Obviously I cannot tell you who to choose (although around here, we tend to be biased!), but I can definitely share some advantages of hiring an independent cake artist to do your special event cake.
First, by hiring an independent baker, you are avoiding the chance of miscommunication. At many bakeries and catering shops, you discuss your cake design with someone who has been hired to do the consultations...but they do NOT actually work with cake. If they do not actually work with the cake, they may not have the same vision you have for your cake, and they may not be able to help you understand all your options. With an independent baker, you are working with the same person start to finish. I am the only one my customers talk to....from the very first email or phone call, through the consult or tasting, and all the way to the finish and delivery of the cake (although at times my husband does the delivery!). There is never a chance of a miscommunication, or a detail being left out...because the same person you are sharing your vision with is the same person who will be carrying out the project.
Second, by hiring an independent caker, you may be able to save money on a bigger, more unique design. Now, my prices are generally comparable to local, high-end bakeries as far as regular tiered cakes. However, if you ask any major bakery or cake shop for a sculptured or strange/unique design, you are going to need to be ready to shell out, often, thousands of dollars, and that's if the shop has the ability to pull off the design in the first place. An independent caker with experience in sculptured work will be able to give you your crazy ideas, sculpted out of cake, at a fraction of the cost that the "big name" cake sculpturers, would charge. For instance, Charm City Cakes will not sculpt a cake of any size for under $1000, and their new "cakes for two" start at $250. Doing your research on the ability of your independent caker could save you hundreds of dollars on a cake the same quality as the "Big Bakeries" make.
Last for today....quality and attention. An independent baker may not be able to take as many orders per week as a regular bakery, and often, a good independent baker will be booked months ahead of time due to their limitations. However, if you are able to get on their calendar, this can be a good thing! This means that the entire focus of the baker/cake artist will be on YOUR project. Your cake will not be "just another order" in an assembly line of cake. The week of your event, your cake may be one of only two or three projects that are carefully baked fresh to order, filled with fresh, homemade fillings, and iced with creamy buttercream made with fresh butter. Then, it will be decorated carefully according to each detail that was discussed in the original phone/email/personal consultation. There will be no rushing to meet a deadline or to finish the next cake, because the independent cake artist has carefully worked their schedule to make sure there is time to complete each cake in a professional manner, with attention to detail.
In a nutshell, hiring an independent cake artist is basically a "boutique" experience, with full attention being placed on you, and on your cake....not only the appearance, but also flavor and texture.
Be sure to plan your event early enough to get on the schedule of an independent caker. Once you get your spot...enjoy your experience! There are many, many choices in today's high-competition market, especially with specialty cakes being such a hot item these days with the rise of tv shows such as "Cake Boss" and "Ace of Cakes"....but you can't go wrong hiring a licensed, insured, and highly experienced and competent independent cake artist.
Be sure to check out the Cakes by Suzy website, and email me with any questions you may have. And its never too early to book an event date....even for 2012.....time flies!
Great post :)
ReplyDeleteDanielle x