Cake Tasting Etiquette?

joiedevivre26

Hello,

I'm meeting with our baker next weekend to taste test some different cakes.  She asked if anyone else would be accompanying my fiance & me, for planning purposes, and also which flavors we'd want to try. 

Would it be over the top to bring both of my parents?  Fiance seems to think it's too many cooks in the kitchen and that they're meddling a little bit.  On the other hand, they are giving us this wedding and I think inviting them is the right thing to do.

Since our baker didn't specify, I'm guessing it's ok?  Also, how many flavors do you usually taste with these appointments?

I Want Cake

FI and I just went for two tastings on Wednesday and have two more tomorrow.  I'd probably ask your parents to not come unless you're planning to design your cake at that time.  You're most likely not going to choose flavors that day, and the baker most likely won't have samples ready of all their flavors anyway, though I guess that depends on how large and busy they are.  You'll go over design elements and get an idea of how much it'll cost, and that's about it.  At least for ours, it didn't seem like there was much that happened that couldn't be relayed to the parents over the phone in a very short conversation.

joiedevivre26

Thanks!  I should add, too, that she gave us a "menu" and asked which flavors we'd like to try, so we'll be sampling quite a few at this appt.  Also, we're planning from OOT so we'd like to get as much done as possible, maybe narrow down flavors/designs.  I just don't want to make our baker feel like we're taking advantage of the free samples by bringing my parents, but I don't want them to feel left out either...

I Want Cake

Oh, well since you may not see the baker again until the wedding, maybe it would be a good idea to bring your parents.  Also, you're pretty lucky to be trying a bunch of flavors.  Our first appointment only had 2 flavors for us, which were good, but not what we would've chosen, and our second appointment was at a place where nearly none of her cakes or fillings are homemade, so she had several flavors for us, all of which were lackluster because they came from a jar/can/drum (we didn't know this going in or we wouldn't have bothered).  I suppose I'm kind of a snob about cake quality, but that was ridiculous.

The baker won't feel like she was taken advantage of if you're planning to book her right then, and especially if you're handing over a deposit.  It's all a cost of doing business, and she could charge for extra samples if she wanted to.

Amivy06

I would not bring your parents unless they are helping to pay for the cake and they really want to go. Four is a lot of people to have at a tasting and can make it really complicated. When we did ours, only FI and I went and I am really glad it was just the two of us.

JenO24

when i met w/ our baker back in march FI planned to go w/ me, but at the last minute couldn't so i went by myself.  the baker had samples for me to try and to take home to FI.  she and i created the cake at that same time too.  i think it depends on the type of baker you're going to if they'll have everything ready for you at your appt or if it will span over a few appts/phone calls/emails.

the only tasting my mom and her bf came to was at the hotel to taste the food.

baboox

When we did it, I did it as a bridesmaids outing.  The baker said that was fine.  There were 5 of us.  We all voted on paper which one tasted the best, and we all unanimously agreed, and then we designed the cake right there from their samples and photos I had brought.  It was a really fun girls day and bonding experience.! 

joiedevivre26

Thanks for the tips!  Think we're going to invite the parents, mostly because they are offering to pay for our cake and we're going to go with this baker ultimately so she shouldn't mind.

donnaoneill

When we went to taste cakes at 3 different places, each gave us way more cake than we could eat. It's super rich and filling. We brought leftover cake home each time and my parents tried it then. We literally got a whole cake at one place and it took us a week to eat it all. Maybe have your parents involved in picking out the flavors and then bring some extra home to them?