Have you guys heard about this company yet?
http://www.cakerental.com/index2009.html

This may be old news to some... I heard about this on the way to my shop this a.m. My favorite radio people were talking about ways to save on a wedding. During the commercial break before they broke into their frenzy of savings, I was saying to myself (yes out loud) please don't say anything about the cake, please don't say anything about the cake... Sure enough, this was the first "savings" they were soooo excited to share. The Patent Pending secret compartment cracks me up! When it's time to cut the cake, the couple just simply fakes like they're cutting the cake and, like magic, out comes a real piece of cake!! But, THIS incredibly informative piece of advice is enough for ME to purchase one of these masterpieces: "...the possibility of falling over during transportation, (Gee, ya think we should inform them about SPS ) heat and humidity for the outdoor weddings can be a major concern.[/b] Yep, darn those professional cake decorators!! They just don't have a clue!!
The starting cost for one of these gems is $175.00 plus shipping for a three tier.
I'm done ranting! Happy caking (or...er...foaming).

There's at least one CC member who has a faux cake rental business (she's in Canada) and last I heard, a couple of other people were considering it too.

Actually, I've been thinking about it, because I live in a state that doesn't license home kitchens and I'm not in a position to open a bakery, but I wouldn't mind turning my hobby into a business. And as long as you're not supplying any actual cake, just the faux cake, it doesn't have to come from a licensed kitchen.

Some of the cakes on the website look like some here on CC...

Hmmmm, I don't really understand how you'd make any $$ if you bought into their franchises. Sad that the economy has driven people to opt for this.

Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but I don't get it...

As a bride, I would know that the beautiful cake I'm "cutting" into is fake. What happens when cake is served, do they take the fake cake in the back and then bring out the slices?

How funny would it be if the staff dropped it in the process and it bounced?

This is what they say on their website:
"After the couple's "feeding each other" act, the display fake cake is taken back into the kitchen and the guests are served regular sheet cakes from the local bakery or wholesale store."

I am the lady from Canada who makes the fake cakes. The area that I live in isn't that big on real cakes. At least 50% of brides don't even have a cake any more because of the cost.

My least expensive cake is $50 to rent and the price goes up from there. I have about 25 different cakes to choose from and most of them are tone on tone. I can quickly change the look by adding ribbon and silk flowers. The best part is I really don't have to deal with bridezillas and because the cakes are artifical there is no last second stress. They are light and easy to transport fully assembled.

For the cake cutting a photo is taken "cutting" the faux cake and then they cut into a 4" cake that is decorated in a similar manner to their real cake.
The faux cake stays out the whole evening as a decoration. Most people have no idea that the cake is faux.

Having a faux cake isn't anything new. They have been around for 40+ years. You can set up the business without buying a franchise. You don't need the little compartment (patent pending) either.

So the cake fits into a a sliced out portion of the faux cake?
I would not want a to eat cake that was where other cake was placed into many times before unless is was completely cleanable smooth surface that could be sanitized.

What is the decorative part made of? The faux icing...?

The cakes are fondant covered styrofoam with fondant or gumpaste decorations. They look just like a "real" cake. No one can tell the difference.

Are the faux cakes redecorated for each time it is rented out? I don't see how the area where the real cake goes can be cleaned if there is meltable fondant icing on the whole thing. More or less I don't see how old fondant can be food safe.

Please understand I am not trying to be rude. I just don't understand how it all works. Your designs are flawlessly executed. You do amazing decorating! And do they come back after a rental looking as flawless as they go out? Or do you wind up taking alot of the deposit to re-decorate them?

All I know is that most brides ARE concerned just as much if not more about the taste quality of the cake. Reason they come to a custom baker and not Walmart or Costco. If it is just about savings and they don't care about the taste they can still get a cake they want designwise in many cases by just ordering a wedding cake from W or C. and not have the added expense of a rental.

My cakes come back in great shape. I have never had to keep the damage deposit. If you look at the website you will see that the cakes are ready to go as they are or I can add colour to them in the form of ribbon and silk flowers.

I don't have the area for the slice of cake to be added. It is just an extra expense that I do not feel is necessary. I make a satellite cake instead that sits beside the faux cake. Not all brides want this either.

As for sheet cakes, most venues in this area have dessert included with the meal. Sheet cakes are not necessary therefore no extra expense just the cost of the cake rental. This is very cost effective and allows the bride to put her money elsewhere in the wedding.

Oh OK. Then you don't have to worry about the whole food safe sanitary issue at all with your service. That is the part my head can not wrap around. But how do your faux cakes not get nicks and dings and fingermarks and scratches in them? Velvet rope restraints for over eager on-lookers...?

Again your faux cakes are amazing in detail and so beautiful!

Thank You Sadsmile

If there are fingerprints I just use a damp cloth and wipe, then dry the spot.
Dings or nicks rarely happen - when they do I fill the spot with a bit of royal icing and rub with my finger to smooth the area.

At my daughter's wedding the guests used the cake table as a spot to put their drinks while dancing and there were no mishaps. I usually don't worry - the fondant dries rock hard after a while and is not easily damaged.

I recently had a bride from New York who rented a cake for $250, shipping included. A comparable "real" cake in NY was $2500. Not every bride can afford this. You have to provide a service that is affordable or you will price yourself out of the market. This is why 50+% of brides in my area no longer order real wedding cakes. They are too expensive for the average budget.

I think the faux cake idea is great. For those you who do this once you make a faux wedding cake how do you store it? Do brides ever ask you to provide a sheet cake and if they do what do you say? I would not be able to provide real cake since home bakeries are illegal in AZ.

To store a faux cake, cover it with a plastic bag do not seal. This will keep the dust off. Place in a cool room and away from sunlight.

I do not make sheet cakes, I only supply the faux cake. In this area of Canada dessert is usually supplied with the meal so it really isn't necessary to bake the cakes.

Do you have a book of pictures that you show them of specific cakes they can rent or do you make the faux cake to look how they want it? If you do have ones already made that they can choose from how many choices do they have to pick from?

Interesting....

Jen

I have about 25 cakes on display at all times for brides to look at.

I also have a website so brides have usually looked at what is available and have narrowed it down to a couple of cakes. Either they place the order by phone, email or in person. I ask for a deposit to hold the cake for their wedding.

This would be good if you have a dessert supplied by the caterer, but if you have to buy sheet cakes as well it won't save that much money once you add it all up.

That is true. Maybe some people dont even want cake at their wedding. One of my friends recently got married. She had a dummy cake just for looks and no real cake. She had a bunch of candy and other goodies there.