Ah, wedding season — that magical time of year when love is in the air, stress levels are through the roof, and the phrase “Can you make the buttercream flowers match my bouquet?” is uttered more times than you can count. If you run a bakery, wedding season isn’t just a busy time — it’s a full-contact sport. The orders pile up, the requests get weirder (“Can you make a cake shaped like our dog?”), and you start questioning all your life choices somewhere around cake number twelve.
But hey, wedding season isn’t just chaos — it’s a golden ticket to boost your revenue and get your bakery’s name out there. If you play your cards right, you can make it through with your sanity intact and a nice bump in your bottom line. So, grab a coffee (or something stronger), and let’s talk about how to make wedding season work for you without ending up face-down in a pile of powdered sugar.
1. Say "Yes" — But Not to Everything
Look, it’s tempting to say yes to every order — especially when the couple starts throwing around words like “no budget” and “my friend with a million followers will totally post about it.” But let’s be real — not all orders are created equal.
If someone asks for a five-tier cake with edible gold leaf, hand-painted flowers, and a life-sized sugar sculpture of their pet hedgehog — and they want it by Saturday — it’s okay to smile, nod, and politely run in the opposite direction. Focus on the cakes you know you can crush without losing sleep (or your mind). Your signature style is part of your brand, and the couples who vibe with it will be the easiest — and most fun — to work with.
2. Make Cake Tastings an Experience
Let’s be honest — cake tastings are the real reason people get married. Give couples a reason to fall in love with your bakery by making the tasting experience special.
Set up a cute little table with your best flavors — maybe a classic vanilla with raspberry filling, a rich chocolate with salted caramel, and something trendy like lemon and elderflower (thanks, Meghan Markle). Pop some sparkling water or champagne, light a candle or two, and let them feel like VIPs.
Also — pro tip — charge a small fee for the tasting that can go toward the final order. It weeds out the “free sample” hunters while giving the couple a sense that they’re investing in something special. Plus, you won’t feel resentful when they ask for “just one more bite” for the seventh time.
3. Limit the Options — Because Nobody Needs 47 Flavors of Buttercream
Choice overload is a real thing. If you offer too many options, couples will spiral into analysis paralysis (“What if vanilla bean with lemon curd is too basic??”). Stick to a curated wedding menu with a handful of tried-and-true flavor combos. Not only does it simplify the decision-making process for your clients, but it also makes your life easier when you’re cranking out cakes at 2 a.m.
4. Social Media Is Your Best Friend (Or at Least Your Frenemy)
If the cake isn’t on Instagram, did it even happen? When you finish a wedding cake that looks like a work of art, don’t let it disappear into the reception void. Snap some high-quality pics (natural light is your friend), tag the couple, and throw in some hashtags like #WeddingCakeGoals and #ButtercreamDreams.
Better yet, get in tight with a local wedding photographer. If they can capture a professional shot of your cake next to a candlelit centerpiece, surrounded by teary-eyed guests, you’ve struck gold. Post it, share it, and watch those inquiries roll in.
Oh, and don’t forget the behind-the-scenes shots! People love to see the messy reality behind the magic.
5. Make Mini Desserts Your Secret Weapon
Not everyone wants cake after three glasses of champagne and an hour on the dance floor — but a cute little macaron or mini cupcake? Yes, please.
Offering a “dessert table package” with small treats like cake pops, cookies, and truffles is an easy way to upsell. Plus, it’s less stressful than stacking a four-tier cake in July heat. Not to mention, if guests take home a box of goodies with your bakery’s name on it, that’s basically free advertising.
Also, mini desserts = higher margins = more money, and that’s the kind of math we love.
6. Befriend Wedding Planners and Venue Coordinators
If you want steady wedding business, get on the good side of wedding planners and venue coordinators. They hold the keys to the kingdom — and if they like you, you’ll get recommended over and over again. Drop off a box of samples at local venues or planners’ offices — a little “Hey, thought you might like some cake!” goes a long way. And when you do work with them, be the reliable, low-maintenance vendor they love to recommend. Deliver on time, communicate clearly, and maybe slip them an extra cupcake or two.
7. Prepare for Wedding Day Drama (Because Something Will Go Wrong)
Let’s set the scene: The cake is stacked, the buttercream is smooth, and you’re feeling confident — until the best man drops a champagne bottle on the cake table and sends your masterpiece wobbling toward disaster. This is why you need a deliver day emergency kit. Extra frosting, piping bags, spatulas — heck, even a small backup cake if you’re feeling ambitious. Also, keep a bottle of champagne in there — for you, not the couple — because you’ll probably need it when the dust settles.
8. Survive the Chaos — Then Celebrate Yourself
When wedding season finally ends, and you’ve survived a dozen meltdowns (some yours, some the bride’s), take a moment to reflect. You crushed it. You delivered beautiful cakes, made people’s dream days even sweeter, and probably saved a few weddings from disaster.
Now it’s time to treat yourself. Spa day? Yes. Weekend getaway? Absolutely. Whole cake to yourself while binge-watching Netflix? That’s just good business strategy.
Final Thoughts
Wedding season is a whirlwind, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to grow your business and establish your bakery as the go-to spot for wedding cakes. With a little strategy (and a lot of buttercream), you’ll not only survive wedding season — you’ll thrive.
So, take a deep breath, tie on that apron, and remember: when in doubt, just add more buttercream and the textured look can look just as amazing as flawless finishes! 🍰😎
Cydni Mitchell Hodges
Business Blogger, Retail Bakers of America
Cyd Mitchell Hodges (aka Cyd) is a Bakery Consultant and the Sweet Business Coach behind Sweet Fest®. Based in Atlanta, GA, Sweet Fest® is an online company that supports the business needs of the Sweet Community in the areas of professional development, marketing, branding and web design.
By trade, Cyd is an accountant & financial analyst with a Masters from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the Founder of the Sugar Coin Academy, an online business academy for business owners in the baking and sweets industry, and she is also the organizer of The Ultimate Sugar Show, Georgia’s Largest Annual Baking and Sweets Expo in Atlanta. She is also the Business Blogger for the Retail Bakers of America.