FAQ
Do I need to book an appointment to come in and see your cakes?
Yes, you do. We need to insure that there is a wedding cake consultant available to answer any of the questions you are likely to have. Also, we have only two copies of our wedding cake album, and they are reserved for people who have made appointments with us.
May I bring children to the consultation?
We do not recommend that you bring children under the age of twelve to the consultation. Picking out a wedding cake can be more involved than you might anticipate. Children under twelve may have a hard time sitting quietly for an hour.
How many people can I bring to the consultation?
Four or less is usually a good number. More than four people might draw out the decision making process. If you need to bring more than four people, please call ahead of your arrival, so that we can make sure that we have enough samples on hand.
What if I am running late to the consultation?
If you are within a few minutes of your appointment time, you shouldn’t worry about it. If you are going to be more than 20 minutes late and there are appointments after you, we will probably need to re-schedule you. Please call if you are running late, and we will let you know how tightly we are scheduled that particular day. If you need to cancel, please give us 24 hours notice. People often wait weeks to get an appointment with us. Please be considerate of others. “No shows” will not be allowed to book another consultation with us.
What happens at the wedding cake consultation?
You will get a sample of our cakes, fillings, and buttercream. We will show you a wedding cake catalog with pictures and wedding cake information in it. Then, at that point, we will allow you to absorb information and enjoy your samples in peace. We will check in with you from time-to-time, but we do not hover over you while you are looking. We are always happy to answer any questions that you may have, so we will check-in with you every few minutes. Your consultation should take about an hour. You can book your cake if you want to at the end of your consultation.
Are we under any obligation to book the cake when we come in for our consultation?
No. You are under no obligation to book with us at your initial consultation. Of course, you may book if you want to, but we want you to feel comfortable with your decision. We will be happy to provide you with a written estimate (good for 90 days) should you decide that you would like some time to think about it. When you have decided that you want to come back and draw up your contract, we ask that you make another appointment – even though you may know exactly what you want. Only a wedding cake consultant is allowed to fill out contracts. We need to have a staff member available to you, and that time needs to be scheduled.
When should I book my wedding cake?
Peak wedding season is April through October. If your wedding date falls within the peak season, we suggest you book three to six months in advance of your date. If your wedding occurs in the off-season, two to three months is sufficient.
Can I hold the date?
Yes. You can hold the date. You will need to fill out a contract and put down an estimated deposit, based on your guest count. When you have decided on a design and structure, you can come in and finalize your contract with a consultant. The cake design and all of the details must be finalized and paid in full 1 month prior to your date.
How much cake should I order?
The real question you need to answer first is, are you serving your wedding cake as dessert, or, are you “wrapping” the cake for your guests to take home?
If you are serving cake as dessert, you will need a piece of cake for every person attending, whether they eat cake or not. This is due to the fact that most banquet halls do not ask your guests if they want cake. They simply cut up the cake and pass it out to every place setting.
If you are “wrapping” the cake, you do not need to have a piece for every person. Guests will usually take a piece with them as they are leaving the reception. It is up to you how much cake to order. We suggest you order cake for one-half to two-thirds of your guests.
You won’t have a final count of wedding guests until about one month to two weeks prior to your wedding date. However, there is a formula for estimating what your actual count is likely to be: take 20% off of the total amount of people you are inviting. For example, if you are inviting 200 people total, 200 x .20 = 40, 200 – 40 = 160 people. We suggest that you only order what you think you will need. We will be happy to add “extra servings” to accommodate any guest overages, but we will not “change down” a cake structure once it has been booked.
Is the top tier included in my servings?
Yes. You may serve all of your cake. We give you a complimentary, fresh, 6” tier on your one-year anniversary. It will be the same cake flavor(s) and filling(s) as your wedding cake – and it will be fresh! No dried-out, freezer burned cake on your first anniversary. Just call us one week prior to your anniversary to order your cake and you can pick it up on the day you specify.
