It’s 2001 and I’m sitting with my mom and MOH at a little table spread with every flavor cake and filling imaginable. We’re at a small but very popular bakery where I’m trying to decide on the look, taste and cost of my wedding cake. I must say that on the surface this looked like one of my dreams come true; I mean here I was surrounded with more cake than I knew what to do with and they were letting me sample it for free! In reality though, it turned out to be a bit more overwhelming than I’d expected. The first big obstacle was selecting a cake flavor. My husband wanted chocolate, I wanted white and the nice lady behind the table suggested marble. I ended up chickening out and going with the white. Next I had to choose a filling. Here we go again. My husband wanted strawberry, I wanted chocolate mousse and Lori thought raspberry looked good. With so many delicious options I was soon ready to order an 18- layer cake just so I didn’t have to make a decision. At last I figured the safest thing to do was to alternate the strawberry and chocolate. Unfortunately I still had to choose the colors, number of layers, frosting type and overall style of the cake. Then I had to decide whether to use real flowers provided by the florist or the edible kind the bakery would make. I left the appointment with a bad case of the jitters though whether that was caused by the harrowing cake-selecting experience or the amount of sugar I’d just consumed I really couldn’t say.

To protect you from the same cake confusion I’ve come up with a few tips to be considered before your all important sampling date.

1. Narrow down your bakery choices by doing some research on each before you make an appointment. If you’re looking for a specialty cake you may not be able to find it just anywhere and running from place to place will only be a waste of your time and the bakery’s.

2. Once you’ve set up appointments with the bakeries you’re most interested in, try to come with an idea of what you’re looking for as far as flavors and designs. (Remember that you have options for your icing too between fondant and a selection of buttercream flavors). This will help ensure that you get the cake you’re looking for in the time the bakery has set aside to meet with you.

3. If your fiancé has a strong opinion about your wedding cake, make sure to get his preferences before they finalize your selections! Changing your flavors or design after the bakery has already scheduled time for your cake can be a real headache and you may end up stuck with your original order.

4. If you’re having a hard time finding a suitable design in the sample book the bakery provides, talk to the cake designer about the details of your wedding. Everything from your wedding dress to the kinds of flowers you’ll be using can provide them with the inspiration they need to create the perfect cake!

5. You should also be prepared to tell them about how many guests you’re expecting so they can help you select the right size. If you’re having a very large wedding you might want to consider a smaller cake for display and the cake cutting and larger sheet cakes which will be stored in the kitchen to serve your guests.

6. If you want anything special on your cake such as fresh flowers or a topper that you’ll be providing, you need to make sure to specify that during your appointment. Some toppers are heavier than others and may require special support.

7. Talk to the bakery about the non-edible details too. Don’t forget to ask about a cake stand and whether you can rent one from them or if you’ll need to buy one. Make sure you discuss the transportation and setup of your cake. Is that something they’ll be doing or will you need to make arrangements for a friend to pick it up?

8. Some bakeries keep record of your cake on file for up to a year so you can order one with the same flavors for your first anniversary if you’d like. This is a fun way to celebrate the close of your first year together and to remember the big day that started it all! Be sure to ask at your appointment!

9. Don’t forget that anything extra you add to your cake will be figured into your total cost so plan accordingly! If you have a tight or very fixed budget talk to the bakery about what options will fit into your price range and still allow you to get some of the things on your cake wish list.

10. I’ve saved my favorite tip for last! Let your honeymoon start on a sweet note and make sure to grab a piece of your wedding cake before you go; it’s something so many brides seem to miss out on. With all the painstaking decisions involved in getting it just right you certainly deserve it!

- Kelsey Gonzalez