1)  It is important to know the baker you are working with is legal.  In the State of California this means the bakery must have a license, must be inspected by the County Health Department and should have liability insurance.  If you are meeting with your baker in their shop the license and health inspection reports should be on the wall for your inspection.  If  you meet with you baker in other than the bakery (your home or their home, etc.) be sure you ask to see a copy of these items.  It is for your protection.  Also, find out if the venue for your reception allows unlicensed venders in their facility, many do not.

2)  We would advise brides to stay away from relying to much on friends and family to do jobs for your wedding.  There are some details that you might give people who would like to help such as make wedding favors, address invitations, etc., but for the large jobs such as photography, flowers and cakes you should get someone with experience.  If that is a friend, great, but be sure you sit down with them and get a contract so they know what you want and you know what they are providing you.  We have received many calls over the years from people in a panic because the friend who was going to make their cake backed out the week before the wedding.  If you have a contract you a least have some assurance the person will be responsible for your cake.  It may also make that person think seriously before promising to do your cake.

3)  Many cakes seen in wedding magazines are very labor-intensive.  When you get a price quote from a baker for the design from a magazine it may be substantially more than you were budgeting for your cake.  If this is the case, you should work with your baker to keep the parts of the design you love and eliminate or substitute other details.  Remember, cakes in magazines are generally "dummies" which means they are styrofoam decorated like a real cake.  Because of this, some designs are impractical for real cakes and are mainly done for artistic purposes.

4)  Take information about wedding cakes that you see in wedding magazines with a grain of salt.  Each cake design requires a different technique and a different level of expertise.  You should ask about the decorators experience with the type of decoration you are looking to have on your cake.  No one is an expert on all types of designs.  Make sure the pictures or show cakes that you see were done by the decorator that will be doing your cake.

5)  Find out when and who will be delivering your wedding cake.  Make sure that person is able to fix the cake if something happens during delivery or set up.

6)  Where and how your cake table will be set up is very important.  Check with your venue coordinator and your baker for placement of table.  Look at walls and consider the background for your cake pictures.  Will there be fire extinguishers, plugs, restroom signs, exit signs, etc. in the background picture of your wedding cake?