A wedding cake timeline
- 9–12 months before – shortlist cake makers and check availability for your date
- 6–9 months before – attend tastings and choose a design, pay a deposit
- 1–2 months before – confirm final guest numbers, flavours and delivery details
- 2–4 weeks before – pay the balance and confirm set-up time with your venue
- On the day – the cake maker delivers, assembles and positions the cake
What to ask at a tasting
Tastings are your chance to judge more than flavour. Ask how many portions each tier serves and whether the price assumes wedding (finger) portions or dessert portions. Ask how the cake is supported – dowels and boards – and whether hire items such as stands must be returned. Check what happens if it is a hot day, and whether a buttercream finish will hold up in a marquee.
Also confirm who supplies fresh flowers, whether they are food-safe, and whether the cake maker liaises directly with your florist.
Ways to save without looking like you did
Order a smaller display cake and supplement it with a plain 'kitchen cake' cut out of sight, which is cheaper per portion. Choose buttercream over fondant and fresh or dried flowers instead of sugar flowers. Use a cake as dessert to remove a course from the catering bill. And ask about weekday or off-season pricing.