My First 6 Tier Cake - Some Questions On

Decorating By Frank68 Updated 7 Dec 2014 , 11:26am by Lfredden

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Frank68 Posted 5 Dec 2014 , 1:54am
post #1 of 12

I have someone that's very interested in a 6 tier cake with a spiral cascade of flowers from top to bottom, almost identical as the following cake:

 

 

This is probably the largest cake I'll have attempted and have a few questions on structure and delivery. 

 

1) I have CakeSafe (20"x20") and it will be too small to use as the bottom tier of this cake will need to be at least 20" round. Thoughts on delivery? My gut tells me to package the tiers individually into boxes, assemble at the venue and put on the flowers but past experience with cascades tells me that's a lot of time (and a lot of flowers) to put on once I'm there. Anyone experienced with deliveries such as these? I use SPS on all of my tiered cakes. 

 

2) The picture seems to have use a petal cake as the bottom tier but I can't find pans larger than ~15". What other methods were used for the bottom tier on this cake? 

 

3) I generally don't do well estimating how many flowers I will need for a cascade (I typically make more than needed). It's due Feb 2015 so I have enough time to work on the larger roses and fillers but want to make sure I make enough. Any guesses or is there a general formula? :) 

 

4) There will be 250 guests. I suggested 5 tiers but the bride wants 6 for a larger effect. I'm thinking the best option is to make the bottom 2-3 tiers out of cake and the top fakes. Looking for guidance on best practices. 

 

I am thinking of 20x17x14x11x8x5 on the tiers, with 5" heights. With the bouquet, that will give me roughly 36-38 inches of height. 3 feet isn't bad :)

 

Thanks for any comments!

-Frank

11 replies
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leah_s Posted 5 Dec 2014 , 2:26am
post #2 of 12

the bottom "petal" tier is actually an arrangement of small round cakes.  I've used that effect several times.  Unless you really enjoy making flowers (I don't) buy those thigns.  www.avalondeco.com.  I marked them up 300%.  yes srsly.  

 

You have those odd sized pans already?  I'd do 6/9/12/15/18, because it's just more standard and I think that way.  my sizes equal over 300 servings.

 

I know you didn't ask, but that's a $1500 cake, right?

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CWR41 Posted 5 Dec 2014 , 7:24am
post #3 of 12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank68 
 

4) There will be 250 guests. I suggested 5 tiers but the bride wants 6 for a larger effect. I'm thinking the best option is to make the bottom 2-3 tiers out of cake and the top fakes.

 

I am thinking of 20x17x14x11x8x5 on the tiers, with 5" heights.

Way too many servings for the bottom 2-3 tiers to be real cake with a serving goal of 250 (for example, an 18" serves 254 by itself if it's 6" tall with a board in the middle and served as two separate 3" tall tiers, and a cake that big in diameter really should be at least 6" tall to look proportionately strong and sturdy as a base rather than short and squatty).

 

I believe the sizes shown are 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and eight 6" rounds making up the petal-shaped base (404 total servings).  If you made the petal-shaped base and the 10" with styrofoam cake dummies, the remaining tiers --16, 14, 12, 8-- would serve 258, or 270 including the 6" 1st anniversary tier.

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Frank68 Posted 5 Dec 2014 , 6:05pm
post #4 of 12

Thanks for the guidance Leah. I actually quoted her higher than that, it's in NY and that's A LOT of flowers. 

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leah_s Posted 5 Dec 2014 , 6:50pm
post #5 of 12

Ah, New York pricing.  ;-D

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Lfredden Posted 5 Dec 2014 , 7:22pm
post #6 of 12

I can't even imagine having to make all those flowers.  Hope it goes well for you and I hope you post a pic of your finished product.

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Snowflakebunny23 Posted 5 Dec 2014 , 8:17pm
post #7 of 12

AIn terms of delivery, I'd probably split the cake into 2 or three sections, put the flowers on the main part of them and then stack them at the venue. That way you just have to fill in the joins with the flowers :-) I spent over an hour arranging a few flowers recently to get them perfect....the mind boggles at arranging all of them at the venue!! Good luck :-) :grin:

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Boyka Posted 6 Dec 2014 , 12:48am
post #8 of 12

Chek this video ... 


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Frank68 Posted 6 Dec 2014 , 3:44am
post #9 of 12

Thanks for the video, I hope I never have to deliver a cake via plane lol. In any case, all good suggestion and thanks for the replies! 

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Lfredden Posted 6 Dec 2014 , 1:49pm
post #10 of 12

A@Leah_S I love reading what you have to say and you're always so helpful and you're very knowledgeable. Just out of curiosity, I was wondering about your estimate of $1500. From all the different posts I've read on pricing, I assumed the cake would be at least $2000. Am I overpricing in my head? Just want to know your thoughts.

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leah_s Posted 7 Dec 2014 , 10:20am
post #11 of 12

AWe see so many underpriced cake threads on here, I just threw that comment in. Where I live that would be a fair price for the configuration I mentioned, which was not exactly the cake in the picture. The OP pm'd me with his location and price which was way higher than $1500. Cake pricing is influenced by geography. And I also purchased the gp flowers which saves $ because tine is money.

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Lfredden Posted 7 Dec 2014 , 11:26am
post #12 of 12

A@Leah_S, I see, makes sense, thank you!

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