hi, i really want this cake for my wedding but the baker wants an EXTRA $610 to add all the pearls to it. i am wondering how long it would take me to add them myself and also how many pearls i would need?i was going to make the pearls myself with fondant but i saw them for sale on global sugar art. i really like the cake but wonder if its worth my time to try to add all the pearls myself or just to go with a different cake...thanks

I'm no expert on weddings or wedding cake construction (and neither do I play one on television), but I'm guessing that in the days leading up to your wedding, your time is going to be very valuable, and I'm guessing that what your baker would charge you $610 for would probably take about $1220 worth of your own time, and unless you've done this sort of thing yourself (in which case, you wouldn't be asking the question), you probably wouldn't do as good a job as what the baker would do. Remember, "The laborer is worthy of his hire."

At any rate, welcome to the squirrel-cage, and look out for the nuts (myself included). And I suspect that the professional decorators here (who seem to be in the majority, at least among knowledgeable, regular posters) might very well resent even the suggestion of "going sweat-equity" to avoid that additional $610.

Thank you, James, my eloquent and new best friend  

ADo not do that yourself. The baker charged you that because that's what it takes. James said it best.

Don't fumble with those pearls seriously. Imagine me begging you not to do it. Either pay the baker or ditch the design.

AJust out of sheer curiosity, what's the cost before that extra $600? How many tiers of cake and how many people will it serve? If you don't mind me asking.

if you practice now well before your wedding and train 3-4 friends/family to do this who you can count on--and you can live with it not happening if things go awry--because it's all last minute--go for it--it would be a pia unless you have about 4 helpers

i would think that the additional $610 is either for a much larger cake or it's a 'I don't wanna do this' price or you asked ron ben israel, sylvia weinstock or something--

I like nice juicy cake prices but $610 additional is about a buck fifty a pearl and that's quite high--

i've done similar cakes with dragees-- it's not that big a deal imo (for some professionals)

i mean picture your wedding day and it'd be similar to you and the others all making a couple potholders on a loom before the ceremony while you're all getting ready--it's just like any other craft project--

This is one cake most decorators would vow never to do again.  Not hard, not at all, but the time it takes to pick up each pearl with tweezers so as not to leave a mark then dip in a solution so that it would stick onto the fondant......................., then Aunt Ethyl bites into one of the hard candy beads and breaks a tooth..................so not worth it.  Just for the fun of it, start making the pearls and contact us again after your thumb and forefinger cramps up  :-)

AIt looks like a major PITA, but it is not beyond the realm of possibility for a novice (or 5) to attempt.

That being said, I know myself, I would be all OCD and agonizing over the placement of each pearl, which would take hours on top of hours. Add that to "holy cow I'm getting married" stress and I would be in nuclear meltdown

But that's just me :D

So unless you are having a VERY chill wedding, with no get togethers, rehearsal dinners, visitors or last minute prep of any kind, I would vote NO

An extra 600 bucks seems high though.

And for goodness sakes, buy the pearls!!

AI just had a thought...

What does everyone think about something like wafer paper confetti? It wouldn't give that precise effect, but would be easier to apply?

ARight, wouldn't look remotely the same.

A

You're right! After some quick googling I couldn't even find what was in my head lol

I guess the next question to the bride would be...what attracts you to this specific design? The pearls? The gradient?

Then maybe you could run with a design that uses moulded pearl strands draped over or circling the cake, or if it's the gradient, there are lots of ways to incorporate some of that.

Just spitballin' here :D

Well over 1000 pearls on this cake.  Saw one at a wedding fair and my sister and I counted a 1X4 strip and multiplied by circumference and came up with over 600 on the top tier.  The baker laughed at us and then revealed her version of the cake had approximately 1500 beads on it.  It was spectacular though and she had it displayed as "Starry Night".  I would surely want some help if I attempted this cake.  Many hours of placing beads.

AA novice could do it, yes. But we are talking about a bride...who is a novice...doing this cake...for her wedding. It's just going to be too much. Seriously.

AAnd you're not talking doing the cake...just the pearls. Meaning you wouldn't get to this until at the earliest a day or 2 before your wedding.

And then you have to possibly transport it...Trouble trouble trouble.

ASeriously, I don't want to sound like a Debbie Downer. Im getting married and I'm doing my own cake...I just want you to be fully briefed about it

A

AI agree with most, weddings are stressful so you don't need any additional items on your to do list. However if yo do want to go for it I believe 600 bucks is a lot and you could try to rely on a friend that knows the basics about cake decorating. But questions: is the cake fondant or buttercream ? If fondant I can tell you from personal experience it does take a long time attaching each pearl one by one. And some may fall down while transporting it. If you are getting a dummy cake for decoration and a real separate cake for eating, you could get away with it if you ask the baker to have it ready a week before that way you can have 2 or 3 people help you glue the pearls to the fondant, preferably with some adhesive substance not plain syrup just to be on the safe side. If it is indeed a dummy cake you coud try some kind of transparent mesh with the beads already attached or rhinestones instead of beads, i think i have seen the mesh with rhinestones before.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Cheers from Dominican Republic Karla Konfiteria Kasera Http:/karlakonfiteriakasera.com Http:/facebook.com/karlakonfiteriakasera

A

Its not going to be a simple cake either haha...but ive hired a wedding planner. All I'm doing is signing off, writing checks, and showing up haha.

Just an idea

~http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/15/50/d3/1550d3a3c172cb7630d0cde3f2d304a7.jpg

http://caljavaonline.com/products/black-glam-ribbon-cake-wrap

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=easy+ways+to+add+bling+to+a+wedding+cake&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=easy+ways+to+add+bling+to+a+wedding+cake&sc=0-23&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=FB37ABC17D29D072103FFB37ABC17D29D072103F

We've discussed this cake before and most, including myself, came to the conclusion that they are not fondant or dragee pearls but royal icing pearls applied with an icing bag, which is super fast and easy if you get the consistency of the RI right. But still, I wouldn't do it if I were the bride either.

(For my wedding I did what AZ says upthread - a 4 tier dummy and kitchen cakes, which didn't have the sides decorated by the way)

I would just pick another design, unless you feel REALLY comfortable and you have the time before the wedding to stick all those pearls..

AThanks for all the advice guys...my origional cake is a 3 tier with ribbon and 1 row of rhinestones. I'm only having about 50 people but the Baker said it would feed about 100. The origional price is $390. She quoted me $1000 for this cake in 3 tiers. I thought that was quite a price jump for the pearls and figured I could place them myself but after reading how time consuming it is I think I will see if she has any ideas for something similar but more price friendly. If you all have any suggestions I would appreciate them. And I like the cake because it is just beautiful and makes a statement. It just says look at me!

AAnd I do not mean to offend any professional bakers I am well aware that I can not make the beautiful cakes you guys make but I just felt the price was high and wanted info and advice. I did not realize how time consuming this would be.

Not just their mouths, either.

AND she'd need to deliver early so she could dash back home and get dressed................BUT, what I've found is that most venues don't accept delivery of the linens until a couple hours before the reception starts.  So chances are you'd get there, the hall would be dark with no one around and you'd have to wait till the linen truck arrived or the employees so that they could drape the cake table for you.  And if you're not actually doing the cake, the decorator wouldn't want to release it into your hands two days before because of the liability she would face if something happened to it or it was stored improperly or if it was left at the hall in the morning where idiots could poke at it before your 4:30 celebration.........................  There's SO much that can go wonky that it's frightening.

A

look sat you being flexible! That's awesome.. Im sure the baker will have something amazing for you- you'll be a jahappier bride for making this choice :).

Congratulations!!!