Everything You Need to know about Cake Tasting

Cake tasting is one of the most fun and delightful experiences of wedding planning. You get to spend a few hours savouring the delicious, melt-in-your-mouth desserts that you will potentially be offering to your guests on the day of your wedding. 

As exciting as it is, there are still some things that you absolutely do not want to overlook or forget while you enjoy your mouth-watering treats. Besides the presentation and taste, there are other factors, you want to keep in mind before you start booking your appointments with different bakers. So keep reading as I share some tips with you that can help you decide which cake you’d like to share with your family and friends on your special day.

Do some serious research

Look for different vendors, cake styles, flavours, decorations, fillings and textures. Once you have narrowed down your list, take the time to read reviews of your favourite baker. 

You can always call and have a preliminary consultation with different bakers. I would suggest being open to their suggestions, and suggestions from others (family/friends) who’ve ordered cakes from different vendors for different occasions. Have your list of questions ready so you don’t forget to ask important questions during your appointment.

Book your cake tasting 6 months in advance

Book your cake tasting appointments about 6 months in advance. This is something you don’t want to leave out for the very last minute. Having at least a  six month time period in advance will help you straighten out all the details of the event day, like theme, venue, event-day agenda, so that when you’re finalizing the cake you can give the exact location, presentation and timings of cake arrival to your vendor. 

Schedule appointments on different days

If you’re testing multiple bakers, do not make all your appointments the same day. Cake tasting usually takes about one to two hours, so schedule your days accordingly. You want to give yourself sufficient time to process different tastes, textures, flavours, aromas, decoration etc. And believe me, having cake after cake after cake, you don’t want to get sugar sick by the end of the day!

Know your budget and stick to it

Keeping a budget in mind will help you make a list of all the places that fall under your set budget. This way, you can discuss your budget expectations with your baker before you proceed with finalizing the details of the cake. A good way to keep track of things is by keeping a cake tasting sheet with you. This will help you keep track of different vendors, flavors, pricing, tastes, and other things you like/dislike about a particular vendor.

Have some ideas about flavour and style 

Once you research different bakers and their creations, you’ll get an idea of what flavour and style you want to have for your wedding cake. Have ideas about cake toppers and decoration and discuss these with your baker. If there are any dietary restrictions, make sure to mention them beforehand. 

Some people prefer having different flavours for different tiers. Ask your baker if they can accommodate that for you so you can maximize your options. You may also want to consider tasting the frosting and filling separately and see which combinations work best for you.

Eat before your appointment

Eat before your appointment, because being hungry might affect your taste buds. Everything….and I mean, everything tastes better when you’re hungry! Your sensitivity to sugar and salt increases and your perception of taste changes. So be sure to eat before your appointment so you can differentiate between different flavours and not get tricked by your brain, who is a lot less picky when you haven’t had a meal in a while.

Cleanse your palate between each sample

Cleanse your palate between each sample so your taste buds can enjoy the next slice without any lingering flavours from the last sample. Drink water between your tastings and remember to taste different elements of the cake separately. For example: sponginess, frosting, sweetness, moisture, decorations etc.

Connect with your baker

Once you’re done finalizing all the details, you want to make sure you take down the contact information of your baker. In months and weeks leading up to the wedding, sometimes you make some changes based on the new information you may get and you want to make sure you have your baker’s information handy so you can communicate these changes with them in a timely manner.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE  BOOKING A SPECIFIC BAKER Find out if your baker provides a cake stand or if you’ll need to provide one Learn how large they consider a slice .This may affect how much cake you need to order Be sure to get a sketch of the design before finalizing the order Find out what time the cake will be delivered

Now that you know how to plan your cake tasting and what to look for, explore different ideas for cake decorations, flavours, tablescapes, and find inspiration in our lookbook here. If you need suggestions on vendors or how to decorate your wedding table, feel free to talk to us. We have a variety of recommendations based on your preference, that you may find helpfully delicious.

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