What to Expect at the Cake Tasting

A cake tasting is one of the most enjoyable experiences in planning for your wedding. You get to eat cake, which is much more fun than ordering invitations or picking out a tuxedo.

Even so, it is important to be prepared for your cake tasting. Following are a few things you can do to make the experience go smoothly and use the time productively.

In advance: 

• Do your research! Make sure the decorator is capable of producing the kind of design you are after, and that her pricing is within your budget.
• Tell the decorator how many people will come to the tasting. This is important so she prepares enough cake, filling, and place settings to accommodate you. I generally put out an extra plate just in case the bride unexpectedly brings her future mother-in-law, but I always appreciate knowing what to expect.
• Tell her any particular flavors you do or don’t want to try. Some people just don’t like chocolate and they already know that they will not order a chocolate cake. A preference for fruit fillings or allergy to tree nuts are important things to tell her in advance so she can make the experience as useful and enjoyable as possible.
• Clarify whether or not there is a charge for the tasting. Some decorators charge a fee – generally around $25 in my area – that will be applied to any cake you order. Others, like myself, don’t charge anything for the tasting. Either way, you don’t want to be surprised by a charge for something you thought was complimentary. 

A typical tasting at Cake Occasion includes three flavors of cake - in this 
case, spice, Italian cream, and chocolate - and complementary fillings

What to bring with you:

• Information. Your decorator will need to know the date, time and place of your event, as well as how many guests you plan to serve and what your budget is. She will also want to know the general theme of your event and the type of venue you have chosen. This will help her design a cake that is consistent with the other details of your wedding. Some clients bring a copy of their invitation, a color swatch of fabric, or a photo of the dress to the tasting, and those are great references for your decorator to see.
• Ideas. Do some research ahead of time and have some ideas, even if it’s just that you definitely want a square cake. Bring any photos or sketches that show particular elements of your desired cake. Most decorators don’t like to copy another design exactly, but we love to combine inspiration from others with your particular wants in order to achieve the cake you dream of. It’s very hard to design a cake for a client who isn’t sure what she wants.
• Opinion. Yes, bring your opinion – not your mom’s, not your sister’s. Bring yours. This is your day, and your cake, and we want it to be just like you have imagined it. I have occasionally had brides who deferred to their mothers for every decision, and I often wondered if they really got the cake they wanted. This is unfortunate. Ask for opinions, yes, but share your own thoughts and make your own decision.
• Form of payment. Maybe this is just one tasting and you are also going to three others before you make a decision about who will make your cake. That’s understandable. However, if you have already decided that this is your decorator, be prepared to pay a deposit. You will need to find out in advance what the payment options are. A cake decorator will typically not put you on her schedule until the deposit is paid, so once you have made a decision, there is no reason to delay. (Note: Some decorators will not even schedule a tasting until you have paid the deposit, so this might not be relevant for you.)

At the tasting: 

• Be honest. If you taste a cake or filling you don’t like, say so. If a cake is out of your budget, say so (and ask for alternatives – find my recommendations for getting the most out of your cake budget here). If your cake decorator makes a suggestion you don’t like, say so! The only way to get what you want is to say what you want.
• Ask questions. Clarify anything you don’t understand or that wasn’t addressed by the decorator. Ask about various options. A good wedding cake vendor will be able to address any questions or concerns you have so that you are completely comfortable with all of your choices.
• Enjoy yourself! You’re eating cake, for crying out loud!

Whether you go to one tasting or five, you’ll find that following these tips will help you get the most out of the experience, and will prepare you to collaborate well with your chosen decorator to get the cake you want.