HAVE YOUR CAKE & EAT IT TOO! 101 CATERING 101 107 THE SUITE LIFE

Before you book your cake, you’ll want to do your research and make sure you have an idea of what you have your heart set on. Do you want a large three-tier cake or multiple cakes? Do you love the look of fondant or is butter cream frosting your must have? Of course, if you’re completely unsure of what you’d like in a wedding cake, a great baker will certainly guide you through your options. It also helps to come prepared with inspirational images to visually explain exactly what you have in mind. Cakes are an art form and not all bakers have the same skills, or level of experience. But, we are confident that if you choose a Bliss Wedding Pro, you’ll be in great hands!

Lily’s Cakes | Kayla Sellers Photography

YOU NEED TO FINALIZE YOUR GUEST LIST FIRST

When deciding what size cake to order, first look to your guest count. Generally, three tiers will serve 60-75 guests; you’ll likely need five layers for 200 guests or more. If the reception is in a grand room with high ceilings, consider increasing the cake’s stature with columns between the tiers. You can even add florals in between for a more dramatic look!

BE UPFRONT ABOUT YOUR BUDGET

There’s no use in being shy about the amount you’d like to spend on a wedding cake, so plan to discuss pricing either in the initial email or during an in-person meeting. If there’s a particular cake vendor you’d love to work with but think they may be out of your budget, don’t count them out just yet. In fact, there are plenty of ways to save money on a wedding cake and some vendors are happy to incorporate creative cost-saving techniques. Again, this is where it’s helpful to first determine your style so wedding cake vendors can give you an accurate quote rather than ballpark pricing.

RESEARCH THEIR WORK AND THEIR REVIEWS

In the age of social media, many wedding cake vendors have an Instagram or Facebook page to easily access photos of their past and current work. In addition, they may have a more extensive portfolio on their website or even a hard copy for you to flip through in their studio. As you review samples of their previous work, ask key questions about their experience, their licensing as a professional baker, and wedding day logistics of delivery and set-up. Be sure to search online for reviews and ask your other vendors if they would refer them. As much as reviews can be helpful, don’t take one bad review as your final decision maker. The term “bridezilla” is a real thing and some reviews may simply be that. If you see many reviews that are positive, that should be your final decision maker.

SCHEDULE A TASTING

You’ve asked all the right questions, and now it’s time to kick back and let your taste buds do the work! Most wedding cake vendors will provide you with a range of flavor options to sample so you can truly experience their work for yourself. Keep in mind that this in-person meeting is about more than just tasting, but also provides you with an opportunity to see if your personalities mesh well together. Pay attention to their communication style and ability to hear out your ideas, ensuring the collaboration process is a smooth one.

QUESTIONS TO ASK:

Do you customize wedding cakes or do you offer set styles to choose from? What are the filling choices? How far in advance do I have to book my cake with you? How long have you been making wedding cakes? Do you offer gluten free or vegan Options? Do you offer cake tastings and is there a charge? What is the delivery process? How are wedding cakes priced? Is there an extra charge for certain designs, flavors or types of icing? What is your payment structure and when is the deposit due? What’s your cancellation and/ or rescheduling policy?

Cuppiecakes | Kayla Sellers Photography

6320 N 19th St, Waco, TX 76708 (254) 644-9492 | allsugardup@gmail.com

At All Sugar’d Up they design each cake to match you, your special event or your individual personality. Whatever the inspiration All Sugar’d Up works hand-inhand to ensure it is the perfect sweet concoction for your celebration. Whether you are hosting a small wedding or a large celebration, please call or message them, as they’d love to talk with you more about making your special day a little sweeter!

Madi Wagner Photography

313 S. Main Street, McGregor, TX, 76657 (254) 840-7030 | cuppiecakesofwaco@gmail.com

Cuppiecakes started with 2 best friends wanting to provide consistently yummy cakes and cupcakes to the people they love. Ten years later, nothing has changed. Their goal is to provide the customers with the best of the best in sweet treats and the feeling that they have been served by family. Cuppiecakes takes great pride in closely working with individuals to create memorable cakes that guests will associate with a fantastic party! They can make your dreams come true and work with your budget. Go give them a try, and you’ll see why they are consistently at the top of so many recommendation lists.

