10 Things Couples Should Know Before Ordering Their Wedding Cake.

Planning your wedding cake is one of the sweetest parts of wedding planning, but with so many styles, flavours, and options available, it can quickly feel overwhelming. As a wedding cake designer, I’ve worked with couples who want everything from simple elegance to elaborate luxury centrepieces. If you’re currently planning your wedding cake, here are 10 expert tips to help you choose the perfect cake for your big day.

1. Start Your Wedding Cake Search Early

Most couples book their wedding cake 6 to 12 months before the wedding, especially for peak summer dates. Booking early means your date is secured, you get access to design consultations, and you avoid last minute stress. If your wedding is during May to September, enquire as soon as you can.

2. Know Your Guest Numbers First

Your guest count affects everything, from the number of tiers to your final price. You don’t need exact numbers, but a close estimate helps determine your portion size, your ideal tier sizes, and whether you’ll need a cutting cake or dummy tiers.

3. Choose a Cake Style That Complements Your Wedding

Your wedding cake should tie into your overall aesthetic. Popular styles includeclassic white elegance, textured buttercream, sugar flower arrangements, gold leaf detailing, and modern minimalist designs. Think about your venue, décor, flowers, and colour palette, your cake should feel like part of the celebration.

4. Flavour Variety Matters

Each tier can be a different flavour, and couples love offering guests a small flavour surprise. Popular wedding cake flavours include:

• Vanilla bean and raspberry

• Lemon and elderflower

• Chocolate fudge

• Salted caramel

• Pistachio and white chocolate

• Coconut and passionfruit

Choose flavours you love, not just what’s traditional.

5. Fresh Flowers vs Sugar Flowers

Both are beautiful, but they offer different benefits. Fresh flowers are cost effective, natural and timeless, and perfect for rustic or elegant designs. Sugar flowers last forever, are completely edible and food safe, and offer colours or shapes that real flowers cannot achieve. Ask your cake designer what works best for your chosen style.

6. Consider Your Venue and Season

Your venue can influence the type of cake that works best. For example, outdoor summer weddings may require extra care for buttercream cakes, rustic barn venues look amazing with semi naked cakes, and luxury hotels suit tall tiered fondant designs. Your designer can guide you based on layout, temperature and photography opportunities.

7. Delivery and Setup Are Important

Most couples don’t realise how much skill goes into safely delivering a wedding cake. Professional delivery ensures your cake is transported correctly, assembled on site, styled with flowers, and positioned for perfect photos. Always ask what your delivery fee includes.

8. Bring Inspiration, but Trust Your Designer

Pinterest boards are great, but your cake should be unique to you.Share your wedding colours, style inspiration, venue details, floral designs, and dress textures. Then let your designer create something personal and tailored.

9. Your Cake Doesn’t Have to Be Huge to Make an Impact

Thanks to design techniques, even a 2 tier cake can look statement worthy. For bigger weddings, you can add dummy tiers, a dessert table, or cutting cakes behind the scenes. This gives you flexibility with style and budget.

10. Book a Cake Tasting, It’s the Best Part

Cake tastings are not only delicious, they’re incredibly helpful.You’ll get to try your favourite flavours, discuss design ideas, talk through portion sizes, and understand pricing. It’s a fun and exciting part of the wedding planning journey.Final ThoughtsYour wedding cake isn’t just a dessert, it’s a memorable part of your day, a photo moment, and a reflection of your personal style. With the right guidance and a designer who understands your vision, your cake can become the centrepiece of your celebration.If you’re planning your wedding and would love a beautifully designed, custom wedding cake, I’d love to help bring your vision to life.Click here to enquire or book a consultation.