First Wedding Cake...confidence Waivering...
Decorating By lejess Updated 28 Aug 2010 , 10:19pm by indydebi
Next week I am doing my first wedding cake, for a family friend. Its 4 tier, stacked, square cake. (12, 10, 8, 6--covered in fondant) Im getting nervous and having all kinds of cake disaster thoughts. I'm wondering about what is typical practice.
Should I stack the cakes and travel with it like that? Or, should I stack at the venue? Is it typical for cake decorators to stack their cakes when they arrive?
I have only really done birthday parties and other celebrations---not weddings. I've never done anything bigger than a 10 inch, so I've always transported them stacked.
I'm horribly nervous and have a wild imagination about disasters. Anyone with tips, suggestions, would be greatly appreciated!
while it is a little late for you, I'll put this here for others: if you are doing something major for the first time, PRACTICE FIRST!!! there should have been a test run.
ok, for you.... as far as travelling, it depends on what you've done in the past. have you transported a 3 tier before? If so, a 4 tier isn't that much different.
regardless of how many cakes you do, you will always get visions of cake horrors, you just learn to deal with them, better 
I use SPS so my cakes are always delivered fully stacked and chilled. As long as I can lift it.. its stacked and ready for drop off. Use something non-skid under your cake so it will not slide around. I also blast the a/c in the van and keep it as cool as possible. I always have a bag with "repair" tools. Good luck! Happy cake vibes coming your way!!
while it is a little late for you, I'll put this here for others: if you are doing something major for the first time, PRACTICE FIRST!!! there should have been a test run.
ok, for you.... as far as travelling, it depends on what you've done in the past. have you transported a 3 tier before? If so, a 4 tier isn't that much different.
regardless of how many cakes you do, you will always get visions of cake horrors, you just learn to deal with them, better
Thanks. I probably should have been more clear, I've done a test run of the actual cake, I've just never transported one bigger than a 10, and so far only a 3 tier.
So you think I should transport it stacked then? Im just being a crazy person?!
Thanks. I probably should have been more clear, I've done a test run of the actual cake, I've just never transported one bigger than a 10, and so far only a 3 tier.
I think she meant a test run that included transporting a cake that size.
You will be fine!!! I always get nervous and have those thoughts of disaster. But your cakes are great and you can definitely handle this. If you can have someone drive and sit in the back with the cake (just incase). This is always nerve racking but as long as you you build the cake properly, you will be fine!
Good luck!
I use SPS so my cakes are always delivered fully stacked and chilled. As long as I can lift it.. its stacked and ready for drop off. Use something non-skid under your cake so it will not slide around. I also blast the a/c in the van and keep it as cool as possible. I always have a bag with "repair" tools. Good luck! Happy cake vibes coming your way!!
Thank you. That answers my questions.
Im just very nervous and want to prevent disasters. I've practiced over and over and run it through my mind a million times, just wanted some reassurance and to learn what is typically done, since I am new to doing weddings. As I'm sure everyone on here has been at one time or another.
You will be fine I know I'm like that about any cake that I do except sheet cakes, but I bought the cake safe and it is awesome, it's a little pricey but so worth it for me and plus I have the SPS sytem as well that I can use, but it will be ok congratulations on your first wedding cake, I am getting ready to upload a picture of my first wedding cake I have to deliver today
If your cake is buttercream and you can chill it beforehand that really helps to "make everything solid".
Have you traveled the route you have to travel? I recently delivered a 4 tier and thought it will be OK it's all highway. Well after 50 minutes of jiggle, jiggle, jiggle we made it with only a little settling but I was nervous the whole way!
I have taken a 3 tier stacked cake and tried to tilt it before. I used the Wilton plates and pillars and it was actually very stable. This just helped me understand how far I could tilt safely, I have a VERY steep driveway!
I think delivery is the most stressful part. Best of luck!
I took on my first 4 tier recently and thanks to SPS I stacked 3 tiers (all that I could carry without breaking my back) chilled it well and had not a problem!
if you deliver it already assembled, just be sure you can pick it up. it will be heavy.
Yes, it is 'normal' for a cake to be assembled onsite. I only recently started delivering some cakes preassembled so assembly-on-site was my SOP for over 25 years.
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