Cake Checklist

Your Budget
Before getting started, know how much you plan to spend on your cake. When you make appointments, be sure your potential cake decorators are within your price range.

What is your cake budget?  $____________________

Overall Style
What style is your perfect wedding cake?
[ ] Simple
[ ] Contemporary
[ ] Classic
[ ] Traditional
[ ] Trendy
[ ] Ornate
[ ] Unique
[ ] Regal (Royal)
[ ] Dramatic
[ ] Glamorous
[ ] Themed (for a bird wedding, or a french-style wedding, etc)

Tier Shapes
Thinking of your cakes style what shape would best represent that.
[ ] Round
[ ] Square
[ ] Rectangular
[ ] Hexagonal
[ ] Triangular
[ ] Topsy Turvy
[ ] Mixed Shapes
[ ] Scalloped
[ ] Sheet cake

Learn more about the wedding cake shapes before you decide on which is best for your wedding.

Number of Servings
The number of cake servings will help determine the size of your cake. In general, three tiers will serve 50-100 guests. So, if you’re having 150 or more, you’ll likely need four or more tiers. How many guests will you have?
[ ] 0-10 servings
[ ] 10-50 servings
[ ] 50-100 servings
[ ] 100-150 servings
[ ] 150-200 servings
[ ] 200+ servings

Tip: If you are hosting a small wedding, but still want a tall-tiered cake, ask your cake decorator to create the bottom layer out of Styrofoam or Rice Krispy Treats and decorate it to look like the rest of the cake.  Alternatively, if you have a robust number of guests to feed, consider ordering a three-tiered cake, and then making up the rest of the slices with a sheet cake (to be sliced up discretely in the kitchen).

Flavors and fillings
First determine your cake flavor. Then, check out the fillings available for mouthwatering suggestions.  When it comes to wedding cake flavors, the more flavorful, the better.
[ ] Vanilla
[ ] Chocolate
[ ] Carrot
[ ] Red Velvet
[ ] Yellow
[ ] Lemon

Cake Colors
Decide whether you want your cake to perfectly match your wedding day colors, or whether it will complement them. Remember that the color of your cake should relate to the colors of it’s surroundings.

Dominant Colors
[ ] White
[ ] Yellow
[ ] Green
[ ] Blue
[ ] Purple
[ ] Pink
[ ] Red
[ ] Orange

Accent Colors
[ ] White
[ ] Yellow
[ ] Green
[ ] Blue
[ ] Purple
[ ] Pink
[ ] Red
[ ] Orange

Cake Add-ons
The add-ons you choose for your cake will take it from flat to eye-catching. Think about how much of it you want to be edible and how much will need to be removed before the cake can be cut:
[ ] Stripes
[ ] Swags
[ ] Ribbons- fabric
[ ] Ribbons- sugar
[ ] Bows- fabric
[ ] Bows- sugar
[ ] Dots
[ ] Swirls
[ ] Flowers- sugar
[ ] Flowers- fresh
[ ] Pleats
[ ] Basket-weave
[ ] Quilted
[ ] Scroll-work
[ ] Monogram
[ ] Fresh fruit
[ ] Invitation motif
[ ] Lace-like fondant (to mimic your dress)

Cake Toppers
Consider your cake a great piece of art. The cake topper is the final touch. Decide whether you want to go with the traditional Bride and Groom topper or something that says a little more about you:
[ ] Traditional Bride and Groom
[ ] Less Traditional (Bride dragging Groom)
[ ] Heirloom cake topper

( ) Mom and Dad’s cake topper
( ) Other_______________________

[ ] Meaningful family piece

( ) Grandma’s brooch
( ) Small Vase
( ) Other:______________________

[ ] Locale topper

( ) Cluster of coral for a beach theme
( ) Evergreen for a mountain theme
( ) Grapes for a vineyard theme
( ) Other:______________________

[ ] Seasonal topper

( ) Snowflake for winter
( ) Autumn leaves for Fall
( ) Daisies for Summer
( ) Spring flowers
( ) Other: ________________________

[ ] Monogram topper

( ) Sugar Letters
( ) Frosted Monogram Cookie
( ) Chocolate-Molded Monogram
( ) Other:________________________

[ ] Simple toppers

( ) Chocolate Shavings
( ) Fresh Flowers
( ) Sugar Flowers
( ) Cascade of Ribbons
( ) Other:________________________

[ ] None: Some cake designs look great without any topper at all.

Once you have your checklist complete be sure to bring it with you to your cake interview. Talk with your designer to determine the price and if what you want does not fit into your budget, ask your designer what small changes you can make so that your cake comes in budget.