hi another thing you can do is scour through local papers that get dropped into the letter box, theres usually a weding section with cake ladies and they are a bit cheaper and still wonderful!!!
you could also go to your nearest cake asessory sho they are around and they have classes there and the teachers are always qualified and they do cakes cheap too and they are professional. and they do an design you want...

you can just jump online and google in your local area - its a great alternative, and you know hte cake is fresh.. they make the cake usually the day before then ice it then decorate it for you..
good luck!!!