Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1: Submit Your Inquiry

Begin by completing our inquiry form with details about your event, design preferences, and vision. Include your event date, guest count, and any inspiration that informs your aesthetic.

We review every submission carefully and respond within 48 hours. If your date is available and your project aligns with our expertise, we will move forward with a custom proposal.

Please note: we accept a limited number of commissions each month to ensure exceptional quality and personalized service. Inquiries require a minimum of 14 days notice for celebration cakes and 4 to 6 weeks for weddings and brand activations.

Step 2: Design and Proposal

Once availability is confirmed, a custom proposal is thoughtfully developed based on your event, aesthetic direction, and design preferences. Your proposal includes design guidance, flavor recommendations, sizing considerations, and pricing tailored to your project. Proposals are typically delivered within 2 to 3 business days.

Step 3: Tasting (Optional)

For weddings and larger-scale projects, tastings are available to explore flavor selections and refine the final details of your design. Tastings include a curated selection of our signature cake flavors, thoughtfully prepared in our Los Angeles studio.

Tastings are offered for a fee of 65 dollars, which include 6 of our most popular flavors. Tasting boxes are available for studio pickup, with local delivery offered for an additional fee.

Step 4: Booking and Confirmation

To secure your date, an invoice and contract will be issued following proposal approval. Payment is due as follows, regardless of order total:

• If your event is 14 days or fewer away when you book, full payment is due at booking.

• If your event is more than 14 days away when you book, a 50 percent deposit is due at booking, and the remaining balance is due 14 days before your event.

Due to our limited production capacity and the custom nature of each project, dates are only secured upon receipt of payment. If your signed contract states different payment terms for your order, the signed contract controls for that order.

Step 5: Creation and Delivery

Each cake is produced in our Los Angeles studio using premium ingredients and refined vintage buttercream techniques. Every detail is executed with precision to ensure a finished piece that is both visually striking and exceptional in flavor.

Delivery and on-site setup are included for weddings and large-scale events. Celebration cakes are available for studio pickup, with white-glove delivery offered upon request.

Ready to start? Submit an inquiry through the Contact page.

Questions

How far in advance should I order?

Celebration cakes require at least 14 days notice. Weddings and brand activations normally require 4 to 6 weeks notice. Custom cakes are accepted in limited quantities each month, so please inquire as early as you can. Rush orders may be accepted based on availability and may incur a rush fee.

How do I start an order?

Submit a cake inquiry or dessert package inquiry through the Contact page. We reply to inquiries within 48 hours when possible, and proposals are normally provided within 2 to 3 business days. Your order is confirmed only when we confirm it in writing and the payment terms in your proposal or invoice are met.

How much does a cake cost?

Prices on this site are starting prices. Final pricing is confirmed in your proposal or invoice and reflects size, design, flavors, and add-ons.

Custom cakes start at 225 dollars for a 6 inch cake, 290 dollars for an 8 inch cake, 650 dollars for a 2 tier cake, and 750 dollars for a 3 tier cake. Wedding cakes start at 900 dollars and include consultation, tastings, and white glove delivery and setup.

Dessert tables start at 500 dollars for the Petite table, which serves 15 to 25 guests, 1,100 dollars for the Signature table, which serves 30 to 50 guests, and 2,175 dollars for the Grand table, which serves 60 to 100 or more guests. Package and cake bundles are also available and are listed on the Dessert Packages page.

What flavors do you offer?

Signature flavors are included in the base price: Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Red Velvet, and Lemon. Each cake includes signature vintage piping and edible pearls.

Specialty flavors are an upgrade of 20 dollars per cake tier, or 15 dollars per dozen cupcakes. Specialty flavors, each paired with vanilla bean buttercream unless noted, are Brown Butter Vanilla Bean, Strawberry made with real strawberries, Bulgarian Rose, Earl Grey, Lavender and Honey with honey vanilla buttercream, and Pistachio.

Do you offer tastings?

Yes. Tastings are 65 dollars and include 6 of our most popular flavors. Tasting boxes are available for studio pickup, with local delivery offered for an additional fee.

How do I pay?

Payment terms are stated in your proposal, invoice, or signed contract. The general terms are as follows, regardless of order total: if your event is 14 days or fewer away when you book, full payment is due at booking. If your event is more than 14 days away when you book, a 50 percent deposit is due at booking, and the remaining balance is due 14 days before your event. Delivery and setup are quoted separately, except where your proposal or invoice states that delivery and setup are included. If your signed contract states different payment terms for your order, the signed contract controls for that order. Please confirm the payment terms in your own documents before you rely on this summary.

Do you deliver?

Delivery and setup are quoted per order, based on distance and time. The delivery fee is assessed during your initial consultation. Please include your venue or event location and event date in your inquiry so we can quote delivery accurately. Delivery and setup details, date, time, and location are confirmed in your proposal or invoice. Please follow the care instructions provided with your order.

