Plan on hiring a bakery six to eight months in advance. While a cake baker can serve multiple weddings in a weekend, chances are they can’t serve an endless amount. So we say get on the schedule in advance by signing the wedding cake contract. Again, it’s likely you’ll have your tasting a bit later in the process, but reserving your spot in their weekend schedule ahead of time will make sure you get the cake baker you like best.

Be sure to consult with your Atlanta wedding venue about any additional fees that may accrue when you bring in a wedding cake from an outside vendor. Typically wedding venues will allow you to bring in an outside cake or desserts, but may charge you a “cake cutting fee” to divvy up the confection and serve it to all your guests using in-house dinnerware and flatware.

When you meet with your Atlanta wedding cake designer, be sure to bring photographs of wedding cakes you and your future spouse love. Other helpful details to pack for your consultation can include the color palette, invitation suites, floral arrangement inspiration, and photos of your venue. You never know what your cake designer can pull inspiration from!

When it comes time to choose flavors, it’s a great segway into every groom’s favorite part of wedding planning—the cake tasting. Before your tasting kicks off, be sure to research what types of frostings and finishes do best in your style venue. If you’re not sure, be sure to consult with your Atlanta wedding planner about what they recommend to avoid. The wedding cakes of today go far beyond the white cake with fruit filling of yesteryear. Think of how many guests will be attending your celebration—this will kick off the design process and dictate how many layers your wedding cake will require. From there, think about the creative ways to include some of your favorite love story details in a meaningful way! Whether the design itself reflects or incorporates a memory, or the flavor pays tribute to your new home together the wedding cake is a delicious and fun way to flex your creative muscles. One tip—be sure to share any allergen information with your Atlanta wedding invitation designer and stationer so he or she can include this information on your menu cards!

Of course, booking the ideal Atlanta wedding cake designer for your event means you get the most off your design and flavor wishlist without blowing the budget you and your Atlanta wedding planner worked so hard to compile! As a rule of thumb, expect your wedding cake to cost approximately $4-$7+ per slice depending on the complexity of the design, baker’s skill level and availability.