How Far In Advance Should I Order A Custom Cake?

Jul. 30/26 Blog

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I need a cake… but how soon is too soon to order?” you’re asking exactly the right question.

Custom cakes are one of those things that feel simple on the surface, but behind the scenes they involve planning, design work, ingredient preparation, and dedicated time from our decorating team. The amount of notice needed depends on how customized you want your cake to be.

At Jenna Rae Cakes, we offer two different custom cake pathways, and each one has its own ideal timeline. Let’s walk through it so you can order with confidence and avoid any last-minute cake panic.

Customizable Cake Designs – 1 Week Notice

Our Customizable Cake Designs are the perfect option when you want something beautiful, personal, and streamlined.

These cakes are designed to be flexible while still working within pre-designed frameworks, which allows us to offer them with a shorter lead time. They can be ordered online with a minimum of 1 week’s notice, making them ideal for birthdays, small celebrations, and those “I need a cake next weekend” moments.

Each cake is still thoughtfully personalized. You can choose:

Your buttercream colour palette
A custom message
Finishing details to suit your celebration
Size and classic flavour options

Even though the design structure is guided, no two cakes feel exactly the same. Every Customizable Cake Design still reflects the person and moment it’s made for, just with a more efficient ordering process behind the scenes.

This option is perfect when you want something personal, polished, and stress-free, without needing a long planning timeline.

Fully Custom Cakes – 2–3+ Weeks Notice

If you’re dreaming of something truly one-of-a-kind, full custom cakes are where creativity gets to take centre stage.

These are our One-Of-A-Kind Cakes, designed for big moments, bold ideas, and celebrations where the cake becomes part of the experience itself. Think milestone birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, weddings, and anything where you want a show-stopping centrepiece.

Because these cakes are fully designed from scratch, they require a minimum of 2–3 weeks’ notice once all design details are confirmed, and are subject to decorator availability.

To begin the process, we ask that you fill out our Weddings and Events Inquiry Form and include as much detail as possible. This helps our team understand your vision right from the start so we can provide the most accurate timeline and pricing.

A few important notes:

Prices for One-Of-A-Kind Cakes start at $500
Availability depends on our decorating schedule
Full design approval is required before production begins

This process is intentionally more involved because it allows our team to design something completely tailored to you, down to the smallest detail. If you’re unsure whether your idea falls into Customizable or Fully Custom, our team is always happy to help guide you in the right direction.

So How Far in Advance Should You Really Order?

As a general rule:

1 week notice → Customizable Cake Designs
2–3+ weeks notice → Fully Custom One-Of-A-Kind Cakes
3 months in advance → Ordering through our website, you can place your order up to 3 months in advance! As soon as you know your celebrate date, you can place your order and check the cake off your to-do list!

If your date is flexible, we always recommend ordering earlier rather than later, especially during peak seasons like holidays, graduation, and wedding months when availability fills quickly.

Cake decorating isn’t just about baking. It’s about design time, planning, and making sure every detail gets the attention it deserves.

What Happens If You Need a Cake Last Minute?

If you’re running short on time, Customizable Cake Designs or Classic Cakes are your best option, as they are the only custom cakes available with a 1-week turnaround.

For anything more complex than that, we recommend submitting an inquiry anyway. If we can’t accommodate your exact request, we can often suggest alternative designs or options that still feel special and celebration-worthy.

Sometimes the best cakes come from slightly simplified ideas that still carry all the heart.

Why Custom Cakes Need Lead Time

It’s easy to think a cake is just something we bake and decorate in a day, but custom cakes involve multiple stages of planning before we even pick up a piping bag.

Lead time allows us to:

Source and prepare ingredients
Schedule decorator time and design work
Plan structural elements for tiered or complex cakes
Ensure consistency and quality across every detail

Especially for Fully Custom Cakes, the design process itself is a collaboration. That extra time is what allows us to turn your idea into something that feels intentional, balanced, and beautifully executed.

Can I Change My Cake Details After Ordering?

For Customizable Cake Designs, small adjustments are often possible within the 1-week window, depending on timing and availability.

For Fully Custom Cakes, changes are more limited once the design has been confirmed, since production planning begins shortly after approval.

This is why we always encourage sharing as many details as possible during the inquiry stage. It helps us get everything right from the start.

Need Help Deciding? We’ve Got You.

If you’re stuck between Customizable and One-Of-A-Kind, think of it this way:

If you want something beautiful, simple, and quick → go Customizable
If you want something artistic, detailed, and fully unique → go One-Of-A-Kind

And if you’re still unsure, our team can always help guide you based on your date, budget, and vision.

Order Your Custom Cake

Celebrate life’s milestones with a cake that feels just right for the moment.

👉 Shop Classic Cakes
👉 Shop Customizable Cake Designs
👉 Inquire About a Fully Custom Cake

From simple celebrations to once-in-a-lifetime designs, we’re here to make it sweet, personal, and unforgettable.

Frequently Asked Questions