| Wedding Cake Information |
Choosing your cake decorator:
There are many factors to consider when choosing your cake decorator. Different bakeries offer different options, and we encourage you to
take the time to meet with more than one. Calling to "price check" may not be the most effective way to determine which decorator will best
serve your needs, or ultimately, who can stay within your budget. There can be many additional costs beyond the basic price per serving.
Taking the time to set up a consultation and discuss your vision for your cake is the best way to have your questions answered and make the
decision.
There are many factors to consider when choosing your cake decorator. Different bakeries offer different options, and we encourage you to
take the time to meet with more than one. Calling to "price check" may not be the most effective way to determine which decorator will best
serve your needs, or ultimately, who can stay within your budget. There can be many additional costs beyond the basic price per serving.
Taking the time to set up a consultation and discuss your vision for your cake is the best way to have your questions answered and make the
decision.
Consultations:
Consultations must be scheduled in advance. As we are a home based business, we are open by appointment only. Consultations may be held
in my home, or if it's more convenient for you, we may agree to meet at a halfway point. Consultations are best scheduled earlier in the
week...evening hours are available to fit your schedule. Weekends tend to be more difficult, as I'm generally working on or delivering cakes, but
I will try to work within your schedule to the best of my ability.
At your consultation, you'll try a variety of cakes samples and fillings. Not every flavor on our menu will be available, but it will give you a
general idea of the quality of our baking. I ask that you limit your guests to two, as I have limited space to accomodate more than that. At this
time, you'll be able to look through my portfolio, along with many other cake pictures that I have available. You don't need to decide every
detail at this point, but it's good that I get a general idea of the "feel" of your reception, so I can better help you to design a cake that you'll love.
If you've done some research online and have cake pictures that have caught your eye, please bring them to your consultation. It's also a good
idea to bring color samples (a piece of ribbon or paint samples work great for this), a copy of your invitation, or anything that you may want to
match the design of your cake to.
Consultations must be scheduled in advance. As we are a home based business, we are open by appointment only. Consultations may be held
in my home, or if it's more convenient for you, we may agree to meet at a halfway point. Consultations are best scheduled earlier in the
week...evening hours are available to fit your schedule. Weekends tend to be more difficult, as I'm generally working on or delivering cakes, but
I will try to work within your schedule to the best of my ability.
At your consultation, you'll try a variety of cakes samples and fillings. Not every flavor on our menu will be available, but it will give you a
general idea of the quality of our baking. I ask that you limit your guests to two, as I have limited space to accomodate more than that. At this
time, you'll be able to look through my portfolio, along with many other cake pictures that I have available. You don't need to decide every
detail at this point, but it's good that I get a general idea of the "feel" of your reception, so I can better help you to design a cake that you'll love.
If you've done some research online and have cake pictures that have caught your eye, please bring them to your consultation. It's also a good
idea to bring color samples (a piece of ribbon or paint samples work great for this), a copy of your invitation, or anything that you may want to
match the design of your cake to.
Booking your wedding date:
I am happy to book dates as far as a year in advance. However, you must have your venue booked before you book your cake. In order to
book your date, I will need a signed contract and a $100 non-refundable deposit. In order to ensure the best quality wedding cake available, we
take a very limited number of cakes per weekend, so booking early is the best way to guarantee your date.
I am happy to book dates as far as a year in advance. However, you must have your venue booked before you book your cake. In order to
book your date, I will need a signed contract and a $100 non-refundable deposit. In order to ensure the best quality wedding cake available, we
take a very limited number of cakes per weekend, so booking early is the best way to guarantee your date.
Fresh Flowers:
Fresh flowers are a beautiful addition to a wedding cake, as long as they are placed properly onto your cake. There are some food safety issues
to consider with fresh flowers, but proper handling will insure that your cake is safe for your guests to enjoy. Because of this, I prefer to either
place fresh flowers onto the cake myself, or I am more than happy to coordinate delivery times with your florist. I am in no way suggesting that
your florist will do a poor job with your cake, but I feel the cake is my personal and professional responsibility from start to finish.
Fresh flowers are a beautiful addition to a wedding cake, as long as they are placed properly onto your cake. There are some food safety issues
to consider with fresh flowers, but proper handling will insure that your cake is safe for your guests to enjoy. Because of this, I prefer to either
place fresh flowers onto the cake myself, or I am more than happy to coordinate delivery times with your florist. I am in no way suggesting that
your florist will do a poor job with your cake, but I feel the cake is my personal and professional responsibility from start to finish.
Pricing Information:
Our base pricing is $5.00 per serving for buttercream cakes, $4.50 per serving for fondant cakes. This includes one filling of your choice.
Multiple fillings may require an additional fee. However, we do create custom cakes, so cake pricing may be higher due to difficulty of design.
Some additional costs would include sugar dough flower arrangements, edible cake toppers, etc. I will be more than happy to give you an
estimate at our consultation. Whimsical style cakes are much more labor intensive and start at $6.00 per serving.
Our base pricing is $5.00 per serving for buttercream cakes, $4.50 per serving for fondant cakes. This includes one filling of your choice.
Multiple fillings may require an additional fee. However, we do create custom cakes, so cake pricing may be higher due to difficulty of design.
Some additional costs would include sugar dough flower arrangements, edible cake toppers, etc. I will be more than happy to give you an
estimate at our consultation. Whimsical style cakes are much more labor intensive and start at $6.00 per serving.
