just curious if this is common i have a bride that i am doing a wedding a grooms cake for saturday, bride and mob have been so sweet and nice, they have called with several q's the last couple of days ( cutting instructions, table set up, etc) all common stuff that i usually go over on delivery, then they call and ask if they can come by and see the cake, i told them that today we are just starting on it, so they ask if they can come by tomorrow afternoon and see it. While i understand being anxious and stressed the cake will not be delivered unitl 3:30 saturday so i normally would not have it finsihed until probablly 12-1 on saturday becasue i will finish the grooms cake first ( dont know why i just prefer to do the grooms cake first and then the wedd cake) so do any of you have brides wanting to come in the day before to inspect.
btw, i told them they are welcome to check in on friday but not to expect the cake to be anywhere near finsihed because i would be late into the evening in the shop working on it and finsih it saturday morning.
Uggggh, I would try and avoid this situation. Kind of gives them the chance to try and get you to change stuff up if they don't like what they see - though they won't be seeing much, as you rightly pointed out to them! Also, there is the PITA factor when you are trying to work on the cake and have them there asking questions etc.
In answer to your question though, I don't think it's common (thankfully!).
Just lie (who knows it could be true) amd say that because of liability issues no one can be in your baking/decorating area...employees only. I think it is a big mistake to allow them in to see unfinished work. It would be shocking to see a crumb coated cake and them not being able to envision how on earth you will be able to complete it in time.
They are probably trying to avoid having some terrible wreck show up unexpectedly at the wedding, and I'm a little sympathetic, but I think it's a really bad idea to let them see the unfinished cake. They will almost certainly not understand how you go from whatever stage it's in to the finished product, they will distract you with questions and "oh wow that doesn't look quite like I expected" and everyone will get stressed out!
Maybe you could offer to email them a photo of each cake as soon as it's done. Of course, if the wedding cake is finished two hours before the reception, the bride and her mom will be very busy with other things at the time. 
Holly
Just lie (who knows it could be true) amd say that because of liability issues no one can be in your baking/decorating area...employees only.
This is actually a common policy. At our rental kitchen no one is allowed to be in the baking area except for tenants and their employees for liability reasons.
I occasionally have a bride ask to see the cake. I always say, "well, it should be done about 2 am the morning of your wedding, but maybe 3 or even 4 am. You sure you'll be able to swing by?"
They look shocked and say nooooo.
But then I'd pull the Health Department excuse anyway.
I send 1 or 2 update pics if they request. But from my cell so they just get an idea
I occasionally have a bride ask to see the cake. I always say, "well, it should be done about 2 am the morning of your wedding, but maybe 3 or even 4 am. You sure you'll be able to swing by?"
I laughed out loud for real at this one! I love it!
I've only had one person make this kind of request. I am a cottage baker, so I really couldn't use the Health Dept excuse, since she had already been in my kitchen, when we had the tasting at my kitchen table. Anyhoo, I told her something along the lines of what leah_s tells her customers--that the cake would not be completed until the wee hours of dawn.
I haven't been asked, but I would not agree to sending pics, either. I would be concerned that this would open the door to the client wanting a last minute design change, etc.
I wouldn't let them come into my kitchen while I'm working to see the cake but I would send pics. I'm not worried about last minute changes as I have a contract that each bride signs saying all final design elements are made one month prior and if they did want changes there is an additional fee.
Sorry, no pictures, no visits.
When I'm busy working on a cake, I don't have time to chat, explain, humor, or cajol--and I sure as he[[ won't be making any changes at that point.
I think it just gives someone the impression that, at that late point, they may still have some opportunity for input or change--and they DON'T.
Did they go to the dress factory after the pattern was cut & watch the stitchers? Did they drop by the caterers and taste the entrees? Did they go to the florist and watch the centerpieces being assembled? NO
Rae
Sorry, no pictures, no visits.
When I'm busy working on a cake, I don't have time to chat, explain, humor, or cajol--and I sure as he[[ won't be making any changes at that point.
I think it just gives someone the impression that, at that late point, they may still have some opportunity for input or change--and they DON'T.
Did they go to the dress factory after the pattern was cut & watch the stitchers? Did they drop by the caterers and taste the entrees? Did they go to the florist and watch the centerpieces being assembled? NO
Rae
Agree 100%
Once I was an employee of a bakery, and after taking her order, a customer wrote down her number and asked me to text her a picture of the cake once I was done decorating it lol Some people are crazy...
I occasionally have a bride ask to see the cake. I always say, "well, it should be done about 2 am the morning of your wedding, but maybe 3 or even 4 am. You sure you'll be able to swing by?"
They look shocked and say nooooo.
But then I'd pull the Health Department excuse anyway.
Too funnii... I love it!
In Texas you have you have your food handler's too. Then there's the business liability issue for non-employees being in the back of the house.... non slip shoes, hair nets, gloves....
I've actually had quite a few brides (and clients in general) ask me to txt pics of the cake.... which I don't do either. I explain, just like Blake said, I really don't have time. I'm focused on cake.
just tel her no! in a nice way, of course 
but honestly, nothing good could come of this :/
I offer to send pictures via text as I go. They love it. My kitchen is approved for visitors, but no one has asked yet. But those phone pics are a big hit. I take a picture as each tier is done and send it. I think people are anxious about their cakes. They show all of their friends and this service will be remembered.
For people who have been in business awhile with great reputations, I think this is unnecessary.
I've done the pictures when it's someone I know personally, and I've done process/states pictures with unusual cakes (ie: taco cake, rainbow cake)... I guess my nervousness is in junxing myself that I've sent a pic off the finished product and then something happen. And well.... let's not talk about something happening during delivery, even if it was just once. Okay, twice, only once where anyone found out!
I have never gotten this request where I used to work.
I do know that people would come into the shop and walk in the back like they owned the place. It used to irritate me to no end. Then there were the "customers" who were actually stalking other bakeries before they opened there own place. You could spot them a mile away.
I have a slightly open concept in my shop. There is a 5' wall separating the front from the work room. I also have a half door at the end of the counter that will be locked from the other side and have a sign posted "employees only" on it. But I bet you that will not stop some people.
I will definitely be quoting health code to those people.
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