Question....I just got an email from a bride who no doubt has read one too many bridal magazines. Here is what she asked me:

1. Do you offer free consultation?
2. When would I be able to taste the various kinds of cakes and fillings?
3. Can you supply refrences?
4. Will you do a custom wedding cake or are there a set # of designs for us to choose from?
5. How adaptable are wedding cake designs especially due to budget?
6. Do you have or can we rent cake toppers, cutters etc.? Will we be billed extra?
7. Do you have a portfolio of previous wedding cakes you've made that we can look at?
8. What ingredients to you typically use? What kind of icing?
9. How long before our wedding are the cakes prepared? How long does it take to make a cake?
10. Are the wedding cakes priced by slice? Is there an extra cost for special fillings and details? Will you charge extra for my design (if complicated)? Is there a price list I could see?
11. Can you give me a written proposal I can take home?
12. Do you deliver? How much does delivery cost? Will the delivery person be able to make emergency repairs and arrange the table?
13. How long have you been making cakes?

Thank you so much for your time, hope to hear from you soon!! Please include any information you feel would be helpful to us.


I go over ALL of this in my consultations. I charge $25 for the consultation that generally lasts about an hour, and if they book with me, I apply the tasting to the balance.

How do I answer all of this....I wont have anything to go over with them in the tasting! LOL

I don't think these are unreasonable questions at all. These are all questions most brides ask, especially budget conscious brides. I commend her for doing her homework and making sure she has everything in order. Not everyone knows the cake business like we do. I have no clue about ordering a bridal gown so I will have plenty of questions when the time comes.

I think the above poster's response will work great and also help ease the bride's nerves about this portion of the wedding planning.

I would write back and say something like, My base price per serving starts at XX so you should be able to figure out the general base price of your cake based on the number of guests you are anticipating to have at your reception. If these numbers seem like they will fit into your budget, we can sit down for a tasting and consultation where most of your other questions will be answered. The tasting is $25 and consists of you tasting and blah blah blah.

Sometimes when I get emails like this, I reply to the whole thing if I'm in the mood.

1. no, they are $25, but will be applied to your cake should you book with me.
2. at your tasting and consultation, I have 11:30 next saturday available, will that work for you?
3. every reference I supply you will give me a glowing review as I would not have you call some who may been dissatisfied. But, you can call these venues in which I have delivered quite a few cakes...
4.....

Meh . . .she copied that list from the interwebs. Not nearly as clever as she thinks she is.

I noticed you do not have a Frequently Asked Questions or Testimonial page on your web site. I have them and usually suggest the bride look at these pages and then get back to me with any other questions that they may have.
The FAQ page saves a lot of unecessary questions being asked.

I am working on my soon to be turned on website and I do have a FAQ section that will answer most of these questions. I see a few that could be added.
But I would just email back with your brief explanation and not have to spend the time typing out all your answers.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I love the FAQ idea for on my website so I can direct brides that way. I have no idea why I didnt think of that! (I guess I haven't given much though to it considering Im going to be doing a complete website over-haul in the near future...)

It will save a ton of time considering I have to answer the same questions over and over and over and I just dont have time to keep answering each individual questions like I do.

Usually its not an issue - because they ask all the questions during my consultation, but I was just kinda thrown off when I had a magazine thrown at me lol

Thanks for all the advice, I knew I could count on you all

Definitely looks like a cut and paste from a bride mag, lol.

I always just direct people to my website. EVERYthing they ask is pretty much answered there; then they can browse to their heart's content, and that way, when we meet, I know they're serious about having me do their cake.

Without a website...I'd just answer each question in order, as friendly as briefly as possible.

At least these cut-n-paste question are not ridiculous, like the bride who asked "do you cue the band?"

Cue the band? Who do I look like, Ricky Ricardo???

Again, these are good questions, My website pretty much had the answer to all of these questions right on my website AND in the intro packet that I sent to initial inquiries.

Write it once ... email it often!

Cue the band??

I've been asked if I cut the cake, but that...is hilarious! Seriously?

I think the questions are very reasonable and I think you should respond just as Kristy says. If it were me I'd be very happy with that response and would book a consultation. Good luck!!