I'm getting set to take courses I, II, and III, but I"ve got a couple of questions.
1. I've done a fair amount of decorating, including 2 wedding cakes. Is it worth it to take course I? IOW, what goes on in the first class?
2. I have been under the impression that you have to make a cake following each course. Is this correct? Do you show it to the instructor ever? If so, how much time do they normally allow you to make the cake? I ask because the classes I'm going to take are on a Mon. Tues. and Wed. in a row. Isn't this a bit close together?
TIA -- Sarah
Thank you so much for the compliment deedee44! I learned how to do basic decorating techniques when I worked for Baskin Robbins about 20 years ago. Everything else I've learned on my own, and with a lot of help from CC! I don't know what gaps there may be in my basic knowledge, and I thought that taking these courses would potentially give me some tidbits and insights that may have escaped me. But, again, I thank you very much for the compliment! 
Sarah
You will be pretty busy with the classes in a row. They are usually one a week. The first class is more of a demonstration on how to ice a cake and how to make the icing and what to bring for the next class. You do learn some techniques too. I had a blast taking my classes as my instructor was really good and we had alot of fun. I think I actually learned more at home on my own(except for making some of the flowers) but the people in the class were fun to be with and see how they did on their cakes. You usually have to bring a cake iced for the next class, but some people didn't have it done.
Class I has shells, stars, clowns, roses, drop flowers, leaves and vines. Looking at your pictures, i see no reason to take class I. Your cakes are beautiful.
Are each of the classes 4 days long? If so, you won't necessarily make a new cake each time. for course 2, we only made one cake at the end. we were making flowers the rest of the nights. for course 3 we made 2 cakes. One for beginning fondant (the package cake) and the stacked wedding cake on the last night.
Oh, and if they aren't 4 sessions long, I have no idea!!
hth!
When someone comes to me at the store and says they have experience and asks if they should start with Course 2, I always tell them that even though they have experince they may pick up a few new tips or tricks or learn an easier way for doing things. I have never had anyone that decided to go ahead and take course 1 tell me they wish they hadn't. Most of them feel it was worth it.
Question for you: Are you taking all three Courses during the same month? Or is the Course 1 Mon, Tues and Wed?
In course 1 you will decorate a cake (that you bring) in lessons 2, 3 and 4. In course 2 you only bring a cake for lesson 4. In course 3 you will do two cakes, one is lesson 2 and then the two tier cake in lesson 4.
I too took a couple of courses at the same time. I did Course 1 and 3 together. They were Monday and Tuesday night. You could speak to your instructor, I ended up doing only 1 cake- for course 3 final. She said that what I did for that coverd everthing that I would have had to do for Course 1 and more. Maybe you could do the same. I'm going to go back for Course 2, but I think I might find a different instructor, I think I might learn more from someone else 
! Good luck
When someone comes to me at the store and says they have experience and asks if they should start with Course 2, I always tell them that even though they have experince they may pick up a few new tips or tricks or learn an easier way for doing things. I have never had anyone that decided to go ahead and take course 1 tell me they wish they hadn't. Most of them feel it was worth it.
Question for you: Are you taking all three Courses during the same month? Or is the Course 1 Mon, Tues and Wed?
In course 1 you will decorate a cake (that you bring) in lessons 2, 3 and 4. In course 2 you only bring a cake for lesson 4. In course 3 you will do two cakes, one is lesson 2 and then the two tier cake in lesson 4.
The course schedule says MOnday: Wilton cake decorating 1
Tuesday: Wilton cake decorating 2
Wednesday: Wilton cake decorating 3
I assumed it means that they are the different courses. The schedule also states that the courses are only 2 hours long. Does this sound like the courses everyone talks about? Seems kind of short to me. THere are no other classes offered for the month of AUgust.
Sarah
I can't believe they actually said that you needed the certificate from the previous course to take the next one. The Wilton classes are more for fun/beginners/brushing up, aren't they? Around here they're at Michael's and JoAnns and no cashier ringing up the charge for the class has ever asked me to show a previous class's completion certificate.
If you're doing cakes every day, there's no reason they shouldn't let you take class 3.
But if they won't let you change classes, at least the other students and teacher might have some great tips!
The course schedule says MOnday: Wilton cake decorating 1
Tuesday: Wilton cake decorating 2
Wednesday: Wilton cake decorating 3
I assumed it means that they are the different courses. The schedule also states that the courses are only 2 hours long. Does this sound like the courses everyone talks about? Seems kind of short to me. THere are no other classes offered for the month of AUgust.
Sarah
Okay that makes more sense, or it will when I assume they mean Course 1 on Mondays, Course 2 on Tuesdays and Course 3 on Wednesdays. Courses are 4 weeks long, and most instructors offer them the same night every week, so you would have four Mondays in a row for Course 1.
