Your wedding cake is the centerpiece of your reception. Everyone thinks of the cake when they think of weddings. You do not want to settle when choosing your cake. Remember, also that it will be here, and the gone tomorrow. Do not break the bank on what will be eaten by you and your guests.

There are some things you need to know before choosing your baker and your cake. As with anything else it is best to be well informed before you buy.

When choosing your baker you will want to ask many questions. First and foremost you will want to find out if they are licensed by the county and state; if they have liability insurance. Most reception sites will not let unlicensed and uninsured companies on the premises.

For most bakeries you will want to book 3 to 6 months in advanced. The more in demand cake designers you may want to reserve your date up to a year in advance. You do not want to book until your reception venue and date are set.

Your date and location will be important in deciding the type of cake you will go with. If you are having a summer wedding in a hot location you will not want to have a mousse filling or whipped frosting. You do not want your wedding cake melt before your eyes.

Your baker will need to know the number of guests and what you plan on spending for your cake. Expect to pay anywhere from $2.40-$20 per serving for the more fancy cakes. The baker will help you find a cake to meet your needs and wants.

When you meet with him or her you will want to ask these questions:

Do you customize?

What are my filling choices?

How far in advance is the cake made?

How is the cake priced?

What is the delivery process?

Is a deposit required?

Is there any extra cost, such as delivery and set up?

Are you licensed and insured?

Most bakeries require up to a 50% deposit. They also may charge for delivery and set up. You will want to make sure there are no surprise costs. Things like having the tiers different flavors will also drive up the cost of you cake. You will want to know all of this before you book.

There are many ways to save money when ordering your wedding cake. If you want the look of a large cake, but do not need so much cake you can use fake layers. Ask about using styrofoam layers they can be decorated just like the rest and no on will know the difference.

Consider having a smaller show case cake for display. You can order sheet cake in the same flavor to server to your guests instead of having a large tiered cake. This option will be less expensive and you can have you caterer cut the sheet cake in the back. No one will know.

Order your cake plain and decorate it your self. The decorations can really increase the price of the cake. You can use fresh fruit, non toxic flowers and ribbon instead of sugar flowers. If you are dead set on sugar flowers and marzipan there are many places you can buy your own.

You may not want to skip on having the bakery deliver your cake to save money. Transporting the cake from the bakery to the reception can be very tricky. Not to mention that some cakes require on site assembly. You do not want to drop or mess up your cake. This is one service you do not want to skip.

Wedding cakes can be traditional or fun and funky. The possibilities are limitless. If you have the right information before ordering you can have the cake of you dreams.