Is there a minimum order for wedding cakes?
Yes and no. There is a minimum order for deliveries. Because we are limited to the amount of deliveries we can make each day, a minimum of 105 servings of displayed cake is required in order to have your cake delivered. Distant deliveries have a minimum of 200 servings of displayed cake. If your cake is less than 105 servings you may have to make arrangements to have your cake picked up, particularly in the busy season. We may make exceptions to the minimum requirement if our delivery schedule allows. Please call and check for delivery availability on your specific date if the amount of servings for your displayed cake will be less than the minimum.
What if I have more people coming to my wedding than I expected? Will I run out of cake?
Most people get their final guest count two weeks prior to their wedding date. At this time you should double check the amount of servings your contracted wedding cake provides. If your guest count is more than your cake serves, then you will want to order “extra servings”. “Extra servings” cake is a separate cake that is brought to the kitchen at your reception facility when your cake is delivered. This cake will be constructed exactly as the tiers of your wedding cake with the same cake and filling flavors. The difference is that this cake is not decorated. Once cut and plated, your guests would not be able to distinguish between displayed cake and “extra servings” cake. Please be sure to order the “extra servings” two weeks prior to your reception date.
Can I get a small cake for cutting and then sheet cake for a majority of the servings?
Our policy is that your displayed cake must meet the minimum for delivery (described above), and serve at least half of your guests. You may not do more than ½ of the total amount of servings as “extra servings” or, sheet cake. In our experience, a displayed cake that serves less than half of your guests looks too small for the room, and the amount of people you plan on serving.
How far away do you deliver?
Our delivery area covers all of the south suburbs of Chicago, downtown Chicago, as far west as Naperville, southwest to Joliet, and east, to nearby Indiana. Downtown Chicago and distant deliveries must have a minimum of 200 servings of displayed cake, and we are limited to only one or two downtown and distant deliveries per weekend. A distant delivery is 45 minutes or more from our bakery.
Is there a delivery charge?
Yes. The delivery charge not only covers our time and fuel costs, but set-up as well. Some cakes requiring elaborate set-ups may be subject to an increased set-up and delivery charge. Prices range from $20.00 for local deliveries to $150.00 for downtown Chicago and distant deliveries.
Can I get different cake and filling flavors for each tier?
Yes, you can.
For example, you could have ½ of your servings be white cake with strawberry mousse filling, and the other ½ be chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling. Or, you could have one tier banana cake with hazelnut mousse, another tier chocolate cake with raspberry mousse, and another tier white cake with irish cream mousse.
A third way to get variety within your cake is to mix up the cake within the tier itself. Each tier of cake has three layers of cake and two fillings. You could have chocolate-white-chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and strawberry mouse fillings.
When you mix up the cake flavors, you need to be aware that you will probably not have any control over who gets what, if your cake is served as dessert. Banquet halls typically pass out cake as people are mingling and do not ask about preferences. As long as you are OK with your guests getting whatever is available, then feel free to order different cake flavors. One way to bypass this problem is to order different cake flavors within each piece, as in example three above. If you are “wrapping” cake, your guests will take whatever they like, and you can order whatever you like.
Are there different prices for any of the cake flavors?
All of the cake flavors are covered in the price per serving.
What about fillings? Are some fillings extra?
While all of our mousses are included in our standard pricing, some fillings may have an extra charge. Refer to our pricing sheet to see what we offer, and at what charge.
Can I get cheesecake as a wedding cake?
If you are thinking of a traditional stacked wedding cake, we would say that it is probably not a good idea to do it as cheesecake. Cheesecake shouldn’t be displayed for as long as a standard wedding cake typically is (3 to 4 hours), because of spoilage concerns. It is also very difficult for your hall to cut and present cheesecake properly. If you really like cheesecake, you might want to think about cheesecake filling layers, or doing some of your servings as cheesecakes “behind the scenes”, so that your hall can refrigerate the cheesecakes and alleviate any spoilage concerns.