Kitchen Cakes:
I do offer kitchen cakes, to help offset the cost of your wedding cake. Kitchen cakes are double layer sheet cakes. They will be the same height
as your wedding cake, so it will not be appparent to guests that they are not being served from the actual wedding cake. You must purchase a
minimum of 75 servings of wedding cake in order to add kitchen cakes onto your order. Kitchen cakes start at $2.00 per serving, for one filling.
Please note that we will NOT allow cakes from other bakeries to be served at the reception. This is stated in our contract and is strictly
enforced. Much of our business is received from recommendations, and we cannot risk having our reputation tarnished by another bakery.
I do offer kitchen cakes, to help offset the cost of your wedding cake. Kitchen cakes are double layer sheet cakes. They will be the same height
as your wedding cake, so it will not be appparent to guests that they are not being served from the actual wedding cake. You must purchase a
minimum of 75 servings of wedding cake in order to add kitchen cakes onto your order. Kitchen cakes start at $2.00 per serving, for one filling.
Please note that we will NOT allow cakes from other bakeries to be served at the reception. This is stated in our contract and is strictly
enforced. Much of our business is received from recommendations, and we cannot risk having our reputation tarnished by another bakery.
Outdoor Receptions:
It is our goal at Brenda's Cakes to work with you to make your wedding day and reception exactly as you've always pictured it. If that includes
an outdoor reception, we can and will work with that. However, the reality is that having a buttercream iced cake outdoors is a nightmare
waiting to happen. Heat, humidity, and insects will make it very difficult for your guests to enjoy your cake. In order to eliminate these issues,
we will only do outdoor cakes covered in fondant. Fondant will hold up better in the heat and insects cannot stick to the icing. It's still
necessary to have a shady spot for cake, and be sure the table is sturdy and level.
It is our goal at Brenda's Cakes to work with you to make your wedding day and reception exactly as you've always pictured it. If that includes
an outdoor reception, we can and will work with that. However, the reality is that having a buttercream iced cake outdoors is a nightmare
waiting to happen. Heat, humidity, and insects will make it very difficult for your guests to enjoy your cake. In order to eliminate these issues,
we will only do outdoor cakes covered in fondant. Fondant will hold up better in the heat and insects cannot stick to the icing. It's still
necessary to have a shady spot for cake, and be sure the table is sturdy and level.
Fondant vs. Buttercream:
The perfection and beauty of fondant cannot be duplicated in buttercream. Fondant is a rolled icing that is draped over your cake, leaving a
smooth, flawless finish. It provides the perfect canvas for decorating. It has the added bonus of holding up better in the heat, humidity, and
during delivery. When fondant is used by an experienced decorator, it is a thin layer covering your buttercream iced cake, so you really get the
best of both worlds. Fondant has a reputation for having a taste that most people dislike. This is simply not true, if a good quality fondant is
used. Our cakes are enrobed in a white chocolate fondant that is delicious and does not dry hard. We would be happy to provide a sample of
our fondant for you to taste at your consultation. I do prefer to work with fondant over buttercream.
The perfection and beauty of fondant cannot be duplicated in buttercream. Fondant is a rolled icing that is draped over your cake, leaving a
smooth, flawless finish. It provides the perfect canvas for decorating. It has the added bonus of holding up better in the heat, humidity, and
during delivery. When fondant is used by an experienced decorator, it is a thin layer covering your buttercream iced cake, so you really get the
best of both worlds. Fondant has a reputation for having a taste that most people dislike. This is simply not true, if a good quality fondant is
used. Our cakes are enrobed in a white chocolate fondant that is delicious and does not dry hard. We would be happy to provide a sample of
our fondant for you to taste at your consultation. I do prefer to work with fondant over buttercream.
Cake Table:
Decorating the cake table is your responsibility. However, I'm entering my plea here that you put some thought into the placement and
decoration of your table. Countless times, we have delivered beautiful wedding cakes that have been put on an unstable table in the corner, or
in front of a trash can, or some other unspeakable location. :) Your wedding cake should be a centerpiece at your reception, to be seen and
enjoyed by all. For decoration ideas, you can do a google image search of "wedding cake tables". Some suggestions....make a request to
whomever is providing your linens that they be pressed. Also, be sure to speak to your venue regarding the size of the cake table. If your table
is too large, it becomes difficult for you to reach during the cake cutting. Consider placing votives, fresh flowers, greenery, or twinkle lights
around your cake table. They will enhance the appearance of the table but not distract from the cake itself. A table runner that matches the
color of your wedding cake is also a beautiful addition.
Decorating the cake table is your responsibility. However, I'm entering my plea here that you put some thought into the placement and
decoration of your table. Countless times, we have delivered beautiful wedding cakes that have been put on an unstable table in the corner, or
in front of a trash can, or some other unspeakable location. :) Your wedding cake should be a centerpiece at your reception, to be seen and
enjoyed by all. For decoration ideas, you can do a google image search of "wedding cake tables". Some suggestions....make a request to
whomever is providing your linens that they be pressed. Also, be sure to speak to your venue regarding the size of the cake table. If your table
is too large, it becomes difficult for you to reach during the cake cutting. Consider placing votives, fresh flowers, greenery, or twinkle lights
around your cake table. They will enhance the appearance of the table but not distract from the cake itself. A table runner that matches the
color of your wedding cake is also a beautiful addition.
If I have not answered all of your questions, please feel free to contact me. You can call me at (614)879-7990. Generally, you will get a faster
response using email.....the address is brenscakes@yahoo.com.
I really look forward to meeting you!
response using email.....the address is brenscakes@yahoo.com.
I really look forward to meeting you!
