Cake consultations: I began doing Wedding Consultations over 10 years ago and soon realised that the service was also needed by people wanting to make their own cakes. All I ask is that they buy some of the things they need from my shop where I sell or hire everything needed for the DIY cake.

People often arrive with a picture of the cake they want but it is important to personalise it. Once we start playing with the cake dummies, shape, style and presentation can all change! It is much easier to decide what is wanted if you can see it mocked up in front of you.

One obvious question is “How big does my cake need to be to feed the number of guests?” To which I always reply design your cake to look right and then see if it gives you enough slices and if not add extra with a slab for cutting. This also means you can even out the amount of each flavour of cake (a top tier could only provide 12 slices) Conversely, there is no need to only have a single tier cake for a small wedding as there are ways of having two or three tiers without lots of cake.

It is important to think practically about the delivery and setting up of a cake just before the wedding ceremony – especially if you are entrusting your creation to someone else.

I love being so involved with my brides and their families especially as I can often suggest things they may not have thought of or have not realised are possible. Sometimes I give hands on help, with icing for example, and I am always on the end of the telephone.

The most important thing I can do at a consultation is to ensure that what the bride is expecting is understood by the cakemaker and they are confident that it is within their capability to create. This hopefully will prevent any disappointment in what is arguably the most important thing after the dress.

Lou Hardie,

Bee’s Knees, Pembroke.