How far in advance should I order a cake?

Birthday and occasion cakes need 2-4 weeks. Wedding cakes need 6-12 weeks, ideally with the design locked in by 8 weeks ahead so we can plan ingredients and decoration.

Do you cater for allergies and dietary requirements?

Yes. We can make gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free versions of most cakes. Severe allergies require an honest conversation about what's realistic in a shared-kitchen environment.

Yes - we deliver across Sandbach, Crewe, Holmes Chapel, Alsager, Middlewich, Congleton, and Nantwich. Wedding cakes further afield in Cheshire and into Greater Manchester are doable with delivery charged separately.

How much should I expect to pay?

Birthday cakes typically £35-£160 depending on size and design. Wedding cakes typically £280 for a two-tier classic up to £1,200+ for a four- or five-tier feature piece. We quote on the specifics after consultation.

How ordering works

Freshly baked artisan bread loaves displayed on a wooden surface

Every cake we make is a one-off. The process below is what we use for everything from a small family birthday cake to a four-tier wedding feature. The level of formality scales with the size of the order — a birthday cake is two emails and a payment; a wedding cake is a consultation, sketch, sample, and a written contract.

Step-by-step

Get in touch. Email [email protected] with: the date you need it, what kind of cake (occasion + rough design idea), how many people you're feeding, and any flavour or dietary preferences.
We reply with options. Usually within a working day. For straightforward birthdays this is a quote plus a couple of design suggestions. For weddings we suggest a free consultation in person or by video call.
Consultation (weddings and large pieces). Roughly an hour. We talk through design, flavours, sizes, dietary requirements, delivery logistics. We can offer a flavour sample at this stage — small portions of three or four flavours so you can decide before committing.
Design sign-off and deposit. We send a written sketch or design summary, plus a final quote. Once you sign off, a 50% deposit secures the date.
We bake. Sponge is always baked 1–2 days before the event. Decoration happens the day before. Nothing is frozen, nothing is bought-in.
Delivery (or collection). Local delivery within 10 miles of Sandbach is free for birthday cakes; wedding cake delivery is quoted per location. Collection from the bakery is by appointment.
Final balance. The remaining 50% is invoiced and payable 7 days before the event.

Timing — how far ahead to book

Birthdays & small occasion cakes

2–4 weeks is comfortable. We can sometimes do 7-day turnaround if our schedule allows; same-week is very rare and usually with a small rush surcharge.

Christenings, baby showers, anniversaries

4 weeks ideal. These are usually smaller pieces but with bespoke decoration that takes design time.

Wedding cakes

6–12 weeks ahead is ideal. We limit ourselves to one wedding per weekend, so popular dates (May–September Saturdays) fill up six months out. For peak-season weddings, get in touch as soon as you have a date confirmed.

Decorated cake ready for a special occasion

Pricing — how we quote

We quote on specifics. The range guides on the Our cakes page give a sense, but the final price depends on:

Servings. Bigger cakes cost more — both because of ingredient quantity and because larger cakes need longer baking, more decoration time, and stronger structural work.
Design complexity. A smooth-iced cake with a ribbon is faster to make than a hand-piped Royal-Icing piece or a fondant-modelled novelty cake.
Flavour combinations. Multi-flavour tiers (different flavours in different tiers, which we'd recommend for any wedding cake serving 80+) take more prep but add value for guests.
Decoration techniques. Sugar flowers are made fresh and take hours. Hand-painting is also time-intensive. Edible printed images are cheaper.
Delivery. Local is included in the price for birthday cakes; weddings are quoted separately.

Allergens, dietary requirements, and the honest bit

We can make gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free versions of most cakes. Tell us at the enquiry stage. We'll let you know which flavours adapt well and which don't (some recipes really don't work without dairy or eggs; we won't try to fake it).

About severe allergies: we share a single kitchen. We clean thoroughly between bakes, use separate equipment for nut-free orders, and keep careful records of allergens in each recipe, but a 100% trace-free environment isn't possible. For severe allergies (anaphylaxis-level), we'd rather have an honest conversation up front about what's realistic than have you find out from a label disclaimer.

Cancellations and changes

Birthday cakes can be cancelled up to 7 days before, with a full refund of the deposit. Wedding cake cancellations follow the contract signed at design sign-off — typically 50% of the deposit is non-refundable inside 12 weeks of the event, 100% non-refundable inside 4 weeks.

Design changes are flexible up to 4 weeks before the event for weddings and 14 days for birthdays. After that, small details can still be adjusted but the overall shape and flavour are locked in.

Questions we hear a lot

Can I taste before I commit? Yes, for wedding orders, we offer a flavour sample at the consultation stage (free of charge for booked consultations).

Do you do venue setup? Yes for wedding cakes. We deliver and set up the cake on its stand at the venue. The stand can be hired from us or supplied separately.

Can you replicate a Pinterest cake? Usually yes, with the caveat that we'll often suggest adjustments where the original isn't structurally realistic at the size you need. Photos are great starting points; rigid replication isn't always wise.

How long does cake last? Buttercream cakes are best within 3 days. Fondant cakes can keep 5–7 days in a cool dry place. Fruit cakes keep for months. We'd recommend serving close to the event date rather than buying ahead.