Selecting and designing your own wedding cake can be a stressful process, especially when you are responsible for finding a designer who is capable of creating the picture-perfect cake you’ve dreamed of.

You will need to spend a significant amount of time interviewing different wedding cake designers, reviewing portfolios and tasting samples before you can make the decision on who you want to work with. Here are some of the essential questions to ask your wedding cake designer during your wedding planning process:

1. What is the pricing schedule for custom cakes? Some wedding cake designers will post only their prices for ‘template’ cakes, or cakes that they have made for other guests. Make sure you understand what the bottom line price will be for your custom cake so you’re not dealing with any surprises when you are ready to place your order.

2. Does the price include accessories? Some wedding cake designers price out the cake and all accessories such as tiers, fountains and cake toppers separately, while others will price them as a package. Find out if you will be looking at ‘a la carte’ pricing for all the trimmings so you have a realistic idea of what the cake is going to cost.

3. What premium ingredients or brands does the designer work with? Some wedding cake designers work with only special brands and premium ingredients, while others will use generic products. You will need to make the decision based on your budget and needs, so make to factor in the quality of the cake when reviewing your options.

4. Are there options for special diets? If some of your guests are allergic to eggs, gluten, wheat or peanuts, they may not be able to taste or even be near the wedding cake. Ask about options for allergen-free ingredients, and find out what the ingredients list is for a particular cake so you can post it for your guests.

5. Does the wedding cake designer work with a florist? Some wedding cake designers will ask you to place a special order from your preferred florist if you want to trim the cake with a special assortment, while others will work with their own network of flower specialists. If you are very particular about what type of flowers you want on your cake, find out who will be responsible for placing the flower order.

6. Can you see a digital preview of the cake? Some wedding cake designers will be able to produce a computer-generated image of your cake based on your specifications. Others will design the cake by hand as part of the proposal. Find out how you can preview the cake design, and what this part of the design process might cost you.

7. What is the lead time for ordering to delivery? You need to make sure that your ideal wedding cake can be created and delivered on time for your wedding day. Ask about turnaround times and the earliest and latest possible date you can place your order.