What Are Your Top Wedding Cake Tips?

Decorating By lotbot92 Updated 7 Apr 2014 , 2:42am by enga

lotbot92 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
lotbot92 Posted 6 Apr 2014 , 8:22pm
post #1 of 8

Making my first ever wedding cake this week!
I'm not a professional & I'm not being paid for it, its the gift for my cousin who is the bride. 

 

Its going to be 3 tiers, covered in smooth white ganache with ribbons round each tier - quite simple!

My main worry is the wedding is 2 hours from where I live...

 

SO...

I'm planning on baking and ganaching each layer at home, the bottom on a board 2" bigger than it and the other two on boards the same size as them. Then loading them into the car sat on top of some bubble wrap, each in a box.

We can take it to the venue the afternoon before the wedding, and I was going to stack it there - the idea of driving with it stacked gives me heart palpitations! 

Should I dowel it before we travel or once we get to the hotel?

Whats your advice on one central dowel going through all three tiers, or just doweling each tier - I've read conflicting advice!

 

I've praticed all the elements, hence its the drive thats stressing me the most as its the one bit I'm unsure of!

 

What are your top tips for a cake of this sort?!? Is there anything in my plans you'd do another way?

7 replies
enga Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
enga Posted 6 Apr 2014 , 9:04pm
post #2 of 8

We can take it to the venue the afternoon before the wedding, and I was going to stack it there - the idea of driving with it stacked gives me heart palpitations! I know what you mean.

 

Should I dowel it before we travel or once we get to the hotel? . Yes, dowel each tier before you travel.

 

Whats your advice on one central dowel going through all three tiers, or just doweling each tier - I've read conflicting advice! . I think you should always use a central dowel with tiered cakes, you cant be to careful.

 

I've praticed all the elements, hence its the drive thats stressing me the most as its the one bit I'm unsure of! I always Google a map to my destination and make a dry run. I don't know if you will be able to do this since it's 2 hours away but definitely have driving direction with alternate routes in case of detours which happened to me :eek: In hind site I wish I had of had an alternate route as I was unfamiliar with the area, thank God for GPS!

 

Good Luck with your cake!

 

*ps you might want to look into the SPS system, been hearing good things about it.

Elcee Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Elcee Posted 6 Apr 2014 , 9:13pm
post #3 of 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotbot92 
 


I'm planning on baking and ganaching each layer at home, the bottom on a board 2" bigger than it and the other two on boards the same size as them. Then loading them into the car sat on top of some bubble wrap, each in a box.

 

Bubble wrap?  Consider using the spongey shelf liner instead. Bubble wrap will be slippery in your car.

We can take it to the venue the afternoon before the wedding, and I was going to stack it there - the idea of driving with it stacked gives me heart palpitations! 

 

I've only recently felt comfortable transporting cakes already stacked :)

 

Should I dowel it before we travel or once we get to the hotel?

 

Yes, dowel it beforehand so all you have to do there is stack and touch up. Bring extra ganache and your tools, just in case.

 

Whats your advice on one central dowel going through all three tiers, or just doweling each tier - I've read conflicting advice!

 

You don't need it if you are going to assemble the cake onsite.

 

I've praticed all the elements, hence its the drive thats stressing me the most as its the one bit I'm unsure of!

 

Smart move to have practiced!

 

What are your top tips for a cake of this sort?!? Breathe. And be over-prepared :)

You'll be fine!

enga Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
enga Posted 6 Apr 2014 , 11:42pm
post #4 of 8

lotbot92, I was putzing around looking for cake support systems and techniques and found these. I hope they help some.

 

My biggest fear was the delivery of cakes to venues. I have always used cake boards and wooden dowels. I have the big straws but still not comfortable enough to use them (shudders), maybe one day I'll test them out.

 

I'm scared to even go on the Cake Stackers site because while they seem to be the sturdiest support system I've ran across, something tells me that they are way out of my price range.

 

Edna's way


 

Rosegin Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Rosegin Posted 7 Apr 2014 , 2:00am
post #5 of 8

AThat Cake Stackers system is crazy!

enga Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
enga Posted 7 Apr 2014 , 2:04am
post #6 of 8

Ikr, when she tilted it to the side, I was like, what tha!

Rosegin Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Rosegin Posted 7 Apr 2014 , 2:28am
post #7 of 8

AThere's a video on the website where she turns a buttercream cake upside down!

enga Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
enga Posted 7 Apr 2014 , 2:42am
post #8 of 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosegin 

There's a video on the website where she turns a buttercream cake upside down!

8O, I definitely have to go check that one out, lozl.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%