I walked into the Cake Artist's Studio exactly 18 days before my wedding and needed a cake . . for 120 guests. My elaborate plan of trying to get cake transported from a favorite bakery in Kansas City . . . . had FAILED.
We called a week before that and they made up a "tasting box" for us: little condiment cups with 16 different kinds of cake for us to taste right there in the store! That alone was heaven! We chose their Champagne White (I am not a fan of typical white wedding cake, but this one is buttery and not as sickeningly sweet - DEELISH!) and their Blackout (chocolate) cake. I also want to go back and get a Brown Sugar Oatmeal cake just for myself :)
Then Ashlee met with us - we picked out a design we liked from the photo albums of her past work and incorporated our monogram into the design. The cake looked EXACTLY like the drawing she showed me - I was SO PLEASED when I walked into our reception and saw it! Also I liked that Ashlee was totally chill and never once gave me any attitude about the fact that it was 18 DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING. Some wedding vendors would've rolled their eyes and charged me double. Ashlee's mom Sue who also works there is super nice too. :)
We did 3 separate layered cakes (I think 7", 10" &14") and rented one of their stands that created the illusion of a stacked cake but without the cost and time requirements. IT LOOKED AND, more importantly, TASTED WONDERFUL. We opted to have a friend pick everything up, so I can't comment on their delivery services, but the cake and stand were ready for pick-up when promised.
THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT, MY FRIENDS! That's how you get a FABULOUS wedding cake 18 days before your wedding in central IL! It's 3 days after my wedding and we're still eating left-over cake! :) Delish!