As many of you know from other posts, I am getting married! yey!

I decided not to bake my own wedding cake - thanks to everyone for all of your advice!

Now I have appointments with all the "stars" of the cake decorating world to see if they should be the one to bake my cake. What should I ask? It's a great opportunity to talk to them about cake decorating, too!

I'm meeting with Sylvia Weinstock, Colette Peters, Confetti Cakes, Ron Ben Israel, and Gail Watson.
Please advise! I want to go in with a bunch of questions!


Thanks guys!

I don't see her name , but I would pick Kerry Vincent...

You know something I was wondering the other day after looking at Toba Garrett's website....do they make the cake themselves?? If not, what do they do? How much input do they have in it then??

Congrats on your wedding AND getting to meet all these people! Good luck and let us know how it goes!!!

Hmmm I think Toba is now a full time instructor at a cooking school here in NYC - I don't think she does cakes for sale anymore

Kerry Vincent...I will check it out!

go to www.flourgirlbakery.com too in NY...so cute & kitschy!!


...hey, and can you ask the pros what THEY consider a "portion" slice of cake to be?? Just interested!

Antonia
That's a beautiful site, I saw one of these cakes in the knot.com, the one covered with round pastel cookies it's a cleaver idea.
Toba's site ans her work is to diiiiiiiiiiie for. I'm gonna try some of the ideas she has especially the stiching technique.

Wow, the 'stars' of the cake decorating world!

I guess you would ask the same questions any bride would ask, cost per slice, what's included, serving sizes, scratch or commercial mix (now that is one you must tell us!), pre-made or their own fondant, flavour combinations, etc, etc.

You also missed Kate Sullivan from Lovin Sullivan Cakes, isn't she in New York?

all great suggestions!

I just figured I could ask them all kinds of things - the serving size is a fabulous question!

So are the bridal questions!

Thanks guys!

Any more suggests? I meet with Sylvia Weinstock tomorrow at noon.

I am curious to see how they set up the meeting, if they draw a sketch right there, etc. How many flavors they have ready for me ....

I would like to know if they would actually be doing my cake, or if their staff would be. Are the ingredients all self-made, or do they buy pre-packaged? If so, what brands do they use? Do they freeze their cakes? How far in advance will the cake be baked? Decorated?

I'm sure with a lot of the questions they probably won't want to answer them...knowing that most bride's wouldn't ask such questions. They might 'smell a rat' so to speak and think you are just trying to find out all of their 'secrets'. Please ask anyway, though we all want to know! And, congratulations! Have you started planning yet? I loved the whole planning aspect of my wedding!! Please let us know who you choose to use as your cake baker...and what cake you choose!!
Good Luck!

I think after you taste the cakes and choose your flavors, such reputable outfits will be asking YOU all the questions! Just make sure you are comfortable with the cost....make sure they include your 1st anniversary portion.

Other than that, it'll be a piece of cake!

I would love to know just how how of the work is actually done by them.........

I know that Sylvia Weinstock does not make her own cakes anymore, but I'm pretty sure the others at least design if not make the details for the cake. The all have bakers who actually bake and frost cakes for them.

By the way rumor has it that Ron B uses cake mixes. Ask to see where their cakes are made as well as what ingredients they use. Explain that you too are a cake decorator so they know that you know your stuff.

Update -

Wanted to let you know how the stars operate, maybe we can pick up a trick or two...

Met with Slyvia Weinstock and Ron Ben Israel. Both were amazing. Both took an hour and a half to talk to my mother and I. They gave lots of cake and fillings to try and they were all very good. Both are priced OUTRAGEOSLY but are unbelievablely good.

The serving sizes, I was told, are "very generous". Sylvia says she only ever does scratch cakes and showed me aroung the whole bakery (SO COOL!!!) I forgot to ask Ron if he uses mix or does scratch (oops...) I think I was distracted by all the enormous, awesome cakes and forgot my questions!

PerryStCakes - who are you meeting next, an when?

