FAQ and info - Cakes By Els

FAQ & Info

When to order your cake

I would advise 4 weeks as a minimum to place an order. The sooner you contact me about your cake, the more chance there is I can take your booking. December is an incredibly busy time so more notice is advised, especially if you have a challenging cake design.

Cake styles

I can make ANYTHING. If you give me a rough idea of the colour/theme/style and how many it needs to feed then I will create something completely bespoke and just for you. I do not copy other people’s designs. I am very happy to be sent pictures of cakes you like but the finished design will be bespoke to me. My best work is when I get to surprise you with the finished cake! And the more challenging, the better!

Cake prices

My cakes start from £60 for a 6 inch/ 3 layer size. 8 Inch 3 layer cakes start at £70 and 10 inch 4 layer cakes start at £80. More complex designs with fondant characters will cost a little more but you will be quoted accordingly. 3D cakes start from £100 due to the workmanship involved.

Cake Sizes

Round cakes start from 6 inches/ 3 layers and will feed approx 18 people based on coffee servings which are a 1″ x 1″ sized cut equivalent to a wedding portion. If you want larger slices then please order a larger sized cake to ensure there is enough to go round. When designing a challenging 3D shape, I will ensure it is large enough to feed your party. Cakes should always be cut in square portions to get the most out of the size. Cut a straight line down the middle of the cake then slice another line 1 inch to the left of the central cut. Remove the entire slice onto a plate or board and then you can divide the slice into neat portions.

Storing your cake

Once in your possession, your cake will keep fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days. Before serving, it is advised to allow the cake to sit at room temperature for at least an hour to allow the buttercream/ ganache to soften. Also if covered in fondant, it will allow the fondant to sweat off any condensation before being presented.

Delivering your cake

Smaller cakes can be collected from my address (Monday to Friday) if preferred or I can deliver locally (Chester) for a small fee depending on location. Larger cakes are difficult to transport so I would like to deliver these to you personally to ensure they make it one piece. Cakes needed for a weekend can be collected/ delivered on a Friday and will keep nice and fresh for the following day(s).

Payment

All orders need to be confirmed with full payment by bank transfer in order to fully confirm the date. Due to the complex design of a lot of my cakes, I can only take a certain number of orders each week so only full payment guarantees your place. If you need to cancel your order, you have until 10 days before the cake is due to cancel and you will receive 80% of your payment back. In the weeks approaching your order, I spend a lot of time researching your theme/ making a collage of design ideas/ building any metal structure in readiness for the cake. The 20% non refundable amount covers this preliminary work.

Vegan and Gluten free

Most of my cakes can be made vegan or gluten free and taste as delicious as the original ones. Although my cakes are not made with nuts, my kitchen is not nut free so please bear this in mind when serving cake to your guests. Please mention any dietary requirements on your order form.