My DH asked me a question a few nights ago and I wasn't really listening so I said "sure." I didn't realize his question was if I would make his friends wedding cake for him as a gift!!! 
He called his friend already and they are really happy and excited. (He sometimes will drive over just to stop by if we have any leftover desserts my DH mentions 
) The problem is I am nowhere near ready to do a wedding cake! I've done some stacked cakes already that aren't in my photos but my decorating still needs to improve. The wedding is not until June 2008 so I have 1 1/2 years. The problem is do I let them down and tell them I can't do it or practice my butt off and go ahead since I obviously have a while before the wedding. My DH seems to think I can do it with no problem but I know better. My head is spinning right now!
You can do it. Your cakes in your gallery are beautiful and we are all here to get you through it! I say talk with her and see what she wants and go from there. Then decide what you want to do! 
I am sure you can do it! Your cakes are beautiful and just think of all you can learn in 18 months! If I were you I would take a couple of classes on stacked cakes and just play around. Find out from the bride to be what they are wanting and how many guests she is estimating. Are you just doing the wedding cake or the grooms as well? I loved your story cause I ask my dh stuff all the time and he answers without really listening sometimes.
Before you back out of it, I would talk to her and find out what she wants. She may want something simple or something you feel comfortable doing. Or she may want something you don't want to do. Get an idea of her tastes and ideas first. 
And have a talk with hubby and tell him no more completely free cakes, especially for weddings. If you want to give the cake as a gift I would give your time as a gift and atleast charge the cost of what goes into the cake. How many other people are giving a $200, $300 or more gift?
DOH! 
You need to pay more attention when your dh is talking to you LOL
I say go for it! I just had to take a look at your photos 
and I think you do some pretty nice cakes!! PLUS you have a whole year & a half to get what you want (or what the bride wants, I should say) down! You can do it!
I agree - find out what she has in mind first and let her know what you will be capable of. I am certain you will be able to do it - you have TONS of time to prepare. Also find out how many people will be attending, how big will this cake be?
I also agree your gift should be your time, charge them the cost of the ingredients. Like TexasSugar mentioned, would you have normally given them a $300-$500 gift? Unless it is a very small wedding, then it would not be so bad.
Keep in mind you could always do a dummy cake with a real layer for them to cut and sheet cakes to hide in the kitchen as well.
ok, ya'll are calming me down a little. I'm shaking from nerves just thinking about doing a wedding cake! I don't know about a grooms cake since no one know about them where I live (my family is from the south so of course we do though) I just called him and told him to start thinking of ideas for the design, # of servings, flavors and possible fillings. He said he'll talk to Shelly (the future bride) when he gets a chance. He's a guy who is really into bright colours so I'm wondering what they'll come up with. IF (and when ) I feel like I seriously can't do it even with 18 months of practice I'll tell them both and be honest.
I told my DH how expensive it costs to make certain cakes and now he regrets it a little, but they have been friends since they were both 4 years old so I guess it's ok. I just told him never again mention of doing a cake for free! I made a bunch of mini desserts for my brothers wedding and that cost me a small fortune so I'm glad he didn't mention I would do that on top of the cake! 
mcalhoun ---my DH is the king of not listening when I tell him or ask him something! In fact that's how he missed my brothers wedding this Sept. and our daughter missed passing out the bubbles because he went to the wrong location. The one time I don't listen to him because I'm busy and look what happens 
Why couldn't he have asked me if I needed a brand new car or more cake supplies instead
I think with CC's help I just might be able to pull it off, but I have to be honest if it wasn't for you all I would have called him up to say "I'm sorry I just can't do your cake" So be prepared because the fear is in me and I know I'll have a ton of ?'s for you all. ---Melissa
mkolmar,
You can do this!! Your cakes are beautiful and you have plenty of time to practice before the big day. All of your CC friends will be right here when you need us!
Vicki
I KNOW you can do it. Quit worrying about it, and have fun with it!! (Although, you know I would freak out if it was me )
~Beth
You will do fine, your cakes look nice and smooth and very professional and you have a long time to practice the construction. Thats the best way to get a first wedding cake under your belt...a freebie! People getting a free wedding cake will most likely be thankful and not too critical.
You will be fine...I agree you still have an year and a half..and your cakes are beautiful! They are so smooth...that is the most important thing.
Good for you!!
Something strange happened and all of the posts from yesterday on this are gone---odd. 
Thanks to everyone for all of the support I'm going to go through with it unless they want something I can't do with a 1 1/2 worth of practice, then I'll tell them I just can't.
I'm always a bag of nerves when making a cake! My DH knows this too so I'm suprised he offered me to make his friends cake. I wish I had the confidence to make a wedding cake ---but we'll see! Ready or not here I come!
