Ordering & Logistics
Where is Birdie's Baking Co. located?+
Birdie's Baking Co. is based in Columbia City, Indiana 46725 (Whitley County) and serves the greater Fort Wayne area, including Huntertown, Churubusco, Larwill, South Whitley, and across Whitley and Allen counties. Pickup-only — the exact address is shared by email after order confirmation, in keeping with Indiana's Home-Based Vendor law (Indiana Code 16-42-5.3).
How do I place an order?+
Browse the menu at birdiesbakingco.com/menu, add items to cart, and check out. For custom cakes, wedding cakes, or catering, email hello@birdiesbakingco.com with the date, guest count, and design references. We respond within 48 hours.
Do you deliver, or is it pickup only?+
Pickup-only from Columbia City, Indiana. Indiana's Home-Based Vendor law does not allow shipping or delivery — sales must be direct producer-to-consumer. Most Fort Wayne customers pick up between 25 minutes from the kitchen.
When is pickup available?+
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, in Columbia City, IN. Specific pickup time is coordinated 48 hours before the order is ready. Holiday weeks (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's Day, Easter) have additional pickup windows announced on Instagram and the Events page.
Lead Times
How far in advance should I order?+
Standard pies and cookies need 48 hours notice. Custom decorated cakes need 7–10 days. Wedding cakes need 6–8 weeks; peak May–October typically books 3–6 months out. Holiday weeks book 2–4 weeks earlier than usual.
Do you offer rush orders?+
When the bake schedule allows, rush orders inside the standard lead window are accepted with a 20% rush fee. We confirm rush availability within 24 hours of inquiry.
Pricing
How much do your pies cost?+
Our 9-inch pies range $30–$36. Sugar Cream and Pumpkin are $30. Apple, Cherry, and Strawberry are $32. Dutch Apple is $34. Pecan, Chocolate French Silk, and Peanut Butter are $36. Strawberry Rhubarb is $34 (seasonal).
How much does a custom birthday cake cost?+
A 6-inch starts at $60, 8-inch at $85, 10-inch at $130, and 12-inch at $185 — all single-tier with a buttercream finish. Two-tier custom cakes start at $150; three-tier at $275. Photo-realistic or sculpted cakes run $250–$425 depending on detail.
How much does a wedding cake cost in the Fort Wayne area?+
Per-serving pricing is $5 for buttercream, $7 for hand-piped detail or watercolor, and $9+ for showpiece cakes with sugar work or fresh-flower cascades. A 75-guest cake typically runs $375–$525. A 150-guest cake typically runs $750–$1,400.
What does NOT change the price of a custom cake?+
Cake flavor, buttercream type (American vs. Italian meringue), or the day of the week. Most of the year, Saturday weddings are not surcharged. Allergen-friendly substitutions add $10–$25 per cake. Tier count, decoration tier, and fondant finish move the price; flavor choice does not.
Wedding Cakes
When should I inquire about a wedding cake?+
For peak-season weddings (May–October), inquire 6–12 months out. Off-peak (November–April) usually has flexibility 2–3 months out. We respond within 48 hours and lock the date with a 50% deposit at the design-lock milestone, eight weeks before the wedding.
How does a wedding cake tasting work?+
After an initial inquiry, serious couples receive a curated tasting box of 4–6 cake-and-filling pairings tailored to your inquiry. Pickup is in Columbia City or coordinated for Fort Wayne metro delivery for a small driving fee. Tasting fee is $45 and credits toward the final cake.
What deposit is required for a wedding cake?+
A 50% non-refundable deposit at the design-lock milestone, eight weeks before the wedding. The remaining 50% is due 14 days before. Deposits are non-refundable but may be transferred to a future date once if cancellation happens at least 14 days out, subject to availability.
Allergens & Dietary
Do you offer gluten-free, dairy-free, or egg-free cakes?+
Yes — gluten-friendly, dairy-free, and egg-free substitutions are available with advance notice. Adds $10–$25 to the base cake price. Our kitchen handles wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and soy, so we cannot guarantee a fully allergen-free environment. For severe allergies, a dedicated allergen-free bakery is safer.
How are allergens labeled?+
Every order ships with an Indiana HBV-compliant label listing the full ingredient list and the eight major allergens (wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish). Allergen-friendly substitutions are flagged as "Made gluten-friendly" or "Made dairy-free" — never as "free" without qualification, since we are not a certified-free facility.
Catering & Events
Do you offer event catering?+
Yes — corporate dessert tables, weddings, showers, and holiday gatherings across the Fort Wayne metro. Minimum 25 servings for dessert catering. Larger spreads are quoted individually. Email hello@birdiesbakingco.com with event date and details.
Do you do baking classes?+
Occasional baking classes are announced on Instagram and the Events page. We do not run a regular class schedule yet. If you are interested in a private group class (4–8 people), email hello@birdiesbakingco.com.
Compliance & Trust
Is Birdie's Baking Co. operating legally as a home bakery in Indiana?+
Yes. Birdie's operates under Indiana Code 16-42-5.3 (the Home-Based Vendor law), administered by the Indiana State Department of Health. Local oversight is through the Whitley County Health Department. Every order ships with the required producer disclosure, full ingredient list, and allergen statement. For a plain-English overview, see our blog post on Indiana cottage food law.
Why does the pickup address only get shared after I order?+
Birdie's operates from a single home kitchen — sharing the address publicly creates traffic and privacy issues for the neighborhood. Indiana's HBV law allows direct-to-consumer sales from the producer's home; the address is shared by email once an order is confirmed.