Can I get fresh fruit in my wedding cake?
Yes, in certain situations. Fresh fruit should not be displayed for more than 2-3 hours and should be cut up and served immediately. You should not "wrap" cake with fresh fruit in it. Fresh fruit like strawberries and bananas are added to our mousses. We do not offer fruits in glazes as a filling. With over 15 years of experience, we can tell you that FRESH strawberries and glaze as a filling in a stacked wedding cake, is not structurally sound.
What is fondant?
Fondant is a special type of icing; it is a sugar dough. It is rolled out in a large sheet and laid over the tier of cake. Before we put on the fondant icing, the cake itself is crumb-coated in our buttercream to prevent moisture loss. So, you will get the taste of our famous buttercream, even if you order a cake with fondant icing. Because of the labor involved, fondant prices begin at $5.25 per serving.
Can I display my cake outside?
Not a good idea. Besides the danger of the buttercream melting (temperatures above 80 degrees), you stand the chance of drawing insects. Bees and flies like our buttercream, too. If you must display your cake outside, we strongly recommend fondant icing. Keep in mind, a tent outside in the summer is considered “outside” even if it is “air conditioned”.
Can I bring in a picture of a cake I have seen elsewhere?
Absolutely. We will incorporate elements from the online or magazine picture that you bring in to us, and make a unique design that is similar to the picture you have. As cake designers, we feel it is unethical to copy someone else’s design exactly.
Do you provide fresh flowers, or does my florist?
We’re really flexible as far as flowers go. It’s really up to you and your budget as to what you should choose.
Florist – they will have the widest selection if you want a variety of flowers, or, if you want to exactly match the flowers you are already getting from them. Creative Cakes – if you want us to buy and arrange your flowers, we will be happy to do that. We’re usually the best choice if you want only one or two types of flowers, such as roses with stephanotis. Ask for a quote.
You – this is the least expensive way to go, but you will need to bring us the flowers the day before the day of your wedding. We will charge an arranging fee of $20.00.
Who puts the flowers on my cake?
If you are using a florist for the flowers on your cake, you should ask them what they prefer to do, or if their schedule will allow them to arrange the flowers on the cake. Some florists like to put flowers on the cake, others do not. At no charge, we will put a florist’s pre-arranged flowers on the cake. However, if loose flowers are ordered through your florist, you need to communicate very clearly to the florist and to Creative Cakes who is responsible for arranging your loose flowers. We will charge an arranging fee for the arrangement of loose flowers.If we are providing your flowers, we will be arranging the flowers on the cake at no charge.
If you provide the flowers, we will charge a nominal arranging fee. You will have to bring the flowers to the bakery 24 hours before the reception date, or have the flowers waiting at the hall when we arrive with the cake.
What about my cake topper? Do I bring it to the bakery?
In most cases, cake toppers should be brought directly to your hall. You will most likely be bringing other things to your reception hall the week of your wedding, such as, place cards, serving sets, etc. Just bring your topper with those items. Your hall will have it waiting at the cake table for us to put on when we arrive with the cake. We have found that the fewer people handling your topper, the better. If it is something we are making here, we will bring it with us. Please let us know if your cake topper is heavy and needs support. If you have any doubts about your topper’s suitability, you should bring it by the bakery before the reception date, so that we can look at it.
How do I make my payment(s)?
25% of the final total is required at the time of booking and can be in the form of cash, check, charge, or debit card. Your 25% deposit is non-refundable. You may pay in installments if you wish. Final payments are due 30 days before your wedding date. You may pay by any of the methods listed above, but will not accept checks after the due date.
Do you supply cake bags?
Yes. We supply cake bags (with our logo) free of charge. If you are “wrapping” your cake, we will provide cake bags. If you are serving all of your cake, you shouldn’t need them.
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