Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Wedding Wednesday: Choosing Your Baker

Pretty simple here: Google any potential baker on Cake Wrecks. If they show up, immediately take them off the list of possibilities. If they aren't there, you're golden.

Okay, so that's maybe a little over-simplified, but there's definitely some truth to it. One of the things people will remember most about the cake is how it looks, so you want to make sure you can trust your baker to create a quality product. You might be tempted to think that as long as all the images on their webpage/in their portfolio are good than you can trust them, but a baker isn't likely to display his/her unsuccessful creations. Likewise, a baker might only share positive reviews on his/her website, so don't be afraid to dig a little deeper on the internet to find out if there are any dissatisfied brides out there. Also, be sure ask around to people who got married in the same area--even years later a bride will be able to tell you whether or not she had a positive experience with her baker and if the end product was what she was expecting.

Of course, the taste of the cake is important too, so be sure to schedule a tasting (like I have to twist your arm on that one. Cake tastings are definitely one of the perks of wedding planning). Don't just sample the cake, either; remember that the frosting and/or fondant can have a huge impact on the taste of the dessert, and the flavors and textures will vary from baker to baker. And don't be afraid to ask questions during the tasting--if the baker is serving you fresh cake at the tasting but freezes her wedding cakes before delivering them, you'll want to know how that may affect the taste.

Lastly, if there is a specific design or style that you are dead set on having for your cake, try to find a baker who has created a similar product. While a baker may be able to create beautiful geometric shapes, they may not be as skilled at producing delicately piped flowers. With the easy access to information on the internet, it's probably easy to find lots of cakes that model the style and design you desire. But if you want to make sure it is something your baker will be able to re-create, limit your searching to styles that are already in your baker's repertoire. Find cakes that they have previously created and choose the designs/patterns you like off of those, because it's pretty safe to assume that they'll be able to recreate something they've done in the past.

Hopefully with a little careful discretion and some diligent research you can avoid some of the disappointments that these brides had to face with their wedding cakes! (Or these brides--Cake Wrecks is such a fun and addicting site!)

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