(254) 332-0090 | mary@doughremitx.com

Dough Re Mi is a Temple-based business that makes cookie dough without any harmful ingredients, such as raw eggs and raw flour, making it safe-to-eat unbaked. With five different flavors to choose from, their dough has quickly become a local favorite. Dough Re Mi offers two different catering options: Mini (2oz) Cups, perfect for dessert tables or passed desserts; and a Build-Your-OwnDough Bar, which includes a large (64oz+) tub of plain dough and various toppings for guests to serve and mix themselves. Whichever you choose, your guests are guaranteed to love this delicious and unique treat!

Neva Michelle Photography

360 W. Central Texas Expressway, Suite #204, Harker Heights, TX, 76548 (254) 319-3555 | lilyscakestemple@gmail.com

Food Networks, Cake Wars, and Holiday Wars winner, Lilian Halabi with Lily’s Cakes, has been serving Central Texas since 2012 and has delivered over 1,000 wedding and groom’s cakes to happy couples! From simple designs to the most intricate and time-consuming showstoppers, if you can dream it, Lily can create it! Schedule your tasting and consultation today!

200 S. Commerce Drive, Waco, TX, 76708 (254) 732-5333 | simplydcakes@aol.com

Simply Delicious Bakery is a locally owned and operated specialty bakery located in Waco, Texas! They specialize in making your cake & dessert dreams come to life! Simply Delicious has over 13 years of experience serving Waco & surrounding areas. They would love to be a part of your special day with cakes that taste as delicious as they look!

Neva Michelle Photography

Jack & June Photography

2034 N. Valley Mills Drive, Waco, TX, 76710 (254) 756-0590 | laura@sweetnessdesserts.com

“We taste with our eyes, then with our mouths, so let every dessert be a work of art followed by a sense of Sweetness!” As a Certified Master Cake Decorator, Laura Summersett has been delighting brides since 2008, when she began creating wedding cakes from her church kitchen. In 2013 she opened her first storefront to better serve both brides and the community. “The wedding cake and groom’s cake were show stoppers! Absolutely stunning and exactly what my daughter visualized. And the taste... hands down the best wedding cake I have ever tasted. Perfectly moist, so delicious. Highly recommend!” - N. Hunt

SUGARS BY LEAH

(254) 744-8267 | sugarsbyleah@gmail.com

Sugars by Leah is a home bakery in Waco, Texas that specializes in weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, and cookies for any occasion! Leah takes pride in the details and love she puts into each and every order. Leah looks forward to making your cookie dreams come true!

(254) 947-8840 | info@sugarshacksalado.com

The Sugar Shack is “the” local candy store in historic Salado, TX. “ We believe life is sweet, and we want to make yours a little sweeter.” The Sugar Shack has a large selection of bulk candies and chocolates perfect for candy buffets, wedding favors, or bridesmaids’ gifts. The Sugar Shack can create a Custom Candy Buffet that will delight you and your guests! Their Candy Buffet displays are not only beautiful but also affordable and will make more sense than DIY. Let the professionals do the work for you so you can be free to enjoy your special event!

TCP Catering

Road Sips | Neva Michelle Photography

Let Us Do The Cooking

You don’t want to procrastinate finding a wedding caterer, but you shouldn’t attempt to book one until you’ve come up with a rough guest count, booked a venue, set a date, and have decided on a general budget for food. Once you’ve checked those boxes, use this section, blissbridalmagazine.com, Google, and social media, to start your research!

A full-service wedding caterer does more than just serve tasty food. They don’t just cook; they also handle your plates, silverware, drinkware, provide the waitstaff (and often bartenders), serve the food on time, clean up the dining area and kitchen, pack up leftovers, and take away the garbage. When you’re calculating the price of traditional catering versus less traditional options, make sure you remember that a wedding caterer’s bill includes many things that you’ll have to pay for on your own if you go the DIY route.

A full-service wedding caterer does more than just serve tasty food. They don’t just cook; they also handle your plates, silverware, drinkware, provide the waitstaff (and often bartenders), serve the food on time, clean up the dining area and kitchen, pack up leftovers, and take away the garbage. When you’re calculating the price of traditional catering versus less traditional options, make sure you remember that a wedding caterer’s bill includes many things you’ll have to pay for on your own if you go the DIY route.

SEATED MEAL

This is thought of as the most traditional wedding option, and it can also be the most expensive. While suited waiters bring a certain charm to your event, they also come with additional costs.

