Help Me Plan My Wedding Cake Please
Decorating By OhMyGoodies Updated 23 Aug 2007 , 5:39pm by OhMyGoodies
Hey yall! We've finally set a date!!! We're getting married 6/7/08 
And I've decided on two different cakes just haven't made a final decision yet.
The first is made by tnt320to, she gave me the instructions and pictures last year on another forum when I first saw it I fell in love with it so I think this is the one we're going to go with but I'm not 100% yet lol.
And the second is by missyek, I fell in love with this one too lol. My favorite color is purple and my sister's favorite flowers are daisies (she won't be with us to celebrate due to her medical condition {she's in a vegitative state currently} but I want to include her)
Now I'm not asking about the design I'm asking about flavors and fillings. Me and my mother LOVE chocolate. My dad hates it, my hubby likes it. My best friend/maid of honor hates chocolate only likes white chocolate, and hubby's best man, her husband, only likes marble cake lol.
I know the wedding is all about us and what we want but I'd like everyone to be happy and be able to enjoy the cake and not have a ton left over. So I'm wondering what recipes you guys would suggest for both cake and filling for each layer. All three layers will be served at the reception, nothing being kept, I'll make another one on our anniversary lol. So far we've got a list of I believe 58 people we want to invite. And I'm sure all but maybe 5 will attend. I think the only ones that may not attend are my great aunt and uncle who live a few hours away and haven't been down to visit since my grand mother's passing 3 years ago.
Anyway I need lots of ideas on flavors and stuff so recipes are much appreciated!!! I'll be making the cake myself.... and we're having a small intimate informal wedding, no foo foo dress no tuxes, just a nice fancy dress and nice dress suits. Hope you guys can help! 
Thanks in advance!
Congratulations!!
Well I['m not much help on fillings and flavors but...
When I made my mistake and turned my white choc ganache (Ladycakes recipe) into butter by over beating and then added the white choc butter to my Duff's BC it was GREAT!!
Good luck sounds like it will be a beautiful day!
I'm not a big help on fillings either. For my neice I made one layer chocolate the other white. If you do buttercream filling then one person can just eat one layer and leave the other half on the plate. the other the other half and those that like both or marble can eat each. too many choices,
but If you like the top cake best but the daisies, use daisies instead of the roses on the top cake? THey are both nice and congratulations
Hmmm...how about the top layer be vanilla cake with raspberry filling (for your Dad and people like him). The middle layer could be marble cake with white choc. ganach filling (for your best friend and her DH and people like them) and the bottom layer could be choc. cake with choc. mousse filling (for you and your mom and your DH and all of the other choc. lovers!) Just thoughts....I'm sure you'll figure out just the right delicious combos. so that everyone is thrilled with their piece of cake!
BTW...Congratulations! 
Congrats on the wedding! So sorry to hear about your sister though!
I just wanted to say that I think jadak had a great suggestion. The only other thing I could add was that one cake on the cake challenge the other day with the white layer, choc layer, cookies and cream filling and ganache filling sounded soooooooo delicious!!!!
Congrats on the wedding! So sorry to hear about your sister though!
I just wanted to say that I think jadak had a great suggestion. The only other thing I could add was that one cake on the cake challenge the other day with the white layer, choc layer, cookies and cream filling and ganache filling sounded soooooooo delicious!!!!
Congrats on the wedding! So sorry to hear about your sister though!
I just wanted to say that I think jadak had a great suggestion. The only other thing I could add was that one cake on the cake challenge the other day with the white layer, choc layer, cookies and cream filling and ganache filling sounded soooooooo delicious!!!!
Well, did I get my point across LOL! Don't know what happend there!!! I only hit submit once!!
Thank you all for your suggestions!! Keep 'em comin gang!
I like what jadak suggested, really like that idea of the vanilla w/ raspberry filling, marble w/ white chocolate ganache filling, and chocolate w/ chocolate mousse filling.... but what white chocolate ganache recipe do you suggest? I'm looking for a "to die for" taste on a budget lol. So imported chocolates are totally out! unless they can be found online for cheap lol.
