Planning the Perfect Wedding Cake: A Personal Guide by Julie Deffense
Caila Quinn and Nick Burrello’s wedding cake at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota Florida. Photo by Stephanie Sunderland; planning by NK Productions; wedding cake by Julie Deffense.
When it comes to planning a wedding, one of my favorite parts—naturally—is the wedding cake. It’s more than dessert. It’s a showpiece. A symbol of your style. And often, the sweet exclamation point at the end of your celebration.
I’ve designed wedding cakes for elegant palaces in Portugal and sunlit estates in Florida, each one tailored to reflect the couple’s unique love story. If you’re beginning to plan your big day, here’s everything you need to know to make your cake planning experience seamless, meaningful, and stress-free.
Start Early: When to Book Your Cake Designer
The best time to start planning your cake is 10 to 12 months before your wedding. This allows time to talk design, schedule tastings, and secure your date on my calendar.
Before we start sketching, think about:
Your wedding venue
The season and time of day
Your overall wedding style
Whether you're celebrating at a historical venue like Valverde Palácio de Seteais in Portugal or The Ringling Museum in Florida, an iconic 5* resort like St Regis Longboat Key or The Ritz Carlton Penha Longa, a private villa, a family estate, or a beachfront garden, these details help shape the cake’s design and structure.
Find Inspiration: Design with Purpose
Begin collecting inspiration—colors, textures, patterns, or anything that speaks to you. Couples often send me:
Lace from the bride’s gown
Details from wedding invitations
Florals from the bouquet
Architectural elements from the venue
Visit the wedding cake gallery to explore past designs and spark ideas.
A few favorites:
Mehrnaz & Ali’s breathtaking cake at the Ringling Museum, twirling slowly centre-stage with a see-through arched tier, lit up chandelier and oversized swirl of colourful sugar flowers and handprinted tile accents
Janelle & Carlos’ seaside anniversary celebration, featuring an organic arrangement of handmade sugar roses and leafy vines that mimicked the movement of the soft draping of their custom tent
Carolina & Demetri’s vintage masterpiece, inspired by timeless elegance and their old-school lambeth details
Set a Realistic Budget
On average, wedding cakes fall between 6–12% of your total wedding budget. A hand-crafted custom cake with delicate sugar florals and piped details will naturally be priced higher than a a JD Collection cake where you get to choose the design elements and build your quote according to your budget.
We’ll talk openly about your budget and find something beautiful that aligns with your vision and investment.
Choose the Right Cake Designer for You
More than anything, choose a designer you connect with. You’ll want someone who listens, understands your style, and guides you through the process with care.
When you work with me, here are some of the things I offer:
A flavor tasting for you and up to six guests
A custom design consultation
Full support for dietary restrictions or special requests
Coordination with your planner, florist, and caterer
Not all cakes are created equal—make sure it tastes as good as it looks.
👉 Click here to schedule a tasting or request more information.
Design the Cake of Your Dreams
Once we’ve explored your inspiration and vision, I’ll sketch a cake that reflects your story and complements your celebration. Every cake I create is one-of-a-kind.
Julie Deffense hand beads her custom designed royal icing lace pattern on Lauren and Dustin’s exquisite wedding cake at the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota, Florida
Want sugar florals that echo your bouquet? Gold leaf that matches your tablescape? A cake that mimics the embroidery on your gown? We’ll bring your dreams to life—beautifully and tastefully.
Pick Your Flavors
At your cake tasting consultation, you’ll sample two flavors from my curated cake menu. Favorites include:
Raspberry champagne sponge cake, with berry jam and white chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream
Almond sponge cake with caramel espresso white chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream
Chocolate cake with raspberry jam and chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream
I’ll guide you based on season, location, and your wedding menu. If there are allergies or dietary preferences, I’m happy to accommodate.
In one recent wedding, we created a separate nut-free cake for a guest with severe allergies, outsourced from a certified bakery to ensure total peace of mind.
Clarify the Details
We’ll discuss:
Delivery and setup
Additional items (macarons, cookies, edible favors)
Kitchen cakes (for slicing behind the scenes)
Storage requirements
Every detail will be documented in your contract, with clear pricing and terms. A non-refundable retainer fee secures your date, and the balance is due 30 days before delivery.
One Month Before: Final Check-In
We’ll reconnect one month before your wedding to review all logistics. I’ll need:
A day-of contact at your venue
Coordination with your planner or florist for on-site florals
Any refrigeration/storage needs for kitchen cakes or delicate fillings
The Final Slice
Your wedding cake is one of the last moments of your celebration—it should leave a lasting impression. With careful planning, thoughtful design, and flavors your guests will rave about, your cake becomes a memory you’ll never forget.
Let’s create a cake that’s not only beautiful but meaningful.
Rachel and Arnav’s showpiece wedding cake on display at the Ringling Museum, designed by Julie Deffense (photo by Cornelia Zaiss)
👉 Explore my cake gallery
👉 Book your tasting today
With love and sugar,
Julie