FAMILY-STYLE MEAL

The family-style meal involves large platters of food served to each table and passed around, just like you would do at a holiday dinner. This is often cheaper than a meal served by waiters, but it can be more expensive than a buffet. You’ll still need a decent number of servers to make this happen, and you’ll need more food.

BUFFET MEAL

This can be the most affordable service option for serving a full meal. You still need a buffet to be staffed—someone needs to tidy it up and refresh the food as it runs out—but your staff-to-guests ratio is much lower. With that said, your food costs could be higher (because nobody likes an empty-looking buffet), so talk to your wedding caterer to figure out what service option will ultimately be the most cost-effective. If your wedding is large, make sure you have a good plan for crowd control. You’ll generally need one buffet line minimum per one hundred people.

BRUNCH OR LUNCH

Although morning weddings can be cost-effective in various ways, the lunch or brunch meal doesn’t always save you the fortune that is sometimes promised. Lunch lets you skip the fancy dinner with fewer people noticing, and it will definitely lower your alcohol bill. But the food alone won’t tend to save you enough to justify moving your wedding to earlier in the day.

HEAVY APPETIZERS/COCKTAIL HOUR

Here, you skip the expensive main courses, skip the pricey servers, and go hog wild on what are essentially snacks. Just make sure you have enough food to really fill people up (particularly if you’re also going to booze them up) and let the mixing and mingling begin!

(361) 564-9504 | booking@5dtravelintavern.com

There is something special and unique about a bar on wheels, right? Especially one that travels to you! Whether you are getting married in the city and need a classy way to booze up your guests or hosting a casual backyard BBQ, 5D Travelin’ Tavern is at your service. With the rental of their full-service mobile cocktail bar, you are also accompanied by a fully licensed staff to take care of the heavy lifting so you can relax and enjoy the day. They will do what they do best, and that is popping bottles and mixing cocktails while doing it in style!

The stress of planning your event will be taken away, and all the supplies you need will be provided, plus professional bar staff. 5D Travelin’ Tavern will make sure your event is one that you and your guests won’t forget. Contact them today to help get your party started!

Kayla Sellers Photography

info@corkandclink.com

Cork + Clink is a stunning, one of a kind mobile beverage truck. With wine, beer, prosecco, and more on tap, the pouring possibilities are endless. They look forward to delivering you a one of a kind experience that brings your vision to life! Available for any occasion!

111 S. Main Street, Nolanville, TX, 76559 (254) 554-2665 | admin@letusdothecooking.com

At Let Us Do The Cooking, it is their goal to provide Central Texas with great home-cooked food at affordable prices with unparalleled customer service.

This has been their mission since its beginning. Started by Meredith Viguers in a converted garage in her home, Let Us Do The Cooking has truly been a labor of love. This love for the food and people they serve has allowed them to continue to grow each year they’ve been in business.

Bear Moose & Fox

Neva Michelle Photography

roadsips@gmail.com

Road Sips is a full-service mobile bar rental servicing the Greater Central Texas area. Their trailer is perfect for any party or event and features a 2-tap draft beer system, plus everything you’d need for your bar. Road Sips offers a great variety of packages for every occasion and can also work with you to customize a package to fit your event’s unique needs. The nice thing about this mobile bar is that the party will come to wherever you are. Let the good times roll!

(254) 630-8647 | stickybonesbbq@gmail.com

At Sticky Bones BBQ, they pride their selves in bringing you the ultimate barbecue experience. All recipes are all homemade, passed down through generations and steeped with love and flavors that show their deep Southern Roots.

Sticky Bones BBQ blends art and science to prepare their needs to ensure every bite is moist and flavorful. They use only the freshest ingredients that are hand chopped and seasoned to perfection. Their attention to detail is quality and is evident in every event they cater regardless of size because “it’s Sticky Bones, we prepare our food as if you are family!”

Jack & June Photography

jacob@trenopizzeria.com

Tanglefoot Restaurants, owners of Treno Pizzeria and Taproom, Bird Creek Burger Company, and First Street Roasters, offers a wide array of catering options for your wedding or event. We can create a custom menu across various cuisines to fit every occasion and make every bride happy on their special day.

info@tcpcatering.com

TCP Catering has been cooking up something satisfying since 1979, emphasizing good food, for great people, at affordable prices. Whether your event has thirty guests or over a thousand, they can create a suitable menu for your needs. Their food creates an enjoyable experience that ensures they make each event and mealtime a memorable moment. No matter how big or small the event, TCP does all they can to genuinely understand their client’s needs and wants. It’s their goal to exceed your expectations with exceptional service and exquisite food.

