Ask to see a portfolio of recently decorated cakes. When looking at a baker’s portfolio, pay attention to the execution of a design. Remember, each decorator has his or her own style and strengths; be sure to take note of the decorator that suits your personal style and request that they work on your cake. Of course, you’ll be comparing prices between cake companies. Charging per serving is standard in the cake industry, but some companies will charge based on the num- ber of tiers or the flavors you select, so be sure to ask how they’re coming up with their numbers. You’ll also want to find out if the bakery will provide someone to cut and distribute the cake, whether they box and freeze the top tier for you, and if these services cost extra. Your instinct might be to choose the cheapest baker, but your decision should depend greatly on what the cake looks like, tastes like, and whether or not it fits your wedding style! Now comes the best part… Arrange a tasting. Though some bakeries may ask for a service fee, most will offer free cake tastings, so call ahead of time and let them know that you’re considering them for your wedding! Though tasting is obviously everyone’s favorite part of choosing a wedding cake, it’s also a very important aspect in choosing the right bakery for you. Though you may favor chocolate cake, you might find that you fall in love with the most divine carrot cake when going to tastings. While your guests will “ooh” and “ahh” over its appearance, it’s the taste of the cake itself that your guests will remember, so make sure not to neglect this important step. So you’ve fallen in love with the red velvet, tiramisu, AND key lime? No worries! You just might be able to have them all. Most wedding cakes have more than one tier, and sometimes each tier can have a different flavor and filling. You might even consider serving cupcakes, in which case, you could have each individual serving be a tasty new treat. Remember, your baker has been doing this a long time and has seen everything, so dis- cuss some of your ideas with them for different ways to incorporate more flavors. Time to reserve that cake. Book your bakery at least six months before the wed- ding. Design, flavor, and decorations don’t have to be decided upon until three to five months before your wedding day, but ensuring that the bakery you want has time to devote to creating your perfect cake is important. You may want to ask how many weddings they already have scheduled for your weekend, and dis- cuss design timelines and head count deadlines with them before booking. CHOOSING YOUR CAKE While guests will “ooh” and “ahh” over your cake’s appearance, it’s the taste they’ll remember. 5 2 3 4 READ MORE AT TODAYSBRIDE.COM TODAY’S BRIDE | 101