Making a Custom Cake
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to cake! Read on for the answers to all those questions (plus way more).
How it Works
We’ve worked hard to ensure our process is as stress-free and fun as it is delicious - ordering a cake from By Cenza is memorable for all the right reasons.
Step 1: Inquire
Once you’ve checked out our gallery page or Instagram and decided By Cenza is the cake artist for you, get things started by filling out our inquiry form to tell us about you, your event, and your cake vision. We recommend reaching out at least 9-12 months before your event.
Step 2: Book
If your date is available on our calendar (yay!), we’ll ask you to pay a deposit to secure it. Then, we’ll book a date for your in-person tasting and design consultation. Prior to the consultation, you’ll receive a design questionnaire so we can start dreaming up concepts for your one-of-a-kind cake! (Still deciding if By Cenza is the right choice? We are happy to start the process with a tasting box, available every month!)
Step 3: Taste
Your tasting will be held at our cake studio in Cleveland Heights. You’ll try delicious flavors from our menu and talk through all things cake! This is also where we’ll get to know each other a little better and discuss initial design concepts for your cake.
Step 4: Design
Using everything we’ve learned and the inspiration you’ve shared, we’ll sketch a custom design for your cake and share a formal proposal with you via email. Tweaks will be made as necessary based on your feedback. Once the design is settled, you’ll pay 50% of the balance and sign a contract.
Step 5: Prepare
As your big day approaches, we’ll work behind the scenes to ensure your cake comes together perfectly! We’ll check in to finalize any remaining details before the final balance is due (4 weeks before your event). Someone from By Cenza always delivers your custom cake and ensures it’s ready for it’s moment!
Please Note: This process only applies to custom cakes. More budget-friendly, semi-custom options are available upon request and do not include the comprehensive design phase or tastings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question you don’t see below? Fill out our inquiry form or email us!
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Definitely not! We love all types of celebrations and can create something special for just about any type of event. We offer custom cakes for any occasion, from birthdays to baby showers and anything else worth celebrating!
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All cakes are priced depending on the complexity of the design and the number of serving sizes. Our cakes start at $12/serving, with additional sheet cakes outside the decorated servings priced at $5.50/serving. The typical investment for a wedding of 125-150 guests is $1500. Cakes for smaller events can range from $200-$800.
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Our minimum order for the fully-custom cake process (including in-person design consultation & tasting) is $800. We are able to take on custom cake projects that do not meet this minimum on a case-by-case basis; consultations will be done via e-mail or phone.
Semi-custom options:
Potted plant cakes begin at $100
Birth flower cakes begin around $150
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We recommend inquiring about your date 9-12 months out. We prefer to host tastings no more than 6-8 months out from your event date, but we’re happy to be flexible for out-of-town clients!
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Unfortunately at this time we are not able to provide cakes for clients with dietary restrictions.
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We understand that choosing a cake artist is a big commitment and some clients want to taste our cakes before booking! We offer a monthly tasting box featuring our 4 signature flavors for pickup at our studio in Cleveland Heights. To order a tasting box, just email us! However, do keep in mind we cannot guarantee your event date will be available until your booking is locked in.
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Our menu changes yearly as we dream up and perfect new flavor combinations, but it typically includes 6-8 flavors for you to choose from. Tasting boxes include the 4 signature flavors, and booked clients will taste 6 flavors during their consultation.
To give you a little taste of what to expect, here are a few of our favorite flavors from current & previous menus:
Lavender + Blueberry (lavender cake, lemon buttercream, blueberry compote)
Chocolate + Pistachio (chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted pistachios, cinnamon, white chocolate + pistachio ganache)
Berry + Peppercorn (vanilla cake, balsamic berries, pink peppercorn dark chocolate ganache)
Milk Chocolate Passionfruit (chocolate cake, passionfruit buttercream, milk chocolate ganache)
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We have 8 delicious and unique flavors to choose from, but we can offer custom flavors on a case-by-case basis — just ask! (Note: To ensure the stability and longevity of your cake, there are certain flavors and fillings we are unable to work with.)
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At this time we only offer buttercream cakes on a very limited basis. Our preferred medium is fondant, as it gives Haley the perfect blank canvas to create edible art with endless possibilities!
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We love the decorating process so much, we insist that all cakes are executed and finished entirely by our team! We do not make cakes to be finished with fresh flowers, preferring to craft handmade sugar flowers instead. (Check out our cake gallery to see them in all their realistic glory!)
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Haley’s passion for creating edible art means she’s not interested in simply baking your cake, but in designing something 100% from the ground up. She has spent years honing her sugar flower craft, and they provide the perfect medium to express her creativity and create something totally unique for each client.
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Prior to the consultation, you will fill out an initial questionnaire where you can share any details on your vision for your cake. We also ask that you bring along inspiration images to your tasting! We love seeing other elements of your event, like invitations, florals, dresses or jewelry, but don’t limit yourself. It could be something you really like, something funny or meaningful to you. From a concert poster to a photo of a building you really love, just about anything can be used as inspiration! We have the most fun when your inspiration forces us to think outside the box.
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No problem! Haley firmly believes your perfect cake doesn't exist (yet!), and loves using her knowledge and creativity to make it happen. She enjoys pushing the envelope and defying any expectation of what a cake can be by creating cakes of all shapes and sizes that are driven by originality, abstract movement, unique personal touches, and sugar flowers. She also loves creating immersive cake experiences and installation pieces! For more details on the design process, check out our Process page.
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We look at serving size and design as two totally separate things. The decorated cake doesn't have to feed everyone and can always be supplemented with additional sheet cakes. We’ll discuss all of this during your consultation but above all, there’s no need to worry about the logistics of your cake — that’s our job!
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One of the amazing things about custom cake art is that anything is possible! Large decorated cakes that use a combination of real and faux tiers are perfect for this situation. This allows the decorated cake’s size to be dictated by the design instead of the number of servings.
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Yes! We can rent you a cake stand from our current collection, or we can find a cake stand specifically to suit the design of your cake that will make a lovely keepsake for you to remember your special event.
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Yes! We deliver everywhere. Our delivery fee starts at $50 and goes up depending on distance. We are currently based in Cleveland Heights. We are happy to provide a delivery estimate during the inquiry stage.
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A Past Client Said