Colette Peters next week - how am I ever going to choose?!?!?!

The best taste, and the person you personally like the most and feel is the most sincere.

Congratulations on the wedding. I can't wait to see the cake. It is sure to be gorgeous. If I was in one of their bakeries I would probably act like an idiot trying to figure out how they do everything!!

I know! They each have a staff of at least 25 people. So Lucky. They have bakers, flower makers, pipers, book keepers!

For me it's just me myself and I! SO JEALOUS!

Sylvia has a room with these ceiling to floor shelves with plasitc boxes (sweater storage sized) each filled with different kinds of gumpaste flowers. All labeled and neatly stored away....

Frankly, I'm just impressed you were able to get through the interviewing process without slobbering like an idiot over their phenomenal set ups! Keep the reviews coming, this is VERY interesting!

And also, congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Wow. I couldn't even have afforded the THOUGHT of considering any of them to do my wedding cake. That's incredible that you have those options.

As some of the others said and from my own wedding experience I would ask what is already made and the delivery cost and cost of the cake stand/accessories.

Congratulations and best of luck to you in your planning!!

Also, forgot to tell you guys this:

Sylvia only ices her cakes in IM Buttercream, only fills them with BC fillings (she had lots of flavors to try, yum). She said she doesnt do fondant b/c she doesnt like it and b/c it cant be refrigerated.

Ron uses fondant on everything, it seems. His cakes arent as good as Sylvia's, but his artistic abilities seem far superior to hers.

Tough call....

WOW!!!! I can't imagine meeting with the big wigs about wedding cakes...WOW!!!! I'm impressed...I can't believe I bump posts with someone who actually is seeing them in person to ask them the questions we seem to hate to answer...
I'd love to be an invisible mouse and be there to sample a few crumbs dropped to the floor and to listen to the chit chat..
Congratulations on your wedding...and I'm sure your cake will be LOVELY, no matter who you pick to make it..

congratulations on your wedding. Oh Your cake is going to be so lovely! Are you matching it to your dress?

This is interesting, after reading this post I asked my hubby if we ever got remarried could they make our cake .....instantly he said "NO !!! thats crazy money ...."by the way he said i was making it if we renewed.... i was so sad.....but IM gonna live through you so Ill be logging on waiting for that picture..... Im with you if there are two things to spend money on when you get married its the cake and the pictures........

I have books by most of those heavy hitters (Sylvia Weinstock and Colette Peters) and I just love Confetti Cakes work as well as the other people you will be meeting with. I got a sign copy of one Colette Peters Books for Christmas and she may or may not have actually signed it but I was so impressed, me having a signed copy. I love Cake Decorating books and I love Cookbooks and this book will definitely be used a lot. It seems like a hard decision but you will know just from your instinct on who to choose. I agree with tripletmom just relax and don't get anxious but then all Brides are anxious and just ask the questions that all brides should ask. And you know what those questions are since you have done some great cakes yourself. Then you and your Mom can sit down and pick the Decorator that can help you to express yourself and your special day. If I was renewing my Vows and I was going to get someone else to make my cake (even one of those Celeberities), I would definitely like to know if they would actually be doing my cake, or if their staff would make it. Now, I'm not sure if that would make a difference to me but I know that they would have final approval on the cake before it leave's their shop but I would deifinitely go for taste and then the look (I want that WOW look, because the Cake won't be cheap).

lotsoftots I love your statements "Frankly, I'm just impressed you were able to get through the interviewing process without slobbering like an idiot over their phenomenal set ups! But in reality, that's probably what I would do.

Congratulations on your upcoming Wedding and please, do post your pictures as well as who will be doing your cake.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, and for taking the time to share. I find it so exciting to have your cake done by one of the top NY cake designers. Please keep us posted with who you finally select and why and, of course, photos. LOL!

Congrats on the wedding... I am so jealous!
What is IM Buttercream? Sorry I am new to this whole forum thing.