The Austin Bridal Extravaganza is less than one week away!  Are you ready?  We are preparing our samples and putting the final touches on our booth display.  While we do that, it's best you prepare too.  Here are a list of questions you definitely want to ask the cake vendors:

1. Is my date available? This is kind of a obvious one, but you don't want to waste your time falling in love with a baker only to find out your date is booked.  Make sure this is the very first question you ask.
2. Can you explain your delivery procedure?  Different bakers deliver their cakes in different ways.  Some deliver their cakes already assembled, while other assemble the cakes onsite.  Ask if they have flexible delivery or if the cake needs to be delivered at a specific time.  And, what is the delivery fee to your venue?  Some bakers have a flat rate, others charge by the tier.  Additionally, is there a charge to place adornments on the cakes?  Some bakers charge to place flowers on the cake, while others do not. 
   
3. How do you price your cakes?  Most bakers have a basic pricing structure and then there are additional costs for additional items or design added to the cake.
4. What type of icings do you use and what do you prefer?  Most bakers use multiple types of icings, but they usually prefer to work with one.  I would definitely choose a baker who specializes in the type of icing you want on your cake.
5. When should I book my cake for my wedding?  Depending on the time of year of your wedding, some brides will have more time to shop around than others.  Bakers will be honest with you and tell you if you need to be booking right now or if you have some time.  Of course, if you know this is the baker for you, it's best to go ahead and book right away and avoid the chance that they may book up early.  It does happen.
   

Yes!  It's that time again!  Time for the Austin Bridal Extravaganza!  Some brides come to the show to get ideas and begin their journey down the wedding planning path.  Others have a specific vendor they are looking to book and are on a mission to find them!  Well, if you are looking for a baker, this blog is for you!  Here are a few tips on choosing your baker at the show with the least amount of stress:

1. First things first, sample.  We will all have flavors there for you to sample.  Make sure you grab a bite.  This will be an easy way to see if you like the flavor, moisture, and texture of their cakes.  If you don't like the cake...obviously, that's one off the list.  If you do, you are on your way to selecting a baker.
2. Look through their albums.  Check out their work.  We all have different styles.  Some of us are more traditional, others more contemporary.  Others focus more on those crazy blow your mind cakes.  Do their styles match up with your vision for your wedding?  Do they work mainly with fondant or buttercream and which would you rather have on your cake? 
   
3. Get pricing info.  We will all be passing out lots of information.  Look over the brochure at the pricing information.  If it's unclear, ask.  We would all be more than happy to assist you. 
   
4. Once you've gone through and gathered this basic information sit down with your friends/family.  Look over all the bakers info.  Which were your favorite in design, flavor, and pricing? If one is over your budget, knock them out.  If you didn't like the flavor, next.  This will help you eliminate.
5. Choose or set appointments.  It isn't rare for brides to run up to our booth at the end of a show and want to sign a contract.  If you know which baker you want to use, go ahead and sign on the line!  You never know what other brides are doing that too.  And if you wait a few weeks your date might be gone.  Be the early bird.  If you really like a few go back to each of their booths.  Talk to them.  Ask questions.  Tell them about your wedding.  And schedule a consultation.  It's hard to really discuss a wedding with a bride at the show because hundreds of other brides are competing for our attention too.  So, let's chat one on one.  The weeks following the show will book up fast.  So, bring your calendar with you.  Let's set up a time while you are there to visit the next week.  That way you are ahead of the rush.
   

I loved themed events!  I love themed weddings, themed birthdays, themed showers...themed everything!  I love the creativity that goes with it.  The problem is, some themes are geared towards certain movies or characters.  And that means...copyrighted!  Dun dun dun!!  I always hate to see the disappointment on someones face when they have fallen in love with a cake, pulling out the photo from their purse all excited...they can't wait to show me.  Only for me to tell them the cake infringes on the copyright laws and therefore, I cannot duplicate it.  Many times I will hear, "I won't tell" or "but this is what he wants."  Unfortunately, it's not worth the lawsuit.  Right now there are several lawsuits on cake professionals who have broken copyright laws.  But, just because you can't have the copyrighted character everywhere in your party, doesn't mean you still can't work within your theme!  Here's how!  I recently participated in an Alice in Wonderland themed party.  Rather than having Alice everywhere, we chose the tea party to be the focus of the party.  The feel was vintage/whimsical and the colors were pink and white.

On the door hung a whimsical styled frame with "Down the Rabbit Hole" written on it.  As guests enter, they walk into the Wonderland.  The beverages had signs that read, "This one makes you smaller" and "This one makes you taller."

Simple elements were placed throughout the room.  Small cups that read "drink me," just like the movie.  Books and flowers added to the tea party feel, and clocks were strategically placed to represent the rabbit and his obsession with time.  I especially loved the melted clocks because it added to the whimsical feel of the theme.  The dessert table completed the theme and even had a patch of grass for the runner to add to the garden tea party, just like in the book.

And my favorite part of any event...cake!!  We continued with the pink and flowers to incorporate the garden tea party onto the cake.  A teacup cake topper added a nice effect.  The lace border drew in some of the vintage feel.  The cake was the only part of the party that actually had Alice or any scene in the entire party.  I just happened to stumble across some licensed wafer paper that could be purchased and placed that on the cake.  It's not easy to find, so if that cannot be done, you can always purchase something from the licensing company and incorporate it.  The cake flavor is Rosewater with a Strawberry filling.  Not only refreshing and super yummy, but it also compliments the theme. 

Everything tied in nicely and guests felt as if they stepped into a scene of the book "Alice in Wonderland" with only minimal photos of Alice herself.  It can be done and it can be done beautifully...just takes an open mind and little creativity!

Happy Party Planning!!!