I am making my sister's wedding cake. I am also supposed to be in her line. Her wedding is in two weeks on a Saturday at 2pm. It is 30 mintues from my house at our state capitol building. We (my mom and whom ever else from the family) are doing everything, the decorations, food, flowers, everything. My sister is wanting to meet to do pics at 11:30am. I'm stressing, because I have never made a wedding cake before, let alone try to trasport one in a car 30 miles and up 4 flights of stairs. (I think there might be an elevator.) It just doesn't seem like I am going to have much time to get ready and/or get a cake put together in time. I am making her a 4 tier cake. She wants the tiers to be resting on each other. Any suggestions on the best way to do this without a disaster would be wonderful. As far as I know it's just going to be my mom and I going early to set up. We can't leave here until 9:30 because we have to wait to pick up the flowers. So we wont be getting there to set up until at least 10am. Does this seem like enough time? I have no idea how long it will take me to get the cake set up. Should I take it all put together or should I stack and finish it when I get there? Any advice would be so great. All I know is the next time I do a wedding cake, that's all I will do and worry about. Thanks
You are brave! lol....I have done my daughter's wedding cakes, and I'll be making another one for a daughter in August. I made several practice cakes before the actual wedding day.
If you have never stacked and doweled a cake, I highly suggest practicing. It does take practice. 4 tiers will be very high, and very heavy, I don't suggest traveling with it and trying to carry a cake that big.
I would allow myself at least 2 hours to set up. You don't want to be rushed, you'll be stressed anyway.
GL, and my best advice is to practice first, and time yourself when you practice, so you know how much time to allow.
Is it possible for your mom to stay behind to get the flowers and meet you there?? That way you can start assembling it earlier and have plenty of time?=) Jen
Thanks for the replies. It helps....I think I will be nervous no matter what.... I think they might be changing the location so I wont have as far to go...I'm just ready for it to be over. I think I will start practicing the doweling and changing it to a 3 tier cake (they are only having 50 guests or so)....and hopefully the rest will go well.
See if the site has a cart with wheels that you can have access to. That will be a big help getting the cake from the door to the final destination. I've delivered cakes to our state house .... there's usually not a door you can pull right up to, lots of stairs and long hallways. Not an easy site to deliver to in the first place. Find out in advance about your parking and what door for delivery. Since 9-11, anti-terrorism measures are preventing easy access to govt buildings. (and i'm in a plain white van so I'm an immediate suspect! 
)
Be sure everyone knows in advance just what you have to do so they are not whining about where you are or where you're not. ("Do you want your cake set up right, or what?")
I can usually get a cake set up in under 20 minutes, depending on how much final detail needs done.
The set up time depends on your decorations. I just did a 3 tier wedding cake, fondant covered. I brought the cakes separately, had the dowels already in the cakes so all I had to do is put them on top of each other. Then I piped a simple pearl border and placed flowers on it. It took me 20 minutes and that included taking pictures.
Jacqui
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