For setup, please provide an appropriate and secure table and a suitable environment for the cake. Cakes are heavy and require a sturdy table and a room temperature of 75 degrees or below. Direct sunlight and temperatures of 75 degrees and higher may harm a cake. A photo will be taken of your order once setup is complete, and we are not responsible for damage to the cake after setup is complete.

If an accident occurs during our transportation of your cake and the cake is ruined, a full refund will be given.

If you transport the cake yourself, please transport it safely on a flat surface. Once a cake or baked goods leave our bakery, you accept responsibility for transport to its location. We do not provide refunds for a mishap during customer transportation, but we will do our best to fix a mishap for an additional charge.

Cakes are refrigerated for transport and should be left out 2 to 3 hours at room temperature, with no direct sunlight and not placed outside, prior to cutting. Temperature, humidity, and improper cutting can cause a cake to have issues, including collapse.

Can I send inspiration photos?

Yes. The custom cake inquiry form lets you upload up to 5 inspiration files, with a maximum of 10 MB per file. That form is hosted by Google, and uploading a file may require a Google account. If you cannot upload a file, you can also email inspiration images or links to ashlee@ashalexcakes.com and mention them in your inquiry.

Will my cake look exactly like the photo I send?

We will do our best to duplicate what is pictured, but there is always slight variation. Adjustments may be needed for sizing, and to stabilize and support three dimensional elements. Painted artwork cannot be created identical to a picture, so painted artwork requests may look different than pictured. For color matching, please provide a physical or digital swatch of the color you would like matched. We will match the color you provide as closely as possible and cannot guarantee that color will be 100 percent an exact match.

Can I provide my own decorations or topper?

Yes, please provide any decoration, flower, material, or topper for your cake at least two days prior to your pickup date. If a topper you supply is unstable, we will not attach it to the cake, and it will need to be placed on the cake after it has reached its final destination. We will not accept toppers that are fragile and can be easily broken.

What if I have allergies or dietary needs?

Please tell us about allergies and dietary needs in your inquiry. Our products may contain or come into contact with milk, wheat, nuts, soy, and other allergens. You agree to notify your guests of this risk, and we are not responsible for allergic reactions to guests consuming the product. Please tell us about a severe allergy before you order, so we can confirm in writing whether we can make an order safely for that event.

Will you photograph my cake?

We may photograph your cake, or order copies of pictures from your photographer. We reserve the right to use photographs for our own reference or for display and promotion without compensation to you.

Can I change or cancel my order?

Contact us as soon as possible if you need to change your date, design, size, or guest count. The date of your full payment is the final date for changes in size, style, or flavors. Changes requested after that date cannot be guaranteed and may be subject to additional charges.

For cancellations, notification must be made 7 days prior to the delivery date. Payment is non-refundable, but you may request a credit for later use. The credit must be used within 30 days. The balance of the order, minus any decorations or custom elements that have already been purchased, will be issued as your credit balance.

Full refunds are given in only two cases: failure to deliver your cake or desserts, and, during pickup, if the cake or desserts do not meet your expectations. If we give you a refund, you cannot keep the cake or dessert.

Once a cake or desserts are picked up by you or a designated party, we consider the order accepted. Any product that leaves the bakery is the responsibility of the customer. Refund requests due to decorating style, color shade, or general decoration design will not be honored. Cake flavor and texture are subjective, and refunds requested due to flavor or texture after a cake was accepted will not be honored. To qualify for a store credit, please notify us within 24 hours of pickup and bring the cake back so we can determine whether it meets our standards. Quality determination is solely at the discretion of our bakery. If your signed contract states different change, cancellation, or refund terms for your order, the signed contract controls for that order.

Do you work with brands and corporate events?

Yes. Dessert activation proposals start at 2,000 dollars, and brand events have a 1,500 dollar minimum. Event cupcakes have a 10 dozen minimum and are quoted by volume. B2B gifting and tasting boxes are 150 to 200 dollars per box, with custom gift boxes at 150 to 250 dollars per box and a 20 box minimum. Please use the Contact page to inquire, and include your event date, location, and guest count.

Where are you located?

We work from a home studio in Los Angeles, 90066, and serve West LA, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, Brentwood, and beyond. Pickup and delivery are arranged by appointment, and the pickup address and details are shared after your order is confirmed. Delivery is quoted per order based on your event location.

Do you have a storefront?

No. We do not have a public storefront and we do not take walk-in orders. We are a home studio, by appointment only, and every cake is made to order. Please start with an inquiry through the Contact page, and we will confirm pickup or delivery details in writing once your order is confirmed.

How do I contact you?

Email ashlee@ashalexcakes.com We reply to inquiries within 48 hours when possible. For an inquiry, please use the forms linked on the Contact page and include your event date, event type, and a brief description of what you need.