I have offered to make a wedding cake for an informal dessert-only reception following a ceremony in our church.
They are going to have chain store sheet cakes already cut up on plates beforehand to be served at the reception. My cake is going to be mostly for show since it will be displayed on a table for a while, but it will eventually be eaten.
I originally said I would make only 2 tiers since they really didn't need all the cake, but I want to have the look of 3 tiers and decided I would do a 6-9-12 and make the 12 a cake dummy. Then there wouldn't be so much extra cake, but they could taste my cake and that in itself could potentially bring in some orders.
So, I was telling a couple of my friends the idea and they were MORTIFIED that I would use a "fake" cake as part of the wedding cake. Totally mortified.
Now I'm doubting whether I should go ahead with my plan of using the cake dummy. Should I ask MOB? She already said to go ahead and do what I want. I'm afraid she'll be mortified, too, if I ask about a dummy.
Is it a bad idea or do non-cake-making people just not get it?
Also, I paid $10 for a 12" cake dummy at my local supply store. Pretty steep not to use it.
Opinions?
I would use it. Mortified is a bit of an over-reaction. Some cakes at some weddings are completely fake, just for the big display.
However, serving your cake and pre-cut drying out slices at the same time, there is a risk they might think it is all your cake.
I learned not to explain everything about cakes to people that only eat them such a waste of my engery and they still to have a clue. so for your peace of mind I would just go ahead with your plans and no one needs to know if part is dummy or not. look at it like this they are seveing slab cake sooooooooooo. What they don't know won't stress you!
I'm much more concerned about folks thinking the store bought cakes are yours. I know you want to get some exposure, but is the risk worth it? What if the store bought cakes are crap? People will be shoveling that cake into their mouths while they're gazing at your work. Would it be at all possible for you to make the sheet cakes in order to preserve your reputation?
I'm concerned about the same thing as Diane. I've learned the hard way not to do a cake for an event if there's someone else's cake going to be served also.
I agree with DianeLM My concern would be your reputation, you want to generate business.. they are gonna be tasting that possibly dried up sheet cake but having seen your beautiful cake thinking they are eating it.. I would make the sheet cakes, although you are taking on the additional expense I think it would be well worth it.. think of it as advertising.. I wouldnt take the chance.
I agree with others, some people may think that you supplied the sheet cakes. Do you really think MOB will tell people, "Hey, I got this gal to make this really pretty cake to display but I'm too darn cheap, so I went to Walmart to feed you all sheet cakes".
Pretty low in my opinion!!
Anyway, I have in my contract that I will be the exclusive provider of decorated cakes, that includes groom's cakes. And that if any other cakes are there when I get there, or there is a discrepancy in the serving number (I reserve the right to contact catering & reception staff), that I can cancel my contract at anytime, keeping any money that has been paid. And yep, if I arrive at the reception and there is a cake there, the cake will not be setup. I have not had to do this yet, but it sure scares the crap out of them..
So if you are truly wanting to get exposure. Why don't you just do the 2 tier cake as promised, and make the sheet cakes? You can use the dummy some other time. Your reputation is on the line, MOB will not tell those people they are eating cheap, freezer burnt cake from the store, they will think it is yours.
Thanks everyone.
I have the same fear as you about people thinking I made the sheetcakes (they will be from Costco). But there is really nothing I can do about it since the MOB is the pastor's wife and already thinks I'm doing too much by making the display cake. She was only going to serve the sheet cakes until I offered the "wedding cake".
She has ordered cake for 150 people from Costco - all with different fillings. That would be a bit too much of an expense for me now as well as I didn't want to do all that work only to have it sitting cut up on the table when people arrived. At least I can claim responsibility for the (hopefully) pretty one.
I will be at the reception so hopefully I can field any comments about my cake vs. sheet cakes.
Thanks again for your opinions and for assuring me that it's okay to use a cake dummy without causing gasps and fainting at the reception, LOL.
depending on the situation what about offering to make the sheetcakes as she ordered them from Costco but at costco's price. Tell her this is part of your wedding present and part of your marketing but that you will need her to still p ay the same amount she would pay costco to help cover your expenses. This way you KNOW that it is good tasting cake plus you'll get to do the tiered cake for display.
As for the dummy, Most people won't even know unless you tell them.
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