Call the store and ask for the insturctor's number and call her up and ask to make sure. Sometimes the stores are clueless about the classes. The instructor can give you the best answers.
I think that it is going to be an awful alot of work back to back for you. If you have a full time job you would have to spend your weekends making icing and cakes. I'm not saying that it couldn't be done, but it would be easier if you had days in between or if you took one course a month.
Czyadgrl, as a Wilton Instructor I can not tell someone they can not take a course. If they want to take Course 3 first that is their choice. I can suggest taking the other courses first and I can warn them that they may feel lost in certain lessons since we build on what we learn in pervious lessons, but I have never been told that someone could not take Course 2 or 3 with out taking Course 1.
yes they are two hr courses.however I sometimes run over 2hrs becuase I try to do some one-on-one with each student while others practice,or we get to chatting and decorating etc..or cleanig up...always a mess!!!! my store doesn't mind if we run over as long as wre done before closing.and also I have never heard of not being able to take course II or III without a course I certificate 
The course schedule says MOnday: Wilton cake decorating 1
Tuesday: Wilton cake decorating 2
Wednesday: Wilton cake decorating 3
I assumed it means that they are the different courses. The schedule also states that the courses are only 2 hours long. Does this sound like the courses everyone talks about? Seems kind of short to me. THere are no other classes offered for the month of AUgust.
Sarah
Okay that makes more sense, or it will when I assume they mean Course 1 on Mondays, Course 2 on Tuesdays and Course 3 on Wednesdays. Courses are 4 weeks long, and most instructors offer them the same night every week, so you would have four Mondays in a row for Course 1.
Call the store and ask for the insturctor's number and call her up and ask to make sure. Sometimes the stores are clueless about the classes. The instructor can give you the best answers.
I think that it is going to be an awful alot of work back to back for you. If you have a full time job you would have to spend your weekends making icing and cakes. I'm not saying that it couldn't be done, but it would be easier if you had days in between or if you took one course a month.
Czyadgrl, as a Wilton Instructor I can not tell someone they can not take a course. If they want to take Course 3 first that is their choice. I can suggest taking the other courses first and I can warn them that they may feel lost in certain lessons since we build on what we learn in pervious lessons, but I have never been told that someone could not take Course 2 or 3 with out taking Course 1.
Thanks, TexasSugar. I will definitely call the instructor. It sounded too close together to me too, but if the courses are once a month, then that makes more sense. There's no way I could do each course now at once -- I've got a 3 year old and a 6 month old! I think my dh would mutiny!
Anyway, thanks for the info.
Sarah
Okay I just signed up for Course I because I was told that I couldn't skip Course I and II and go straight to course III. I interned in a bakery for awhile and really only wanted to learn about the tiered cakes and more on fondant.....The class is at Michaels.....grrrrrr.....I feel like I might be wasting some time. I wasn't even told what to bring or let alone buy a student kit. I just walked over and flipped it over and made sure I had everything in it. So......what all do I need the first day of my blahhh basic Course I class? sniff sniff......I wish I had TexasSugar as my instructor. Also.....can someone explain how you can become a Wilton Instructor. I think that this would be awesome!!!!! Thanks!!!!!
ASupergirl, did you talk to the store or the instructor about taking Course 3? If you haven't talked to the instructor I would talk to her about it.
All you will need is a pen and maybe some paper to take notes for the first night. The first night the instructor will show you how to make the icing, torte a cake, ice a cake and a few other things. She (or he) will go over what you will need for the rest of the classes.
As far as being an instructor, you can go to Wilton.com and feel out an app. If you think you may want to become an instructor then I do think talking all three courses would be benificial to you, as you will learn what you would later end up teaching.
I know you may feel that you don't need or want to take Course 1. You may not need it, but you may also enjoy it, if you let yourself. Alot of my students enjoy being around others that like the same things they do, and are often sad when Course 3 is over.
I have yet had a student that came into Course 1 that had some experince decorating ever say they felt like Course 1 was a waste of time.
I just completed course 1 the other night. I am glad I took it. I considered myself pretty experienced since I have been a self-taught decorator for many years. I still learned tips here and there that made the course worth taking fo sure. I like the other ladies in the class and am glad to be going on to course 2 with them next week.
I cannot imagine taking all 3 courses at one time. I'd go bonkers. One class a week was plenty for me. LOL. Course one was a pre-made & iced cake plus class practice icings and your own cake icings. It was a lot of work making all of the icing seperately. I did take shortcuts and just re-used the same practice icing. I just wanted to learn the techniques, but not use them on my personal cake, such as the clown. So I did not feel the need to color the class icing for every single class etc.
On the first day, just bring your bags and parchment triangles and couplers. She will show you how to cut your bags properly. I didn't need to haul everything in and that did make me mad, so I will be leaving a comment on that part.
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