Same stands for wedding cake. Where to start?

Lets see together:

Have an idea of how many guests you will have at your reception, this will help determine amount of wedding cake you will need or number of cupcake wedding cakes.

The pastry chef/cake decorator may ask how many invitations are being sent to how many people and how many are from out of town or from more than a certain number of miles away.

The pastry chef/cake decorator will use this information to calculate how many people will actually show up at reception and how many of those will actually eat a piece or more of cake.

By this time several people, such as minister and caterer, will have asked for this information. They will have calculated and told you how many people they think will actually attend your wedding and reception.

You will have been appalled at low number they came up with. You know that everyone you invite is waiting breathlessly to attend your wedding and that only those who are ill or incapacitated or on Moon will pass up chance to wish you well in person on your big day. When baker comes up with a similar number, believe him because it’s true.

Many people will simply forget and others can think of no way worse to spend a summer Saturday than at another wedding. That’s just way it is. And you can believe it and save some money, or you can believe that everyone will come and then have to decide what to do with leftover cake.

Do whatever will do most to put your mind at ease for next six to eight months. Saving money by ordering only a sufficient amount of cake based on years of experience of your baker is no good if you are going to fret over it and be nervous about it for more than half a year.

Sleeping well, feeling good and setting your mind at ease before your big day is a lot more important than saving money and having no leftovers. You will have enough to go crazy with as your wedding approaches.

When in wedding cake bakery, be clear about date, time, and location of wedding and receptions; set deadlines for changes to cake design and size and for delivery; provide address of and a map to reception.

Make sure that cake can be delivered at a time convenient to you or whomever you will have to receive and inspect cake.

There should be a written contract with wedding cake bakery to specify size, shape, flavor, color, decorations, delivery day, delivery time, delivery place, and price of wedding cake.

Such a contract, of course, does not need a special form or a lawyer to draw it up. It can be a simple list with this information. The list should be dated and signed by both baker and you, and you should each have a copy.

Many wedding cake bakeries have their own form for such orders because it is as important to them that you remember exactly what you asked for and don’t remember asking for something that you never mentioned as it is to you that they deliver what you did ask for.

If they have their form, use it and add any items or information that you need to. Make sure you take a copy of their form.

Bring swatches of material to match cake to your wedding colors because colors in pictures are often slightly off and a picture’s colors can fade with time. (But again, don’t forget picture of wedding cake.)

Below you will find list of questions you should ask pastry chef, baker, or cake decorator at wedding cake bakery. It is your special day you have every right to ask questions!

Questions to ask at bakery:

(Suggestion: print these questions, you will certainly need them)!

1. Can pastry chef/cake decorator create custom cake from your instructions and to look like your wedding-cake picture.

2. What flavors of wedding cake and icing are available? Or if you already have an idea what you want, ask "Can you make a (type of cake) with (flavor of icing)?"

3. Ask to sample some of bakery's cakes. If you don't care for any of cake samples offered by bakery, ask for additional samples or as what other choices are available.

Even if you have to order a small cake to try baker's version of what you want, it is a small price to pay for satisfaction.

4. In case you want to use fresh flowers to decorate wedding cake, ask if bakery can provide them or if you or a florist must deliver them.

5.Request to see pictures of wedding cakes from their photo gallery. Take a look at their album and see if you like looks of cakes. Ask how old pictures are and if person who baked and decorated these cakes is same person who will create yours.

6. Does bakery, baker, pastry chef, or cake decorator has required licenses and has passed health inspections. Licensing varies from state to state, but a bakery is probably required to be licensed as a retail food establishment or as a food preparer.

The health department of city, county, or state probably issues licenses. The baker, pastry chef, and decorator may also be required to be licensed or qualified as a food handler.

You can go to most states' web sites and find out just what licensing is required so that you know what to ask for.

Most bakeries will gladly let you look at kitchen to see where cake will be mixed, baked, decorated, and stored; this is probably as satisfying as seeing licenses.

You should probably ask to take a peek at kitchen after asking about licenses. You can also ask to see results of latest health inspection.

It can be a challenge to be thankful. After all, it often seems so much easier to complain. The bills are piling up, boss wanted project done yesterday and it is barely begun, children want to be brought someplace and don?t want to eat what is on table for dinner, and laundry isn?t going to do itself! Any number of life?s little annoyances can push us into complaining mode. Lamentation is a valid prayer. We are right to bring our cares and concerns to God, to offer up our stress. But thanksgiving is an important part of prayer also. We are often eager to petition God for our needs, but less likely to say ?Thank you? when a prayer has been answered.