I was also hoping Debi would pop in with her ideas and I also wanted to get everyones opinions on our dinner menu as well....
We are planning food for 100. (I was told by a local caterer to double the food so for 50 people order 100 to add for ppl going for 2nds and ppl taking extra) but I wasn't sure.... so anyway I was thinking....
Ham and Turkey deli slices
American and Swiss cheese slices
BBQ meatballs
Veggie platter
Chips, Pretzels, Dips
Rolls
Tea and Kool-Aid (for the kids lol)
and I think that's it so far.... I did have an idea to make these chicken slices... you take boneless skinless chicken breasts and slice them into two to three slices and then brown them on both sides, then bake them with this Grand Marnier sauce. Supposed to be served warm and it says I can make them ahead of time and freeze them and reheat them after they have thawed in the fridge.... I'm just not sure if I should offer that with everything else or offer it INSTEAD of something... I don't want to have to spend a fortune on this stuff because I won't have ANY help at all from my family as they say we should've just stayed married the first time lol. But this is what we wanted we wanted the not so big foo foo wedding lol.... Anyway any more ideas on this stuff is much appreciated!!! Also recipes help tons!
We are planning food for 100. (I was told by a local caterer to double the food so for 50 people order 100 to add for ppl going for 2nds and ppl taking extra) but I wasn't sure.... so anyway I was thinking....
We'll let Debi and other caterers comment on this, but for me this sounds like someone just trying to get more money. If they are telling you to double the food then the first thing I would ask is for them to show me the proportions they are charging me for in the first place.
I know with a larger group that some people will have seconds and others won't even take a full "serving" of everything. I would find out how much they are providing for your price per person first. I personally feel that a caterer would have something like this figured in already. (Hmm... maybe that KFC chicken story debi can turn around as an example here too?)
When I worked for catering our buffets were already portioned with extra 'cause it was a buffet. So when people said 50 were coming than that included enough for 50 plus a little for extras but It was 15 years ago and I don't remember exactly how much. I think perhaps is was 1 1/4 per person or maybe 1 1/2. So if you are ordering from a catering place ask, when you say 50 persons for a chicken breast than does that only include actually 50 pieces?
I know for open house weddings we ordered enough for 3/4 of the invited although we ALWAYS had extras which is good, you don't' want to run out. So for 400 invitations we only ordered for 300 unless they counted a lot of out of town announcements/invitations in that number and knew they weren't coming.
We are catering the reception our selves. Which is why I was wondering about all of it lol....
somewhere around her Indydebi went into a lot of detail about how much a portion is per person depending on the food. I am at work right now but will look for that thread tonight when I get home ( it may be late though)
I forgot to say earlier that I love those cakes, I can see a great combination of the daisies on that top one
Thanks Leily. I think I'll grab Debi's attention this way and see what she can add to my ideas. I've spoken with her in private about all this and she's been a great help. I've also looked at her website menu and picked a few things off it that I'd like but I don't think our budget would allow.
Another thing I wanted to do was have a chocolate fountain at the reception with freshly cut bananas... (omg that is so good! lol), strawberries cut up to allow for more, pretzel sticks or mini pretzels, and of course some marshmallows lol. I just can't find a cheap enough chocolate fountain anywhere. Wilton's is $100.00 the ones I've found on ebay are up there too. And when I have found a cheap one I don't know weather it's a legit thing or not lol. I'm so scared to buy one off ebay without knowing weather it truely works or not lol.
Ok anyway I'm gonna see if I can grab Debi to come post some ideas and tips here incase someone else is watching that needs help with this same thing lol.
I've seen chocolate foutains at Bed Bath & Beyond and they have those 20% off coupons all the time. Here's the link. It's $99.99 and with a coupon would be about $80. You may also be able to rent one from a nice party store.
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13957622
Also I've done a lot of party food planning and I usually plan for the number of people I have CONFIRMED coming times 1.25. Keep in mind on average 10% don't show up even though they have every intention of coming.
