I bet you didn’t think there were as many as 7 steps right? Fear not, it’s not as scary as it looks but I speak to a lot of couples and they often underestimate what they need to consider when planning their wedding cake, and I can’t blame them. For most couples this is the first time ordering a significant cake but this is where I come in.

Booking a bespoke wedding cake isn’t like buying something off the shelf and, as with all wedding suppliers, one cake designer does not fit all because we all have our own styles, techniques and budgets. Hopefully, my 7 steps, along with some useful tips, will help to get you thinking and ultimately booking your dream wedding cake. Buckle up!

Bride and groom standing face to face in front of ornate gate

1. Book your venue first

I agree that this sounds overly obvious but bear with me. In most cases, your venue will most likely dictate the style of wedding you’re going for and therefore, the style of cake you might want. From a relaxed, rustic tipi wedding to a formal stately affair in a historic manor house, the cake design may vary drastically to suit its surroundings. In fact, the venue style tends to set the tone for the whole wedding and the wedding styling.

2. Decide when you want to serve your wedding cake

This is important! Deciding whether to serve your cake as a dessert for your wedding breakfast or as part of your reception food will dictate what kind of portion size, and therefore the size of cake, you might need.

If serving cake as a dessert portion (1” x 2” slice), especially as part of a sit-down meal, then you will need to be very accurate on your guest numbers and the size of cake you order. In fact, I suggest that you cater for a few more guests than needed because the last thing you need is to run out of cake! You also need to check with the caterers as to when you should cut the cake during dinner, as they’ll need to whisk it away to cut it into portions.

By contrast, if you’re serving cake at your reception as a finger portion (1” x 1” slice), I would suggest catering for around 80% of your total number to allow for those guests who don’t fancy cake or are too busy throwing shapes on the dancefloor!

Tip: It’s likely you’re going to be a little distracted on your wedding day so may not think about getting your own slice of cake ( I know, shocking but it happens!). Why not ask the venue or caterer to save you a slice (or few) or maybe even ask them to save the top tier for you to enjoy after your wedding day with a glass of fizz.

Black and white themed wedding breakfast table setting

3. Fondant or Buttercream?

How your cake is covered is completely down to preference but your choice will influence the design of your cake, as the decorating techniques will vary. Bear in mind that some cake designers only work with buttercream and vice versa. Personally I work with both but my preference is fondant, as it allows me to be more adventurous with design and offers me more options in terms of decorating techniques, such as hand painting and texturing.

If you’re concerned about taste for those who don’t like fondant, but please trust me when I say that premium quality fondant tastes SO much better than the thick layer of sickly fondant that’s used to cover supermarket-bought birthday cakes. It’s also designed to be rolled thinly so you won’t have a thick layer of fondant covering your cake. I personally use a premium quality fondant and each tier is covered with a thin layer of Belgian chocolate ganache before the fondant is applied. You won’t miss out on the buttercream either as there will be plenty of the good stuff layered within the cake.

Black and white modern wedding cake with anenomes

4. Fancy a floral cake? Do you want real or edible flowers?

It’s fair to say that a lot of cake designs feature florals, more often than not to complement the rest of the wedding flowers, so it makes sense to use fresh flowers to match. In this case, I usually suggest that your florist provides the cake flowers and I will prepare the stems and arrange them on the cake upon delivery.

Edible sugar or wafer paper flowers on the other hand, especially when they look so realistic, make an artistic statement and you can have colours that may not necessarily be available naturally or are seasonal flowers that aren’t available at a certain time of year. Do bear in mind that handmade flowers will be more time intensive to make and will require additional investment…but it’s so worth it!

Tip: Some fresh flowers are toxic (gypsophila, eucalyptus, hydrangea and delphinium among others) so shouldn’t be used on food.

5. Seek inspiration and talk to each other!

The difference between a productive wedding cake consultation and frankly, a frustrating one is how much the couple have thought about what they like and actually consulted with each other on what they like. I absolutely do not expect you to know about the technicalities of wedding cake design and creation, it’s my job to guide you through that, but knowing your style, likes and dislikes is important.

Firstly, talk to each other about the design. I often get told by couples that one of them is all about the look and the other cares for nothing except the taste. Although I have to say, that’s not entirely true; they definitely have an opinion on the look if they don’t like it! This doesn't mean that you have to agree on everything but knowing each of your preferences in advance helps your cake designer create a design that strikes a happy balance between both of your requirements.

My advice is to do some research together. It doesn’t have to be arduous, just get browsing on Pinterest, delve into Instagram and seek inspiration everywhere. It doesn’t necessarily have to be other cakes either; perhaps you’re inspired by a piece of art or maybe you have a favourite interior designer that ignites your creativity. It can be anything…let your imaginations fly!

You may even have a definite design in mind but allowing your baker to flex their creative muscles might just give you a different perspective on it and allow them to create something unique to you.

Bride and groom embracing in the light of a discoball

6. Find your cake designer and check availability

Now if you’re reading this blog, then I’m hoping you have found her already! Jokes aside, apart from searching geographically (some may not travel over a certain distance with a delicate cake on board…1.5 to 2 hours’ journey is generally my own limit), look for a baker that floats your boat.

Does their work match your style and ethos? Do their creations inspire and excite you? Does their website speak to you and do they have client testimonials to back up their work? Do they fall within your wedding budget?

Let’s just say, if you have a novelty Avengers-themed cake in mind and they only specialise in intricate creations covered in sugar flowers, then they may not be the right baker for you.

Tip: A lot of wedding cake designers tend to work alone and in turn, they can only take on a certain number of cakes per week to give each creation the time and attention it deserves. As such, it’s advisable to get in early to secure your date. For peak wedding dates, I would suggest 9-12 months in advance.

7. Eat some cake!

Surely the best part of the wedding planning shenanigans! This is where you get to eat cake and discuss your wedding cake design. It’s also your chance to meet your cake designer and decide if they’re the right supplier for you and for them to tease out those design ideas and create something truly bespoke for you.

Once a design has been agreed then your cake designer should be in a position to provide you with an accurate cost. I normally provide a colour sketch of your design alongside your quote so you can really visualise what it will look like and we can work on it until you are completely happy. Then all you need to do is lock in your date with a deposit and be happy in the knowledge that you’ve found your ideal wedding cake designer!

Image & Art Direction: @poppycarterportraits ⁠
Planning & Design: @bellebespokeweddingdesign ⁠
Florals: @fallintoflowers⁠
Dress: @nortiershallow⁠
Models: @couple_of_als⁠
Makeup: @lauracarrollmakeupartistry ⁠
Hair: @hairbyhols ⁠
Stationery: @papermillcalligraphy⁠
Cake: @terreetlunecakedesign⁠
Table wear: @duchessbutler⁠
Linen: @Just_4_linen⁠
Videography: @all.the.sparks⁠
Venue: @bodleianlibraryweddings⁠
Lighting: @thateventcompany⁠
Hair Accessories: @miss_clemmie_accessories