How soon do I need to order my cake?

It is best to place your order as soon as possible. I need at least 2 weeks notice to produce a cake, sometimes more depending on the complexity of it. Also my diary fills up very quickly, so to avoid disappointment contact me as soon as you can. Each cake is baked to order, so I do not have them frozen ready to decorate. Even the most simple of cakes can take 2 days to create.

I have made my own cake, can you decorate it for me?

No. I only decorate cakes that I produce. I am registered with Northumberland County Council Environmental Health Office, who recognise that I make my cakes from scratch and require me to keep records of my ingredients, where they are from and who they are being supplied to. If I decorate a cake from elsewhere then it is not possible for me to keep these records, which would mean I would lose my registration and put my business at risk.

Can I have a plain cake so I can add my own fresh flowers on my cake?

No. I will not provide plain cakes to have fresh flowers added to them. A number of flowers are toxic and can cause allergic reactions, or worse, in people and therefore these flowers should never be put in contact with any item of food. Even where the flower selected is not generally considered toxic (and even here there may be people who are allergic in any event) they have often been treated with some sort of pesticide either during the growing stage or during or after cutting them. Pesticides are used to keep the flowers looking at there best and whilst this is great for your bouquet it obviously means that they are not suitable for use on a cake. Another issue is, of course, that it is practically impossible for anyone to guarantee that all of the insects which naturally live on the flowers during the growing stage will have left the flower and as such there is a risk of these insects coming into close contact with your cake.

As such, I do not recommend fresh flowers are used in any way that means they will be in contact with the cake.

If you would like flowers then the cake itself can be decorated with handcrafted sugar flowers to match your bridal flowers. The beauty of sugar flowers is that they can be kept as a keepsake forever.

Can you deliver my cake?

Yes. Delivery and set up can be arranged for larger celebration cakes and wedding cakes. This will be at a charge to cover my petrol and time, however if the order totals over £400 then this service is offered free of charge (within a 15 mile radius). I am happy for you to collect your cake, but recommend that if it is a large complex designed cake that this be delivered and set up at your venue.

Can I make changes to my order?

Yes. I require written notice of any changes you require to your order (with at least 2 weeks notice). The sooner you do this the better. Late amendments to orders are often possible and every effort will be made to accomodate you, but this can not be guaranteed.

If you email me your changes, please do not assume that I have received this email unless I reply to you and send you a new confirmation out in the post. If you do not receive an email from me, then please contact me by telephone to discuss the changes.

What happens if I need to cancel my order?

As previously stated on the prices page, all deposits are non-refundable, so cancelling a cake before final payment is made will result in loss of deposit.

As I buy my stock/ingredients for each order once the final balance has been paid, then it is not possible to refund any money once payment has been made. Should you need to cancel your order after final payment then the whole cost of the cake will be non-refundable to cover the loss of ingredients, admin time and to compensate Claire's Lovely Cakes for loss of earnings (ie an order that could have been completed for another customer on that date if I had not been commited to your order). The full amount will also be non-transferrable to another cake.

All cancellations of orders will be confirmed in writing by Claire's Lovely Cakes.

Can I request something that is not on your website?

Yes. I am open to suggestions of flavours, designs, shapes etc. If there is something your require, then just ask. Wherever possible I will try to accomodate your requests. I like a challenge, so if I can create the cake of your choice then I will produce it for you.

Do I need a consultation with you?

At present I only condust consultations for wedding cakes. This is due to time constraints and the cost involved in conducting these. A consultation for other celebration cakes is not really necessary and most cakes can be discussed on the telephone or via email.