OK, so this may sound silly to some, but I'm trying to get my head around making a cake for a bridal shower in November. I've never done anything more than a small cake 9" round, square, sheet cake, etc. I've been playing with all the different techniques that I've learned and am going to take a shot at doing a bridal shower cake for 75 people 
BOY AM I SCARED!!!
How do I start to plan for this?? I want to do a simple cake, buttercream with a red bow to look like christmas gifts as this is the theme for her wedding. I've been working on the fondant bow, but didn't do the greatest - I did MMF and didn't add gumtex, or any other product like that, so it fell apart - so I have to work on that.
Do I bake the cake itself a few days in advance and then ice the day before? I don't know much about stacking OR about serving sizes for square pans, so I don't even know what size pans to buy.....
This feels so overwhelming that I don't even know where to start!!! 
Any suggestions?? I don't necessarily need a step by step instruction, I just think I need an experienced person to kind of push me in the right direction!!
The easiest would be to make three separate cakes and decorate them, as you said, to look like gift packages. I've done this for many occasions, and I usually have two square cakes on the table, with the third on a stand directly behind and between the two lower ones. I place the cakes so they look like diamonds, not squares. And I use bows made from melted candy melts. You use strips of freezer paper approximately 3/4" wide by 6" long, 18 loops per bow. The rest of the "package" has dots of frosting or simple designs.
Good luck with your project! I'm happy for you that you have some time to decide which direction to go. Lots of planning is never a bad thing.
http://www.browniepointsblog.com/2006/04/09/how-to-make-sweet-sushi/
http://www.cakecentral.com/article14-Cake-Baking-Cutting--Serving-Guide---2-in-Deep-Pans.html
This should help get you started on figuring out what size squares you will need for your particular number of servings, the first one is for 3" deep pans and the second one is for 2" deep pans
good luck!!!
Thanks for the info guys!! I have to plan early otherwise it will be a disaster and I know if it fails, I'll never do this again - although I've found the one thing I love more than my own child and that is cake decorating!!
So, I'm eager to succeed!!
GeminiRJ - how do I make a bow from candy melts?? I thought I could only do this from fondant!!
I'll have to do a search on this....I don't know what I would do without all of you!! 
I know the instructions for this technique (complete with photos) was printed in the magazine Mailbox News, because the editor called me and asked me to send the instuctions. I just can't remember what month it was. I can look it up tonight and let you know, or you can read the instructions I've listed here. My kids love when I do these bows, because they get to eat the loops I don't use! The best part about the bow is that it can be made while your cake is baking and youcan decorate as soon as the cake is cool. No waiting for the bow loops to dry!
Making a bow with candy melts is very easy. You cut strips of freezer paper 3/4" wide by 6" long. I usually make 20, and use 18. I melt the candy melts in the mirowave using 10 oz. pyrex bowls. Follow the directions for melting on the bag. (It takes about 2-3 minutes, stirring every minute). Lay down a sheet of wax paper to use as your working surface. Using a small off-set spatula, I coat the strips on the SHINY side of the paper. If you coat it too think, the loop has a tendency to break. Practice will tell you the right amount. (Keep all the broken ones until the bow has been completed, because you may be able to use it to finish off the bow.) Once coated, pick up the loop by one end and hold it so it is hanging down. Slide you fingers along the edges to clean them up. Bring the two ends together and place on a try covered in wax paper. If the loop doesn't want to stay stuck together, place a pen or pencil at the end of the loop to hold it in place. The candy will harden fairly quickly, but if you want to speed it up, put the tray in the refrigerator (not freezer). Mark on the iced cake where you want your ribbons to go with a ruler or other straight edge. Cut four more strips of freezer paper to the lengths that you need. Coat one at a time, placing on the cake. (I start the strip at the cake board and bring it up and over the side.) To assemble the bow, peel the freezer paper off all strips. Using melted candy as glue, dip a loop end in the candy and place on the cake. Your bottom layer of the bow will have 8 loops. Place another layer between the first, and you will want to break off a small piece of the loop to make it fit nice. Each additional loop that you add will need to be smaller than the last, breaking off more of the loop end.
If you want the ribbons on the cake to look a little more finished, you can pipe a border using a #3 tube along the edges.
Thanks so much for that tutorial!! I think I understand your instructions and I'm going to give it a shot!! It sounds pretty easy!! Bite my tongue I know.... 
I wish you luck with the bow. I do them so often, I can do them in my sleep. If you mess up, the candy can be remelted, too. I should mention that I always tell the person picking up the cake that if it's a hot day, don't leave the cake in the car to run errands. The bow will melt. Keep the cake cool!
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