I am a new cake decorator. I am humbled everytime I look at cakes on this site. Everything I learned I learned from the internet. The only class I have taken was a gumpaste flower one from Jennifer Dontz. (really great class). I started decorating with fondant and have really never learned buttercream techniques and such. My community college is offering wilton classes and I was wondering if you really learn a lot from these classes. If you could take a peek at my cakes and offer me some advice I would really appreciate. Thank you!!!
Take them anyway, whether you feel you need them or not. Or at least, take the first one. You never know what the instructor will tell you which is not in the books or available online.
Theresa 
If anything, they help you learn the correct techniques for bag angles, uses for tips, differences in icings and their uses, etc...
BC decorating will be much easier if you are taught these things
take the classes!! I took the ones from michaels craft store all 4 courses. I loved it! I have been doing cakes for years, but i was always afraid to make flowers or any of those things. I am now pretty good at them! I learned about alot of stuff and some secrets from the insrtuctor!!! LOL! Go for it!!
I loved them to learn lots of skills but also to get out of the house for a few hours and do something I love with others who do too - had a newborn at home at that time!
They are not expensive and I think they really help you learn the basics. There are several tips and techniques they can teach you about so I think they are definitely helpful.
Your cakes are wonderful!!! you are probably way ahead in terms of skill level for these classes, but I love taking anything and everything that comes my way! You can never learn too much, and Wilton does have some good techniques for piping and royal icing flower making. If you are not comfortable with buttercream, then Wilton is a good place to start.
I love your cakes, they are lovely. Yes, I highly recommend taking all the Wilton classes (not just because I am a Wilton instructor). But even if you pick up just one little measly tip or trick it can totally affect how your cake may turn out or you may learn just some extra things above and beyond from your instructor that may just happen to be addicted to Cake Central (like me!!!)
So my vote is YES!!!!
I would say go for it! Although I may not use all the techniques I have learned from classes the fact is they gave me experience with the mediums and introduced me to techniques I never would have tried otherwise. For example I took course 3 because I wanted to learn the RI flowers but I had no interest in fondant, well, guess what happened? I made my first fondant cake and loved it! Now I almost always cover my cakes with fondant (I love Michelle Fosters Delicious Fondant recipe by the way). My point is I think they are a great chance to explore and just have fun!
HTH!
By the way I love your cakes! Can you send me instructions for your orchid?
Thanks!
I agree with the others. I took the first three courses and I learned some very good tips. The instructor will be able to tell you many things that are not in books and certain experiences they have had. Plus the classes are inexpensive, especially if you catch them during a special
As ev eryone has said - YES! they are worth the time and effort. You said you don't know much about BC so why not learn it?
Please do go w/the attitude that you know nothing It will help the instructor.
Do be aware that not every Wilton instructor is great. Not every one shares more info than what is in the book. Find out how long the instructor has been teaching. Then find out how long she/he has been decorating. Wilton is famous for using people who have just finished their classes and don't know anything more than what they were just taught.
Hopefully you will get one that is a super decorator and a very sharing one.
I looked at your cakes and I think they are headed down a great path. I really think you would be better served finding classes at a local cake shop if they are available. They can not only teach you basics, but advanced techniques as well. With the recent raise in Wilton class cost, my local classes are only $10-15 more, and usually run 6 weeks.
Plus Wilton classes really stress the "Wilton Way" and their line of products. There is so much more out there!
For a newbie unsure of what they want to do with the skill - I'd totally say the Wilton classes. They taught me a lot when I was starting out.
I think it would be a good review/refinement for you, but would learn more at an actual cake shop's classes.
thanks so much for all your input-I guess I'll be signing up this fall-yaa!
Ditto!! I thought I knew what I was doing... until I started taking the classes! They have really helped me learn things I thought I knew how to do and I am learning so much else. And the instructors are there own bundle of knowledge and personal experiences to share. Its nice to sit down with a professional who has been there a million times and can share there opinions. I go to my class every week asking mine about cakes I am doing outside of class. I start Course 3 next week and I can not wait!
My vote is YES!! I really enjoyed the classes. I still need to take the Gumpaste (4th class), I think I'll have to see if my Michael's or Hobby Lobby has one starting soon.
I vote YES to take them!! I just finished my first course and it was awesome!!! I can't wait to take my second one!!! 
First off, your pictures are great!!
I'd agree with everyone else and say to take the classes too. I've been playing for a few months, and just finished my first course yesterday.
Well I FINALLY learned how to make a buttercream rose... 
(tears of joy!) (My masterpiece (kidding) is in my pics) I truly thought I'd never get the hang of it. And there were defintely things that I learned in class that I didn't now going in.
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