Early Is Too Early?

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, and one of the most important items on the checklist is the wedding cake. The best time to start looking for a wedding cake depends on several factors, such as the time of year, the popularity of the baker, and the size of the bakery.

For weddings during peak season, it is recommended to order the cake at least six months in advance. If the wedding is during an off-peak season, four months' notice is usually sufficient. However, some sources suggest that it is never too early to start looking and booking a baker, especially if the wedding is large and the cake will be three tiers or more.

It is also important to consider the popularity of the baker and the size of their bakery. Smaller bakeries may only be able to take on a limited number of orders per day, so it is advisable to book them as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

To ensure the cake of your dreams, it is recommended to start researching and scheduling consultations with bakers as soon as possible. This will allow you to find a baker whose style, design, and pricing align with your vision and budget.

Start looking for a baker around a year in advance

Bakers can be booked for weddings and other events months, or even years, in advance. Once a bakery is booked for a date, there's no room for flexibility. It's best to start looking for a baker about a year in advance. This will give you enough time to schedule a consultation to figure out the cake design and ensure it fits within your budget.

After the consultation, schedule a tasting to make sure you like their products as well as their visual work. As soon as you've made your choice, be sure to book immediately. Large wedding cakes (3-tiers or more) should be booked 6 to 12 months before the wedding date. These cakes take a lot more time to decorate, so dates fill up faster.

If you're having a smaller, more intimate wedding, you can usually wait until the 2- to 6-month window before the wedding to book your cake. However, it's recommended to book as soon as you've decided on your baker.

Schedule a consultation to discuss design and budget

Scheduling a consultation with your baker is an important step in the wedding planning process. During this consultation, you will discuss your cake design preferences and budget, so it's crucial to be prepared and know what to expect.

Firstly, it's recommended to start researching and scheduling consultations with bakers about a year in advance. This may seem like a long time, but it's essential to secure your dream baker, especially if you're planning a large wedding or getting married during peak wedding season.

When scheduling consultations, consider the style, design, and pricing offered by the baker. Look at reviews, the quality of their design work, and their reputation. It's also helpful to have already secured your venue, so you can provide the baker with as many details about your wedding as possible.

During the consultation, be prepared to discuss your budget and design ideas. Ask about the baker's portfolio of past designs and their pricing structure. If you're unsure about the design or feel overwhelmed by the options, don't worry—the cake designer should guide you through the process and offer suggestions for flavours, styles, and designs that fit your vision and budget.

If you're opting for a custom cake from a specialty bakery, it's even more important to start the consultation process early. These small, cake-focused bakeries often work by appointment only and limit the number of orders they take, so they may require more advance notice than a standard bakery.

Remember, the cake is a central part of your wedding celebrations, so it's worth investing the time to find the right baker and design the perfect cake for your special day.

Book a tasting to sample the baker's product

Once you have found your baker, it's time to book a tasting to ensure you not only like their visual work but also their product. It is recommended to schedule a tasting via phone or send an inquiry through the baker's website. It is also important to bring a list of questions to the tasting. Some questions to ask include:

• What flavors and fillings do you offer?
• Is a tasting included in the fee?
• How big should our cake be to feed our guests?
• Do you have a portfolio of past designs?
• How do you price your cakes?
• How far in advance do we need to order the cake?
• How many cakes do you deliver on the same day?

Tastings can be done by sampling different flavors of cupcakes or mini cakes. This allows the couple to try a few options without having to create multiple full-sized desserts. Cupcakes can also be sold, donated, or auctioned off if there are leftovers. If the couple is unsure about flavor combinations, the baker can provide plain cupcakes and different types of frosting in small disposable cups. This allows the couple to mix and match flavors.

Some bakers may charge a fee for the tasting, which can range from $20 to $35. This fee may be applied to the final cost of the cake if the couple decides to book with the baker. It is also important to give yourself enough time to savor the experience and try all the flavors.

Order a cake with at least 4 months' notice

It is recommended that you order your wedding cake at least four months before your wedding. This is a good timeframe if you're opting for the cake included in your venue's meal package. However, if you're looking for a custom cake from a small bakery, you may need to give even more notice.

Custom cake bakeries are small shops that typically work by appointment only, and they often have to limit the number of orders they take on any given day or weekend. Popular dates, wedding dates, and delivery schedules can fill up quickly, so it's important to give your baker enough notice to ensure they can properly plan.

If you're getting married during a popular wedding month, such as May, June, or October, it's recommended to order your cake six months in advance. These months are in high demand, and you'll want to make sure your baker has availability.

Even if you're getting married during a less popular time of year, it's still important to place your order at least four months in advance. This will give you time to research and choose a baker that aligns with your style, design, and budget. You'll also want to schedule a tasting and discuss flavour options, design, and any other special requirements.

Don't forget that you're not just competing with other weddings, but also birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events. The earlier you can book, the better!

The time of year you're getting married will impact how far in advance you need to order

If you're getting married in May, June, or October, it's advisable to order your cake six months in advance. These months are extremely popular for weddings, so you'll need to give your baker ample notice.

On the other hand, if your wedding is at a less popular time of year, you can get away with placing your order at least four months in advance. However, if you're working with a small bakery, it's recommended to provide even more notice. Extending that six-month timeline by a month or two is a good idea, especially for peak wedding season.

It's worth noting that some bakeries may only open their order books a couple of months in advance, so it's always good to get in touch early and express your interest.

The sooner you start looking for a baker, the better. The cake is a central part of most wedding celebrations, and if you want a bespoke design, it's best to select and book your baker as soon as possible. Bakers can be booked for weddings and other events months or even years in advance, and once they're booked, there's usually no room for additional orders.

Large wedding cakes (3-tiers or more) should be booked 6 to 12 months before the wedding. These cakes take considerably longer to decorate, so dates fill up faster.

For more intimate weddings, with cakes serving 50 or fewer guests, you can usually wait until the 2 to 6-month window to book. However, it's still recommended to book as soon as you've found your baker.

Frequently asked questions