CM Designs | Bear Moose & Fox CM Designs | Kate Panza Photography Paperdoodles | Neva Michelle Photography

Watson Weddings | Bear Moose & Fox Your wedding invitations are your guests’ first peek into your wedding day, so you want to make them remarkable. Along with listing the location and time of day, the invitation hints at your wedding’s formality and style. Before you start searching for stationery, you should have an idea of the type of event you’re throwing- classic and elegant, casual and relaxed, or glamorous and modern before you start searching for stationery.

Think about your wedding colors and incorporate them into your wedding invitations and the rest of your wedding paper, such as escort cards, menus, and ceremony programs for an adhesive look. As you consider colors and patterns, be sure to think about shape, size, and text. Be wary of hard to read fonts and colors that blend into the background.

You will not need an invitation for every guest. Take a look at your guest list and figure out how many households need invitations before you give your stationer a number, as you may be able to cut your order in half. Be sure to order enough invitations for your guest list plus 25 extra if you need to resend an invitation or want some for keepsakes.

Remember to order your menus, programs, RSVP cards, and thank you notes with your invitations. This way, you can include all pieces in one order and save time and money. It’s also an efficient way to ensure your stationery has a cohesive look.

BEFORE THE WEDDING Engagement party invitations Save the Date cards

WEDDING INVITATION SET Wedding invitations RSVP cards Direction information WEDDING DAY Welcome sign Sign-in book Order of events Seating chart Place cards Table numbers Menu Reception signage (bar, dessert table, buffet) Favor tags

Neva Michelle Photography

(254) 709-9514 | caitlin.cmdesigns@gmail.com

At CMDesigns, they love all things design. They feel your invitations are one of the most important parts of your wedding design- it is the first thing your guests see and will immediately give them an idea of your wedding day’s style and feel. That’s why they work hand-in-hand with couples to give them a design made especially for them. Your design will be a perfect reflection of your personality and your wedding’s style, wow-ing guests from the moment they see the envelope!

1401 S. 31st Street, Suite C, Temple, TX, 76504 (254) 773-8331 | susie@paperdoodles.com

Paperdoodles is the only store of its kind in the Temple, Texas area. They carry all things paper, along with a wide variety of novelty items, specialty brands, and gifts for any occasion. There is something for everyone, with invitations, stationery, and specialty items for all budget levels. Paperdoodles is locally owned and operated in Temple – just between Waco and Austin. When it’s time to plan your special event, they are the perfect place for you to come and get started. The Paperdoodles staff gets excited about every event, just as if it was their own. They will gladly help you pick out the invitations, announcements, stationery, and other paper goods that fit your taste, style, and budget!

Davello Photography

Neva Michelle Photography

SIGNED BY SHANNON

(610) 350-8107 | shannon.hurley22@gmail.com

Signed by Shannon Calligraphy was created after seeing the desire of brides to have personalized hand crafted calligraphy items for their special day. Signed by Shannon was started in Pennsylvania in 2018 and is now flourishing in Texas. All items are done by hand creating uniqueness to each piece! Brides can find items such as place cards, signage, seating charts, table numbers, envelope addressing, and much more!

info@watsonweddings.com

In addition to event planning and design, Watson Weddings also provides stationery and calligraphy goods. They create anything from invitation suites to signage that are sure to fit your wedding design! When working with Watson Weddings, you can be sure that you are getting what your wedding vision entitles. Signage is typically forgotten about when planning your wedding, so let them take that stress from you to create something special that you’re able to keep for years to come! Guests will also enjoy taking home a keepsake like a personalized name card. Give them a surface, and they will give you a work of art.

y p h r a g t o o P h r o T a y l y e l l S h

PHOTOGRAPHER / NEVA MICHELLE PHOTOGRAPHY HAIR & MAKEUP / COURTNEY YARBROUGH VENUE / LA RIO MANSION FLORAL / CREATIVE INNOVATIONS DRESS / GEORGIO'S BRIDAL