My DH has been friend with Ryan since they were 4 years old. We missed his first wedding because Ryan was in Germany and my DH was in Japan. (I was in training in the states) So now that this is his 2nd marriage we are sure to be making this one!
My brother was married this past Sept. and I spent a small fortune while making a ton of mini-dessert items. I'm hoping that this doesn't happen again with this wedding cake but I have a feeling it will because of how pricey making a cake can be! My DH knows that to make a wedding cake is not cheap and a lot of work but I don't think he realizes how much time and $ is involved. The good news is that I'll be done with school by then so I can take those few weeks till the wedding to really get down to brass tacks. By the way...my DH and I have talked and he will now longer be offering a wedding cake to anyone else for free! considering I about lost my mind when I found out.
Thanks to all of you here for calming me down some! I can always count on CC and that's the ONLY reason I am going to go through with this, because I know ya'll willbe there to help answer my gazillion questions. Much love, Melissa
Well, you know that with a year and a half notice, you'll have plenty of time to budget buying supplies.
If you figure out what you will need (like flour, cake mixes if you use them, baking powder, powdered sugar, etc); and how long the item will stay fresh, you can stretch the outgo over a longer period of time.
It won't seem quite as expensive that way...Good luck, and have fun!
I just wanted to say that my husband did the same thing to me only two weeks after I finished my Wilton III course. I was offered the chance to make his friends wedding and grooms cake. I practiced on the wedding cake , but I did not have my smoothing down real good yet so I declined on doing the wedding cake. I did however say I would do the grooms cake. It served 204 people, and it is in my photos still the only wedding one i have done. Anyway it costed me about $75 dollars, and I bought only the best ingredients from SAM'S so I got more for my money. And I also did chocolate covered strawberries for the top and sides of the cake. I was a nervous wreck, but the day came and I got things all set up without a problem. My hands were trembling the whole time. I attended the wedding and reception. The wedding cake was awful, and they paid a ton for it. The filling was bulging out of the sides and it wasn't even stacked. Everyone was circling the grooms cake saying how wonderful it was. I was so proud. The wedding planner bum rushed me and asked if she could have my card. i didn't have any..... Anyway I have been doing cakes since August and would have no problem doing a wedding cake now. i am actually looking for friends that aren't married yet, and telling them I would do theirs. Go for it!
Kelly, I'm glad everything went great with the grooms cake you did! I bet they were happy you made it since the wedding cake turned out so bad, I'm sure the guests were happy you made it too
WELL, my cousin just now planned her wedding and it's going to be this year on June 9. I just talked to her and she was dropping some major hints and I told her of someone I know who does cakes practically for cost. I don't think I could do her cake well in that short amount of time while being a mommy and in college. I told her if the date was booked then I would do her cake because I know everyone who is any good in this area has been booked for a long time! I told her I would do a small dessert table if she still wanted one though. (she mentioned this at my brothers wedding) She doesn't like cake at all--she hates it---so I don't think it's really that big of a deal to her she just wants one for the photos. Only if she desperatly can't find anyone will I make this cake since it's so close. I think I can handle the other one though since it is 1 1/2 years away---then again when the date comes closer I know I'll be on CC non-stop asking questions and for advice
Go for it! Go for it! gooooo for it!. You can do it-have faith
You post a picture like your Course II basketweave and think you're not yet ready for weddings???? Oh, darlin', you are SO ready! You will do great! And like it's been said, your CC family is always here to support you! You have nothing to worry about!
A year and a half is PLENTY of time to practice! The cakes in your gallery are lovely and I'm sure you will have no trouble.
I agree with the others. Plan ahead. This has saved my "buns" several times in the past. Get the bride to choose a cake (of course THAT will take a while) and if you can do flowers, embellishments, etc. early...DO IT!! I try to do all my "extras" at least one month early so the week of the wedding it is just bake and decorate. That really decreases my stress level.
YOU CAN DO IT!!
Beth in KY
You can do it! You have a year and a half to wrap your mind around the idea and to practice what you would like to do. I have every faith in you and plus you have all of these great, talented, experienced CC members to cheer you on.
Have fun with it and go for it.
You can do it!!!!
Worse case would be cakes on a separated tier - like the one that holds 3 cakes and has the bar down the side people decorate with flowers. I think its called the floating cake stand. You obviously can decorate very well from the looks of your photos - maybe 3 separate cakes would take the stress off of you and let you enjoy your first wedding cake.
Good luck - you'll get by with a little help from your friends!
You'll be just fine! I've gotten myself into these binds, too! I now have to do 2 or 3 cakes for my nephew's Bar Mitzvah. They want one for the luncheon, one for the party, and maybe one for a dinner. ALL in the same weekend!!! EEK!! One of the cakes is a 6 tier chocolate cake with chocolate medalions......a little over my abilities.
But, it's for my sister....so she'll have to take what I am able to do!!!
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