We are planning food for 100. (I was told by a local caterer to double the food so for 50 people order 100 to add for ppl going for 2nds and ppl taking extra) but I wasn't sure....
Oh that is SUCH bullsh**!!!!! I cannot believe a caterer stays in business with that kind of philosophy! 
Ham and turkey slices: I get mine at GFS, where they slice it for free any size you need. I just tell them "sandwich size" and it's great. Figure 4 oz per person. So for 50 people, you'd need 200 ounces = 12.5 lbs of meat.
I serve mine on the large croissants from Sams'. These are really good size. For an event for 50, I buy 65-75 and usually have some left over. they have a "classier" look than just bread, buns or plain 'ole rolls.
Cheese: If you get 50 slices of Swiss and 50 slices of American, you'll have plenty. If you lay them out individually on a tray, you will need to put wax paper between the layers. As cheese gets warm, it sticks to each other ... blecky.
Meatballs: I figure 4-6 per person, depending on if this is your main meat or not. A 5-lb bag from GFS has approx 150-160 meatballs. The serving suggestion on the bag indicates 6 per person; serves 27 (27 x 6 = 162). For 50 people, I'd get 3 bags. Watch the size....some brands are half-ounce and some are 5/8 ounce. Not a big difference, but it's a difference that may make a diff in how many you get per bag.
Chips/pretzels: When you open these bags (especially the chips), open the bags from the bottom. Then when you pour them into the bowl, the large unbroken ones will be on top of the bowl and look much better than all the crumbs that are in the bottom of the bag. Line some inexpensive baskets with napkins and serve the chips in those. Pretzels look great
served from a punch bowl. I put a small ice scoop in the pretzel bowl for serving.
Veggie: 2 bags of baby already-peeled carrots, 4-5 green peppers - julienne sliced; one 3 or 4 lb container of grape tomatoes; 2 heads of cauliflower; 4-5 cucumbers, sliced. Put the tomatoes in the center and the other veggies around them. No two colors are to be next to each other. This also looks great on a rectangle shaped tray .... no two colors touch, and it looks like a quilt pattern! Very pretty! Serve the ranch dip in a large (LARGE!) martini glass.
Choc fountain: Don't cut the strawberries in half. First, it looks like you're being chintzy. Second, it affects how long the berries will be "fresh". Strawberries will be the most favorite item at the fountain, so I'd get about 4 lbs (this is 1/2 a flat and you should have about 80 berries in it). 2 bunches of bananas and some 7-up (for the anti-browning bath). For 50 guests, be sure to have at least 100 skewers .... I'd have 200 to be safe, but you wont' use all of them.
Your sliced chicken slices sound great, but it may be too much with sandwiches AND meatballs. Plus it sounds like a conflicting food .... everything you've listed is more of the finger food type (meatballs can be eaten with toothpicks or forks) but this sounds like a dinner food.
Let me know how else I can help!
P.S. Add some marshmellows to the choc fntn. You'd only need a couple of bags and they are only about $1/bag. Otherwise, your strawberries and bananas will disappear faster .... marshmellows are cheap "fillers" to help your items last longer and go further.
Debi will you be my mommy? lol Thank you so so so much for all that info!!! That is soooooo much help! I'm going to take all of your advice and put it all to work! I appreciate your honesty about the serving amounts and I'm glad I posted to get all the ideas I have and I'm glad I have you as friends! Yall are so much help!
As you get closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, choc fntns will be much cheaper. I have 5 and the most I paid for one was $39.99, and they have 4 tiers over the bowl.
My prediction is 6/7/08 will be THE wedding date next year, just like 7/7/07 was this year. Hubby's nephew is getting married on that date "....because I'll be able to remember it" I've already turned down 2 brides for this date (good thing nephew booked early!)
Coming in at 2nd place will be 8-8-08.
As you get closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, choc fntns will be much cheaper. I have 5 and the most I paid for one was $39.99, and they have 4 tiers over the bowl.
