Many wedding magazines and websites have a list of questions to ask your wedding cake bakery. Most of these questions are about cake freshness and how things are done in the kitchen.  

     Unlike someone who makes cakes in their home, a licensed bakery follows strict guidelines and laws provided by the city’s health department concerning food handling and preparation. And our professional ovens, refrigeration, and other equipment are calibrated specifically for the preparation of cakes.

     Freshness and quality in your cake is a certainty at a wedding cake bakery. That’s why you’ve chosen a professional baker in the first place. We are in a competitive industry and all of us constantly strive to create “the best tasting cake in town.” To put it simply, your cake will be fresh because it just has to be!

     If you’re curious about our baking and decorating process then we will answer any behind-the-scenes questions for you.  However, there are questions and answers that every bride needs to know about her baker and her wedding cake order. The following questions are the most commonly asked by our brides at Fancy Cakes by Lauren.

Q. Do you specialize in wedding and groom's cakes?

A. Yes. Wedding and groom's cakes constitute 90% of our business. We make large-event cakes and other special occasion cakes as well.

Q. How many people can I bring to the consultation?

A. I have enough seating in the showroom for you to bring four people with you to the consultation; however, there are only enough cake samples for about three people to eat.

Q. May I see a portfolio of your cakes?

A. Absolutely. In addition to the cakes on our website, I have many more cakes to view in our portfolio at the bakery.

Q. May I taste your cake flavors?

A. At the consultation you will taste 10 of our most popular wedding and groom's cake flavors.

Q. If I see a wedding cake from a magazine will you make it?

A. Yes, depending upon the cake design. Cake pictures in magazines are sometimes digitally "perfected" to give it a to-good-to-be-true look.

Q. Do I have to book the cake order at the consultation?

A. No. You can take the cake proposal with you and call us later to book the cake. The deposit can be paid over the phone with a credit card or by check through the mail. We can mail you the contracts as well. You do not need to make another appointment to finish this process.

Q. How many servings do I need?

A. This depends on many factors. Do you want a groom's cake as well? How much food are you serving? I cover this issue in my "Designing Your Cake" section of this website.

Q. How much is my deposit and when is it due?

A. The deposit is 20% of the total cake cost. It is due when you book the cake order.

Q. When is the final balance due?

A. The final balance is due 2 weeks before the date of the wedding.

Q. Can I make changes to my order?

A. All final changes to the cake order are due 2 weeks before the wedding, along with the final balance.

Q. Do you accept credit cards for payments?

A. We accept all four major credit cards, as well as checks and cash. Please note that if for some reason the final balance is paid late, we cannot accept payment by check.

Q. Are there rules about who pays for the bride's cake and who pays for the groom's cake?

A. Not really. Traditionally the bride's parents pay for the reception and the groom's parents pay for the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon. However, today many couples already have established careers and pay for the wedding themselves. If you're lucky enough to have someone else cover some of your wedding costs, by all means take what you can get.

Q. Who has the power to change my contract?

A. Only the bride and groom have power to change the contract, regardless of who pays.

Q. Does Fancy Cakes provide the fresh or silk flowers for the cake?

A.  No. We do not provide fresh or silk flowers, but we do supply sugar flowers. Let your florist know if and how you want the flowers arranged on the cake. Give us the florist's name and contact number and we will call them the week of the wedding to let them know when the cake will be delivered to the reception site so they can place the flowers on the cake. We can arrange your flowers on your cake for a fee.

Q. If I want color on my cake do I provide a color swatch?

A. Please do provide a color swatch at least 2 weeks before the wedding date. We can supply ribbon or colored icing for the cake based on your color swatch. Please keep in mind that icing is very different from fabric and the two reflect light and color differently, but we will do our best to find a perfect match.  

Q. When will the wedding cake be delivered?

A. We try to schedule delivery of the cakes about 2 hours before the guests arrive. And, if flowers are to be arranged on the cake, we like to have the cake delivered when the florist is at the reception site. Delivery time is determined the week of the wedding.

Q. Do you provide a box for the top tier?

A. Yes. It will be placed under the cake table.

Q. Can you provide cutting instructions if we need them?

A. Yes. However, it is standard for most reception sites and caterers to handle cutting and serving of the cake.

Q. Do you provide cake-cutting utensils?

A. No. Cake-cutting knives are provided by your reception site or caterer. You may also purchase your own cutting knives for a nice keepsake.