I have a potential client that has sent out 300 wedding invitations and is insiting on a cake that serves 400! Any ideas???? The pic that he showed be is just a 5 stacked tier cake (probably a 16,14,12,10 & 6) which will not serve 400. HELP!

Sometimes the cake desired in the size desired does not produce enough servings. The solution is to have sheet cakes at the ready. No one will know since the cake is going to be cut by the caterers anyway. Remember you can torte the sheets for fillings just like the bridal cake.

Maybe you could do three cakes on one table. Maybe a 5-tiered in the center and a 3-tiered on each side??

I'm a little confused- is he looking for only a 5 tier cake or is he trying to serve 400? You could offer 5 square tiers 6-16 and then make a separate top for them to keep. THis would serve 398.

I know I didn't get much sleep last night, but darn!, that's going to be one big cake I don't think I would want to make. I would have talked him into individual cakes for each table plus the one you mentioned but I'll be watching this to see how to accomplish that.

Explain that you need another tier (or two) to have enough servings. Work out a design that reflects the other cake but has enough servings. Sketch something out and see what you come up with.

the first thing I'd be asking is why do you want to serve 400 slices of cake when you'll probably only have about 200 ppl. at your wedding???

Aside from that, just do kitchen cakes to make up the rest of the servings!

One thing besides the sheet cake supplements I mentioned earlier that you need to do is get a final head count a couple of weeks before the event. They'll have a better idea of how many will be attending at that time. Unless a hundred respond back that last week, you'll have the right count in plenty of time to plan.

Meh, I did a cake that served 520. Easy.

so don't forget to charge him for a 400 ppl serving cake.

Thanks for ALL of the great ideas and responses. Here are some updates.

1. They only have sent out approx. 300 invitations. That is not the confirmed amount of guests.
2. I have attached a pic of the cake.
3. I have gotten them to agree on doing a wedding cake that serves around 300 and having a seperate grooms cake that will serve an additional 70 people. P.S. I still think that they will have a lot of cake left over.

Thanks leily! That is a great suggestion. I will ask and see if they want to do the square instead of the round. I have never thought of the certificate idea to do a fresh cake on the 1 year anniversary! BRILLIANT!! Thanks for all the wisdom, I will keep you posted on this one

carmijok your little kitty with whatever on its head is so hilarious!
cakefusion good luck whatever you decide to do.