My aunt was going to make my cake and now she cant. I have made cakes before but not a wedding one and there is not enough money left to have someone else do it. I want a four tier square with fondant and gum paste flowers. I have never worked w fondant before. I would like to put the diamond pattern on it. How hard is it to use the pattern? How thick does it need to be? How far in advance can I place the fondant on the cake, can it be froze? Help please!!!

wow..... not to burst your bubble or anything but square cakes are complex, as is fondant. And gumpaste flowers take a while to learn. Will she let you use her pans and equipment or do you have your own?

If you have access to equipment and the wedding is not around the corner, you could practice, practice, practice but I think it's alot to take on when you are the bride AND the one making the cake. I think, unfortunately, if the budget is gone, you may need to come up with something different for the cake.

Maybe get inexpensive white frosted cupcakes and add a cute little fresh flower to the top of each one? That would be affordable and do-able......probably not what you want though. I do wish you the best of luck and am sorry this happened.

Another idea......what do you/the groom or your parents do for a living? Perhaps you could get someone to do a cake for trade. I.E. if groom is a mechanic, landscaper, etc. he can do do a job for a baker who can, in turn, make your cake. I have seen this advertised on Craig's List before and heard of people doing it.

I'm not sure about all the details but that is another option. HTH

I would say go round and use fresh or silk flowers. You will have a lot more hair left when you're done.

the main thing is not to panic...everything always works out in the end....perhaps you can do what cake diva 73 suggested and do the cupcake thing...that would be pretty and a great surprise for the guests....or perhaps you can even ask the bridesmaids and groomsmen to all bring a cake from their favorite bakeries....and then you'll have cake for all the tables!!!! depending on how many people and if you can ask the wedding party for something like that....and then you can just be respondsible for getting/ making a small cake for you and the groom to cut!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!

I too second the cupcakes!! There are some beautiful ones out there and by adding simply fondant flowers that can be easily made it looks really elegant!!! You can make the flowers weeks in advance....bake and freeze the cupcakes and take them out 2 days before ..pipe a cute swirl and add a flower...very simple and do able!!! I think you would be taking on way too much to do that size cake you talked about..Fondant takes much practice to be able to cover a cake well.

Thanks you all have given me some good ideas Ill let you know how it turns out

This sounds like it might be a good opportunity for a cake dummy. Make your cake ahead of time out of styrofoam (I have never done a cake dummy, but I'm sure if you went that route, friends here would help) You could use silk or fresh flowers on it instead of gumpaste. Then, serve bought sheet cakes from the kitchen.

Until now, I never thought cake dummies would be useful at all, but in your case, I think it might work. It all depends on when your wedding is.

Good luck to you! I agree that all things work out fine in the end-try not to let this ruin your day.

I second the dummy cake idea. You can bake a sheet cake to serve your guests and have this beautiful cake to display. Plus it will be a lot less stressful to complete since you can take your time decorating a dummy cake without the added stress of the baking, torting, filling etc that goes into a wedding cake

I third the dummy cake idea! Good one imakecakes!

When is the wedding? If your Aunt can't help you because of timing, maybe she can make the dummy now and you can get started on those sheet cakes. That way, you don't have to look like a pro yet, just taste like one.

All great ideas. But what about a fellow CC'r lending a hand if there's one in her area? Just a thought.

I've been to two wedding recently and they both had cupcakes instead of the traditional cake. They were cute and everyone loved them.

I guess I would put it on a charge card and pay it off with wedding money that you get, that is if you don't want to do the dummy and cupcakes. If I was in the area I would help you out.

You may want to check with your local Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Maybe a student would like to do it for the experience or to get their name out there. You may strike a deal for cost.

It's hard talking to cake people about stuff like this. It would be like telling a photographer to have the guests take the pictures at their weddings.

I am a bad one to comment on anything today. My son's fiance just told him that she doesn't want to marry him, and she lives in my house. So if you were closer I would make your wedding cake, the one I was going to make for her. I would take lots of pictures and send them to her and say, see that's what you get!

And while I am at it, the reception was going to be at my house, and I was catering all the food, and paying for the honeymoon. Anybody have a nice daughter that wants to marry a nice boy who would be really good to her? And BTW, Mom can make the wedding cake.

deetmar, I just peeked at your cakes, and they are lovely! I'm so sorry to hear of your sad situation, and hope it gets better soon!

Well I'd help if I were nearby and not booked! I believe in karma - enough said.

Where is "twin falls"? Anywhere near Alabama?! I'd make your cake if you were closer.

I'd go with the dummy cakes if you have the time. The cupcake idea is a good one also - very popular idea according to the web. Maybe a 6" cake on the top of the stand with cupcakes filling the rest of the stand.

Good Luck!!

I would go with the suggestion of round cakes with silk/ fresh flowers or the cupcakes if I were in your situation. A simple classy design would be easy enough to do and look elegant.

I don't knoew where twin falls is but if i was better at cakes and you were close by I'd certainly lend a hand - what goes around comes around even the good things. The cupcake idea sounds so cute. If you did a high swirl top like a soft swirl ice cream cone you wouldn't even really have to worry about the cupcakes all being flat and even. You could use silk flowers of other cupcake toppings depending on the theme of the wedding. Why can't your aunt do the cake now - hope everything is okay!

You know the saying, just when things can't get any worse. I had to find some humor in this situation. The funny thing is, she doesn't understand why I won't let her take my son's vehicle, the cell phone that is in his name, and the engagement ring. And did I mention she wants to continue to live in my home!?!

Well, I may be wrong on the engagement ring, but when you don't want to marry someone, why would you want to take their ring? Maybe she plans on selling it.

Believe me, my cakes aren't near as good as many here, but I haven't been able to upload any photos for over six months. Something to do with the new camera, and not time to really care. I come for inspiration and wisdom, and sometimes laughs. I leave with all three and more. You guys are the best.

As far as being scammed, I have seen it done by the best. I hope to be smarter, but I also believe in the kindness of people, and will lend a helping hand when I can and sometimes that means being taken advantage of.

It was all meant in good fun, but I make cakes and take to Hospice, Dr's offices, and others for free, why not helping someone out if I can?

Gee, I wish I was close to where you live. I would love to have the chance to do a wedding cake. Now granted, I am not real talented but I would love to try.


Deetmar, I am sorry about what happened to your son. I have a beautiful, sweet (remember I am her Mom) 24 year old daughter who is single and her Mom just LOVES cake LOL