XP: When to order cake?

meg65

When did everyone order their wedding cake?
At this point, our actual wedding attendance could be anywhere from 50 to over a hundred- we have a LOT of out of town family who may or may not be able to make it.
This obviously has implications for how much cake we order. I don't want to order a cake for 50 if 100 people show up, or a cake for 100 and only 50 show up. However, we won't know who will be there until *hopefully* a month before the wedding.
I really just have no idea how to go about ordering a cake. Suggestions?

naomikb

I would place the order and give a deposit with your baker 3-6+ months in advance (the popular bakers fill up their schedules quickly!) to book your spot in their schedule - most places will only take a certain number of wedding cakes per weekend.  They will (should) let  you make changes to the exact size and design until up to a few weeks before, but check with the bakery about their policies and final deadlines.

You can estimate an approximate number (75?) for the deposit order.  Most bakers will recommend you order enough cake for 60-70% of your guests since not everyone will eat it if you aren't serving it as the only dessert.  So if you have 100 guests, get a cake that feeds 60-70.

brianangelo

@naomikb is exactly right, the dates are filling up fast for a lot of bakeries this summer.  The final count is probably expected a month before for a real wedding cake, but for a faux cake the design can be fixed well in advance without regard to the number of guests; the size and quantity of sheet cakes that go with the display cake can be decided as late as two weeks in advance.  Give the faux cake route some consideration; your circumstances may make it a much better choice!