When Should You Book Your Wedding Cake? A Guide to Wedding Cake Booking
Vintage Cake Fairy studio ready for your wedding cake design consultation
Based on my 15 years of working in the wedding industry, I’ve noticed that most weddings traditionally take place during spring and summer, with many wedding suppliers booking couples around 12-18 months in advance.
But, and this is a huge but, over the last five years, I’ve seen more and more weddings taking place out of season. Previously, if your wedding was between May and August, you’d find that many suppliers were booking up a year or more ahead. Now, that busy season often stretches as far as November. And honestly, I can’t blame them. Autumn is such a beautiful time to get married! (I’ve even written a blog about autumn weddings if you fancy a read.)
With those booking windows becoming less predictable, it’s harder to know exactly when you should book your wedding cake. The answer? There’s no single right time. But if you’ve found a cake designer you love, my advice is simple: get them booked.
What Is the Wedding Cake Booking Process?
My booking process is simple and straightforward. I like to keep things that way to minimise wedding planning stress.
First, you send me an initial enquiry with your wedding date and venue. I check my diary and, if I have availability, brilliant! If not, I’ll let you know and wish you all the very best.
If your date is available, we’ll have a brief chat, either by phone or email, about your ideas. I’ll ask about your approximate guest numbers (if you don’t know yet, that’s absolutely ok) and the style of cake you have in mind. The design will have the biggest influence on the overall cost, so once I know a little more, I can give you a rough ballpark figure.
From there, you can decide what happens next. You can say, “Hell yes, I’m in!” and pay your booking fee, or order a tasting box so you can try before you buy.
The cost of my tasting boxes is deducted from your booking fee because I don’t believe you should have to pay extra to sample a product you’re investing so much in.
Once you’re booked, I’ll invite you to my studio for a design consultation, where we’ll work together to create your dream wedding cake. I’ll sketch the design and email it to you for approval. After that, I take care of the rest, right down to the delivery logistics.
It’s fun and easy. Well, easy for you, anyway. I’m the one doing all the hard work.
Wedding Cake Designing
All cakes are designed and a drawing is made, so you can see what it will look like on your wedding day
How Far in Advance Do I Need to Know What Wedding Cake Design I Want?
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to know what style of wedding cake you want when you book.
If you have a clear idea already, fantastic! If not, not a problem. My couples are invited to my studio for a design consultation approximately 3–6 months before their wedding.
This is where we explore what you love and, just as importantly, what you don’t like.
I’ve worked with couples who arrive with their own sketches and others who haven’t the faintest idea where to start. Both are absolutely fine.
Using my experience and knowledge of what’s possible (and what I’d recommend avoiding), I take your ideas and turn them into a bespoke wedding cake design that feels completely you.
If we need a little inspiration, I have plenty of wedding magazines and design ideas to get those creative juices flowing.
My aim is for you to leave your consultation with a design that feels right for you and a cake size suited to your guest numbers. You don’t need to arrive with all the answers. That’s what I’m here for.
Can I Book a Wedding Cake at Short Notice?
Absolutely! I’ve noticed more couples booking their weddings at shorter notice than they did a few years ago, and that’s perfectly fine.
Most wedding suppliers will have the odd date available here and there, so it’s always worth asking. What’s the worst that could happen? They might be fully booked, or they might make your day by saying they have availability.
I once booked a wedding with just 12 weeks to go, and that couple received the same care and attention as someone who booked 15 months in advance. Both shown below.
Don’t assume your dream wedding cake designer is fully booked just because their usual lead time is a year. You could miss out simply by not asking.
If your wedding is only 12 weeks away and I have availability, we’ll just need to make decisions a little more quickly. So, if you’re planning a last-minute wedding, please do get in touch.
How Far Will I Travel to Deliver a Wedding Cake?
This question comes up a lot, so I thought I’d include it here. While it doesn’t directly affect when you should book your wedding cake, I know delivery can be an important factor when choosing your supplier.
My answer is simple: as far as you’re happy to pay my delivery fee.
Some cake makers only cover the areas close to where they’re based, but I’m happy to travel further afield. I’ve delivered wedding cakes more than 100 miles from home and am happy to travel further, provided you’re happy with the delivery costs.
We’ll discuss this during our initial chats, so you’ll know exactly where you stand before booking.
So, When Is the Best Time to Book Your Wedding Cake?
Let’s wrap things up! Here are my top tips for booking your wedding cake:
Book when you’ve found the right cake maker. Trust your gut and secure your date before someone else does.
Don’t assume a supplier is fully booked. Ask about availability, even if your wedding is only a few months away.
You don’t need a finished design in mind. That’s what your design consultation is for!
Wedding cake design should be fun, not stressful. Find a cake designer who makes the process enjoyable and puts you at ease.
Don’t let distance put you off. I’m happy to travel to deliver your dream wedding cake, wherever your venue may be, subject to delivery costs.
Ultimately, the best time to book your wedding cake is when you’ve found a cake designer whose work you love and who understands your vision. Leave yourself plenty of time where possible, but don’t panic if you’re working to a shorter timeline.
Best of both worlds
A reveal cake can be as traditional as you would like on the front and packed with fun and personality at the back!
Planning your wedding and looking for something a little different?
At Vintage Cake Fairy, I specialise in bespoke, non-traditional wedding cakes designed around you, your ideas and your big day. Whether you have a Pinterest board full of inspiration or absolutely no idea where to start, I’d love to help you create something truly personal.
If you’d like to check availability for your wedding date, simply get in touch with your date and venue, and we can take it from there. Let’s make a wedding cake that’s anything but ordinary.