Questions to ask your wedding cake maker

Is the business registered and rated?

In Northern Ireland, every food business, including those run from home, must register with its local council at least 28 days before it starts trading (nibusinessinfo). Registered businesses are inspected and given a food hygiene rating from 0 to 5.

You can look up any cake maker's rating for free at ratings.food.gov.uk. In Northern Ireland, businesses must by law display their hygiene rating sticker at their premises. The Busy Whisk holds a 5 star food hygiene rating, the highest there is.

Questions about your date and design

• Are you available on our wedding date?
• Can we see photos of cakes you have made, especially at our venue or in the style we like? (See our venue galleries and cakes.)
• Will you sketch or describe the design before we book?
• Can every tier be a different flavour?
• Do you make buttercream, fondant or both? Which do you recommend for our venue? (Our buttercream vs fondant guide helps.)
• Can you add fresh flowers from our florist, or make sugar flowers?

Questions about tasting

• Can we taste your cakes before we book?
• Is there a charge for tasting, and can it be posted?

Our sample box lets you choose 6 of this week's flavours and can be collected in Lisburn or posted across the UK and Ireland.

Questions about price and booking

• What exactly does the quote include?
• How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due?
• What happens if our guest numbers change, or if we need to cancel or move our date?
• Is there a charge for delivery, set-up or cake stand hire?

For typical price ranges, read our guide to wedding cake prices in Northern Ireland.

Questions about the day

• Do you deliver and set up the cake yourselves?
• What time will you arrive, and will you liaise with our venue?
• Does the cake need to be kept cool, and how long can it be on display?
• Are there any supports or decorations that need to be removed before serving?

Questions about allergies and dietary needs

• Which allergens are in each flavour?
• What other allergens does your kitchen handle?
• Can you make a tier for guests with particular dietary needs?

Our kitchen handles gluten, eggs, milk, soya and nuts, and some flavours contain alcohol, so we can't guarantee any cake is allergen free. Please tell us about allergies before you order and we will give you full allergen information.

Ready to talk cake?

We're always happy to answer these questions and any others you have. Check your date with us, or read how booking works.

Frequently asked questions