My prediction is 6/7/08 will be THE wedding date next year, just like 7/7/07 was this year. Hubby's nephew is getting married on that date "....because I'll be able to remember it" I've already turned down 2 brides for this date (good thing nephew booked early!)
Coming in at 2nd place will be 8-8-08.
I saw on the Today Show (I think) that the 2008 Olympics will start on 08/08/08 and that the Chinese consider 8 to be a lucky number. I think it will be the most popular date.........we'll see. Have to remember to compare notes then. 
Debi, I admire your willingness to share your trade secrets on your catering. I always wanted a catering business when I had my "mom and pop" cafe. I did cater a few events for people but really wasn't equipped properly and all the carrying and toting got me down!!! If my health wasn't so bad, I would think about it now and combine it with the cake decorating. My daughter does cakes also.
Good luck on your wedding. By the way, I love the top cake. Very elegant. I can see why you would want the daisies. Was my mom's favorite also.
Diane
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I love the first wedding cake and the idea someone had of using daisies instead of roses.
I don't cater but I have seen some cute things at weddings and events that are inexpensive to make. I am a recipe junkie so I am always looking for the "out of the ordinary" stuff LOL.
If you are interested, I will gladly share recipes.
Oh Debi, I forgot to add that I was just waiting for you to comment on that statement from the caterer. As soon as I read that post I thought, "Uh oh" Debi will give this guy hell! Hang in there........I'm pretty good at voicing my opinion also and I think people appreciate that more than beating around the bush.
Diane
Thanks everyone! I was thinking maybe instead of incorporating the daisies into the cake design (I change my mind often 
very bad habit lol) I was thinking of maybe decorating with daisies or carrying daisies instead of my wanted purple roses.... I dunno maybe make all the girls wear daisies in their hair or something lol
I agree that soemthing does'nt sound right with what the caterer told you. Our catere planned for 100 people, 96 showed up, and we had enough left overs to feed another 25!.
As for your flavors & fillings, I also like the idea of the different layers to try to at least please some of the people (though it is about you ). With all the caterers on here I wish I had known about this site when I was planning my reception last May!
My anniversary is 3-21 so my DH can't forget
It's funny you all mention the easier to remember dates...
The first time me and my husband got married wasa 6/8/01... nothing that screams. Well on our 4th wedding anniversary two years ago he forgot our anniversary. What made it worse was the marriage license was framed and hung right over top his side of the bed... on the wall next to the bed he got out of bed every morning and it was staring him in the face. He forgot. And I let it go for over a week before I reminded him. He remembered our best friends anniversary and I only mentioned it once so far that year. So it made it real bad lmao. Then turned around and he got arrested and put in jail for 30 days for not paying child support to his ex-wife which he did pay but his boss at the time pocketed all the money and the CS case worker wasn't on our side at all! and pushed for him to be locked up. Anyway that's why we got divorced too much all back to back and what made things even worse... he remembered his anniversary with his exwife and not ours.....
LOL so I figured 6/7/8 would be the easiest thing next to 1/2/3 for him lol.
Congratulations!
I bought my chocolate fountain at Sam's for $40 last year...when my daughter got married. We have used it numerous times for showers and family get togethers and it is always a big hit. So you don't have to purchase one of the more expensive ones to be able to enjoy it at your wedding...a smaller (less expensive) one will work great...and look beautiful.
I agree Doughbelly! A very nice CC'er has PM'ed me with some info that she purchased her's on clearance at Kohl's and is even willing to check their store again and see if they are still on sale for me. She got them on sale from $40.00 down to $20.00 so that's a steal I haven't been able to match that price anywhere yet lol. So I'm hoping she returns my message tomorrow telling me that she was able to find them at that price again lol.
Check your local thrift shop for a chocolate foutain. Goodwill, St.Vincent.
Sometimes they were never used or used just once. Many are under $10.
Another hot item is the s'more makers. you see a lot of them in the thrift store too. Also try garage sales.
Carleen
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