6 Red Flags to Look for When Hiring a Baker 

Don’t you wish hiring a vendor for your wedding cake was as easy as going into a bakery and picking out the most delicious-looking dessert? Hiring a wedding baker for the big day requires much more research and time. But the extra effort is worth it, because unfortunately not all businesses live up to your high standards. Before signing a contract with any cake decorator, be sure to look out for these six red flags.

Most bakers have an entire portfolio of their past creations, which they’re happy to share with clients to show what they can do. If your baker won’t offer up any photos, that should raise some concerns — has this baker not made any cakes worth photographing?

Photos are just half of it — after all, think about how easy it would be for a baker to take any photo from the web and claim it as his or her own work. You should see some evidence of a finished cake. Maybe it’s not an elaborate wedding cake, but a small cake or even cupcakes in the baker’s shop can give you peace of mind that the baker has the right skill set.

Most clients won’t write bad reviews online just out of spite, especially in the wedding industry. More often than not, bad reviews come from couples who want to help others avoid making a bad decision. Of course, read the reviews with a smart eye for silly complaints. But, criticism about the baker being late, not holding up his or her end of the contract, or producing a less-than-stellar product are definitely red flags.

No online reviews could mean two things. First, it could show that the baker hasn’t had many (or any) previous clients. For an celebration event like a wedding, you probably don’t want to hire someone so inexperienced. Secondly, it could mean that the vendor’s contract includes a clause prohibiting negative reviews, which is not the kind of agreement you want to get into.

Obviously, you need a contract for every wedding vendor you hire. Even if you know the baker personally or they have a good reputation in your city, someone’s word just isn’t good enough. If they won’t sign a written agreement, something’s up — and you probably won’t be happy on your wedding day.

Good cake decorators just know great design and flavors, and they are typically eager to offer ideas on colors, embellishments, frosting options, and so on. If they don’t share their expert opinion on some of your ideas, they might not really know what they’re talking about.