Wedding FAQS
Booking
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I recommend reaching out once your venue and wedding date are confirmed. Because I accept a limited number of wedding commissions each season, popular dates often book well in advance.
Shorter engagements are still welcome. If your date is available, we can begin with a brief conversation.
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A $200 reserve-the-date retainer is required to secure your wedding date and is applied toward your final balance.
Once your design details are established, I'll send a proposal outlining the total investment. A signed contract and a 50% payment are then required to complete your booking, with the remaining balance due four weeks before delivery.
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Wedding cake commissions have a minimum investment of $1,000. The final investment is based on size, design scope, delivery logistics, and any custom elements specific to your celebration.
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That's completely okay. Most couples inquire before every detail has been finalized.
The most important step is reserving your wedding date. Your design, flavors, and other details can be refined as the wedding comes together.
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The $200 reserve-the-date retainer is non-refundable because it holds your wedding date on my calendar. Additional cancellation terms depend on when the cancellation occurs and how far the planning process has progressed. Full details are outlined in your contract.
Delivery
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Artfully Meraki is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and serves weddings throughout West Michigan and surrounding areas.
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Yes. All wedding cakes are delivered and set up by Artfully Meraki. Wedding day pickup is not available.
Delivery ensures your cake is transported safely, assembled correctly, and presented as intended.
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Yes. I coordinate directly with your planner or venue for delivery and setup. I can also work with your vendor team on florals, cake placement, and other design details when needed.
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Yes. Travel may be available for weddings outside West Michigan depending on the date, location, and delivery requirements.
Include your venue information when submitting your inquiry so I can confirm availability and provide an accurate delivery estimate.
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I take every precaution to ensure your cake is delivered and set up with care. In the rare event that something unexpected occurs, I’ll communicate promptly with your planner or venue team and take the necessary steps to address it.
Flavors
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Yes. Private tastings are available after your wedding date has been reserved. You’ll receive a curated selection of signature flavors to sample before making your final selections.
Tastings are offered as an optional $100 add-on by appointment and may be scheduled alongside your design consultation.
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You can choose from the flavors on my current menu. If you have a particular combination in mind, we can also discuss whether it can be accommodated.
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Yes. Select gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options are available by request. Please include any dietary needs when you inquire so I can confirm what is available for your order.
Artfully Meraki is not a dedicated allergen-free facility, and cross-contact cannot be eliminated.
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Yes. You may choose a different flavor for each tier, depending on the size and structure of the cake. This allows you to offer more than one flavor without changing the overall design.
Design
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Yes. Each wedding cake begins with the celebration itself. The venue, atmosphere, color palette, florals, and other details shape the design.
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Absolutely. Inspiration photos help me understand what you’re drawn to, whether that’s a color palette, composition, texture, or overall feeling.
They serve as a starting point, not something to recreate. From there, I’ll develop an original design for your celebration.
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No. I do not recreate another artist’s work.
If you share a cake you’re drawn to, I’ll look at what is appealing about it, such as the composition, color palette, texture, or overall feeling, then develop an original design for your celebration.
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Yes. Your wedding cake can draw from elements such as your flowers, color palette, stationery, venue, architecture, textiles, or other details that help define the look of your wedding.
These references shape the design without being copied literally.
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Your cake design is developed after booking. After the design consultation, I’ll create and share your final sketch based on the timeline outlined in the Wedding Cake Experience.
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Yes. The design may be refined after your consultation as the remaining details come together. The final sketch and cake details must be approved no later than six weeks before the wedding.
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Guest counts often change during planning. Your serving needs can be adjusted as your wedding plans come together, with the final count confirmed before your cake is finalized.
Investment
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Your wedding cake is priced according to its size, design scope, and delivery logistics. Once the design direction is established, I’ll provide a preliminary estimate. Your final investment is confirmed in the proposal.
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Yes. Cutting cakes, kitchen cakes, cupcakes, and cake shooters may be included within a wedding commission that meets the $1,000 minimum. Faux tiers may be considered on a case-by-case basis when they support the overall design and presentation.
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Yes. You are welcome to hire another vendor for non-cake desserts. Artfully Meraki must remain the only cake provider, and desserts from another vendor should be displayed separately from the wedding cake table.
If you are looking for additional dessert options, I am happy to recommend another vendor.