Wedding Cake Orders: Marks And Spencer's Guide

Planning a wedding can be stressful, and the cake is one of the most important elements. Marks & Spencer offers a range of traditional, vintage, and contemporary wedding cakes to suit different tastes and preferences. From fruit cakes to chocolate sponges, couples can choose from various options and even personalise their cakes. It is recommended to order your cake at least one day before the wedding, with delivery times ranging from seven to 21 days. With careful planning and consideration, your Marks & Spencer wedding cake is sure to be a delicious and memorable part of your special day.

How far in advance to order

When it comes to ordering a wedding cake from Marks & Spencer, it's important to plan ahead to ensure your cake is ready in time for your big day. The last thing you want is a disappointing cake or, even worse, no cake at all! So, how far in advance do you need to place your order?

Marks & Spencer recommends ordering your wedding cake at least one day before your wedding or event. This will ensure that you have plenty of time to collect and set up your cake before the festivities begin. Most of their traditional wedding cakes and cupcakes can be delivered within seven days of placing your order, as long as you order before 5 pm. However, some of their other cake designs may take up to 21 days for delivery, so it's essential to check the delivery information for each cake on their website.

For example, the Romantic Pearl Wedding Cake with Ivory Icing (serves 150) is listed as being ready to collect in 22 days. This means you should plan to place your order at least three weeks in advance to ensure timely delivery. Similarly, the 3-Tier Elegant Wedding Cake – Sponge (serves 180) also has a preparation time of 22 days, so ordering this cake at least three weeks in advance is advisable.

To avoid any last-minute surprises, it's always a good idea to give yourself a buffer and order your cake earlier than the minimum required time. This will allow for any unexpected delays and give you peace of mind. Additionally, if you plan to add your own decorations or assemble multiple tiers, you'll need to factor in extra time for these tasks.

In summary, while Marks & Spencer's recommended timeline is one day before your wedding, the specific cake you choose and its delivery time will dictate how far in advance you need to place your order. Be sure to review the delivery information for your chosen cake and plan accordingly.

Flavours and dietary requirements

The Romantic Pearl Wedding Cake with Ivory Icing is a three-tiered cake that serves 150 people. Each tier is a different flavour: fruit cake, chocolate cake, and sponge cake. The fruit cake is made with vine fruits, nuts, and cherries laced with brandy, and has a layer of marzipan. The chocolate cake is made with rich chocolate ganache, and the sponge cake is filled with buttercream.

This cake is suitable for vegetarians but not for people with nut or peanut allergies. The fruit cake should be eaten within 14 days of collection, while the sponge cake is best eaten within 5 days.

In addition to traditional fruit cakes, M&S also offers all-butter sponge cake, lemon sponge, chocolate sponge, chocolate sponge with chocolate ganache, and chocolate sponge with marc de champagne ganache. They also offer a gluten-free fruit cake and vegetarian cakes. For those who prefer savoury options, there is a cheese celebration cake made from five English cheeses or a tiered celebration pork pie cake.

Taster cakes are available for £4 each so that customers can sample the flavours before placing their order.

Tasting cakes

Research and Prepare

Before meeting with bakers, research wedding cake bakers that service the area around your wedding venue. Pay attention to their styles, portfolios, and reviews to narrow down your options. Be prepared to share your budget, venue information, and any design inspirations or sketches with the baker. It is also helpful to arrive with a general idea of the flavor profile you want, such as fruity and light or rich and chocolatey.

Book a Consultation and Tasting

Most bakers offer consultations, and some may charge a fee for a wedding cake tasting. Be sure to ask about any fees upfront so you are not surprised by any charges. It is recommended to book your tasting six to twelve months before your wedding date, especially if the baker is not affiliated with your caterer or venue.

During the Tasting

Bring along a small group of key players, such as your wedding planner and parents, to the tasting. Be mindful of tasting too many cakes at once, as it can be challenging to distinguish the flavors. Focus on the different elements of the cake, such as the icing and filling, and take notes on your favorites.

After the Tasting

Keep in touch with your baker and ask any follow-up questions. You may need to finalize the design, discuss delivery details, and confirm the final payment due date.

Marks & Spencer Wedding Cake Tasting

Marks & Spencer offers taster cakes in each of their flavors, starting at £4. They recommend ordering your cake at least one day before your wedding, and it will be delivered seven days after ordering if placed before 5 pm.

Delivery and collection

Marks & Spencer offers free in-store collection for its wedding cakes. When placing your order, you can choose your collection date at checkout. The company recommends selecting a date 24 hours before your wedding or event.

Most of the traditional wedding cakes and cupcakes are delivered seven days after ordering, provided you place your order before 5 pm. However, some other cakes may take up to 21 days for delivery, so it is essential to check the website for specific delivery information for each cake design.

It is important to note that food orders are perishable, and Marks & Spencer does not keep them until the next day if you do not collect them on the chosen date. Therefore, it is crucial to collect your order from the store on the arranged date.

If you have any queries about your food order, you can contact Marks & Spencer on 0333 014 8222. Their phone lines are open daily from 8 am to 7 pm.

For those who prefer home delivery, Patisserie Valerie offers free delivery to UK mainland addresses for its wedding cakes. The cakes are delivered frozen to ensure they arrive in perfect condition.

Transporting Your Cake

After collecting your cake from a participating M&S store, you will need to transport it to your wedding venue. Don't worry; Marks & Spencer has got you covered! Their cakes come carefully packaged to protect them during delivery to their stores and subsequent transport to your wedding venue. Additionally, they have created an online video demonstrating the safest way to unpack your cake.

Storage and Freshness

Marks & Spencer's wedding cakes do not contain any fresh cream, so you can store them in airtight containers to enjoy in the days following your wedding.

It is important to note that different cakes have varying recommended consumption periods after collection. For example, the sponge cake is best eaten within five days of collection, while the fruit cake has a recommended consumption window of 14 days. Therefore, when ordering for a specific event date, carefully consider these recommendations.

Storage and serving

Marks & Spencer's wedding cakes are carefully packaged to protect them during delivery and transport. The cakes come in secure packaging, which can be used to transport them to the wedding venue. The company also provides an online video demonstrating how to unpack the cake safely.

M&S wedding cakes do not contain any fresh cream, so they can be stored in airtight containers and enjoyed in the days after the wedding.

The sponge cake is best eaten within five days of collection, while the fruit cake can be enjoyed for up to 14 days. It is recommended to consider these timeframes when ordering for a specific event.

The cakes should be stored in an airtight container once opened. They are not suitable for freezing.

For those serving their wedding cake as dessert, it is important to discuss timings with the venue in advance. The cake may need to be cut earlier during the wedding breakfast, or M&S also offers cutting bars in the same flavours as their traditional cakes. These can be plainly iced or finished with a chocolate ganache and easily cut into portions for guests.

Frequently asked questions