I buy the UK wedding cake magazines and Sweet Art Cake always has some really stunning cakes in them. I wouldnt doubt they could pull something like that off.
I dont think it would tramatize the kids. They know its cake!

Here are additional photos from the event, with children eating cake cut from the skirt portion of the cake:

http://tinyurl.com/cqkezg

HTH

Wow , what a awesome cake. I wonder how long it took to make.

That's crazy!!