I am delivering my first wedding cake in a couple of weeks. 3 tier stacked, lots of gumpaste flowers. I have delivered assembled and doweled many cakes this size, but my concern is I am nervous to assemble at the venue as it would be my first time. Should I attempt to pre-assemble and deliver or am I better off doing it at the venue? Also, any tips/tricks to help make it go smoothly? Thanks in advance for any help.

Why change what has worked for you in the past and add extra stress?

Well, that does make sense doesn't it? Thanks!

If you can carry it and are confident in your support system then go with what works for you.

I think my concern is the numerous flowers on the cake. I do alot of fondant cakes and haven't transported a cake with so many fragile flowers. I guess it is lack of experience that has me worried. I read tons of posts on how to's and try to learn from the experts here, and it seems that most cakes are assembled on site. I think I would be more worried if I had an audience watching me!

Oh that makes sense. I have only done cakes with a few flowers and I did attach them on site. I was there early enough that the only people to watch me were the people setting up and they were pretty busy on their own. How are you attaching the flowers? Wires? Chocolate?

Probably a combination of both. Wires for the larger flowers and melted choc for the fillers, small roses etc. I have been reading alot about wires in cakes and that you should use straws etc. What is your opinion on that? Thanks again.

Probably a combination of both. Wires for the larger flowers and melted choc for the fillers, small roses etc. I have been reading alot about wires in cakes and that you should use straws etc. What is your opinion on that? Thanks again.

For the flowers with wires and chocolate I think they should be sturdy. Also was thinking you could wire groupings together and then apply them quickly at the reception site. THe cake would be stacked but you could travel the flowers in a padded box.

Ahh the wire in cake debate. I am probably not the right person to ask. I'm crazy paranoid about things not being food safe and everything I read you're not supposed to put wires in cakes. You don't have to use drinking straws though. You can use coffee stirs that are very narrow and slide the wires into those. If you have a large grouping then you could cut a section of a regular drinking straw. One thing about the straws is it will give extra support to holding the flowers onto the cakes, especially if you put a bit of fondant or chocolate into the straws before you insert the wires.

Honestly I don't do that many florals so I really hope other people will pop in and give you some advice.

Thank you sooo much! The groupings was exactly what I was thinking. The coffee stirrers is a fab idea. Now if I can get all the flowers done I should be in good shape! How time consuming!