Yesterday I made a post about serving sizes and today I talked to the bride. She has added a tier. I am so nervous about this one. We are not sure if we should cover in MMF or try for a smooth buttercream. I am willing to do the MMF for no extra charge since it would be my first MMF covered cake, but I am so scared. So, I am doing a 6, 8 and 10. All 6" tall (3 2" layers). My first question is, do I try the MMF and if I do, how do I achieve an off white color? My second question, is this cake going to look funny being all layers are 6" tall? My final question is would you stack the cake and deliver that way or would you take in pieces (I was thinking stack the 8 & 10 and putting the 6 on when I got there). The only decoration will be a ribbon and pearls around the bottom of each tier. Oh, do I do those before delivery or when I set up. So sorry for all the questions!!
For the off-white color, you can buy an ivory gel color to add to your BC or fondant.
I think the 6-inch layers will look OK, but you can get an idea by stacking styrofoam dummy cakes to get an idea. My only concern is that a 6-inch tall cake won't fit on a dessert plate, it will hang over the side. If you cut just two layers, you'll have a lot of one layer cuts left over. I'm not sure how to handle that one.
If you have a lot of experience driving with stacked cakes, then you should be OK with the two bottom layers stacked; you can add the ribbon/pearls on those. On site, add the ribbon/pearls to the top cake.
Hope this helps!
You can also achieve the ivory color by using regular vanilla - of course, that would depend on the shade of ivory you are looking for. Otherwise, use the ivory gel. If you use the Americolor from this site, you can count the number of drops to get a more accurate color if you don't color all of your icing choice at the same time.
You can add the ribbon and pearls for the bottom tier at home. Since your tiers will be so tall, I think I would favor delivering unstacked. You can then add the ribbon and pearls onsite.
I also think that the cakes will be too tall for a regular dessert plate.
The 6 inch layers might look a bit funny with the tiers those sizes. It's going to look really tall and skinny because there's only going to be an inch edge around each tier, then the 6 inch (plus all the icing) rise. Is there a reason the bride wants the tiers to be 6"? You won't really get any more servings out of a taller cake.
As for transporting, if you want to move it partially assembled, just make sure you put a dowel through the whole thing. Also, if it's going to be warm where you are, make sure you put a dowel through the 6" 3-layer as well, since it will want to tip and slide around on you.
im sure you'll do fine!! my opinion is to not do 3 two inch layers. after you add your filling you'll end up with 8 inch tall layers, and you'll need 10 inch dinner plates to serve dessert! after i torte and fill 2 two inch layers my cakes are usually 5 inches tall. ask your bride if that will do, as 5 inch height makes a very nice size tier. i always transport my cakes in separte boxes for each tier. it just makes me feel better. it won't take you long to stack at the site. you can add the ribbon before you transport, but i would add the pearls after its assembled.
i would do mmf. i added up the cost of making my BC, and 9 cups costs me $4 to make. 2 lbs of mmf costs me about $3.75 to make. so its hardly more expensive than BC, and a heck of a lot easier to get smooth! i would do a small practice cake first though, if you're nervous. the wedding cake in my gallery is covered all in mmf, its not quite bright white, but if you want it more off white i would add ivory food coloring. a 6, 8, 10 really isn't that hard, you'll do great!
oh, just for reference, this cake is one i did and its 3 two inch tall, six inch square layers. i put a cardboard in the middle, so we ended up with essentially 2 three-four inch tall cakes and i got double the servings. anyway, imagine this cake, but 3 tiers high and stacked together. i think it would look really strange. (and if your top tier is going to be 6 inches diameter, it'll be the SAME size as this birthday cake)
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=504833
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