I know this may seem backwards to a lot of you....but I have never done an all buttercream cake. I always cover with fondant. I'm so far out of my comfort zone here and could really use some words of wisdom!

Here is the picture the bride emailed me. I will only be doing 3 tiers. I have no idea which type of buttercream to use to achieve this texture. It will be vanilla cake & BC, with a raspberry filling.
This will be the tallest cake I have ever done so I'm pretty nervous about stacking and transporting, any tips would REALLY be appreciated!!

So, my main questions are:

1.What type of BC should I use?

2. It's Wednesday night and the cake is due Friday at 3pm. Can I finish the whole project Thursday and refrigerate till Friday?

3. HOW do I get that "stucco" texture? small offset spatula?

Apparently I didn't attach the picture? I'll try to figure it out now.....

Here is a wedding cake I just did with a textured finish...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=159486200778899&set=a.105539249506928.8399.105536999507153&type=1&theater

is this what you mean?

Yes, that's pretty close. Is this as simple as it looks? Ice like usual then spread more with a spatula?

Yep pretty much! I used a small spatula, and then "pulled" the icing in opposite direction and staggered the pattern...so pull to the left, then right etc. and stagger the overlaps as you go up the cake.... does that make sense!?

I did a wedding cake where she wanted swirled/textured frosting. I just used the back of a large metal spoon, like the bigger ones in a serving set of silverware, and swirled it around until it looked good. Takes time, but isn't hard to do.

Thanks so much! I think I managed to get the picture online-

I'm doing a wedding cake just like this for the weekend. My question is....do I crumb coat the stack then finish off with the swirly buttercream...or do I swirly each tier than stack?
I'm just worried I might mess up the texture while I'm stacking.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks so much

Cake is being picked up tomorrow morning, it's only a 6",8" and 10", so it has to be assemebled before hand.

I just wasn't sure if I should crumbcoat stack then add my 'textured' buttercream or texture each tier then assemble....I think I'm leaning towards texturing then assembling, guess I better figure it out soon as I have to get started this afternoon!!
Thankx

HI, i would make any swirls, etc. , when the b/c is applied ,while it is still soft and not set up. You can do it before you stack, after stacking(as long as the b/c is still soft and managable. You can use american buttercream(indydebi's recipe, sugarshack's recipe, etc. or you can use imbc, smbc etc. Just which ever the bride wants and what you agee to. hth

Thanks Icer.....but I should still crumbcoat the cakes first then apply the b/c in the textured manner?? Then stack....I think that's my plan of action, just wanted to check and see if that made sense to other people lol
Thanks again

Tor1985, glad to help, Yes, you are correct in your reply. You go it going!!!!

Awesome, can't wait to get started!

I'm not delivering the cake, it's being picked up, therefore I have to assemble ahead of time

Thanks again

Crumb coat first...refrigerate to set, then start your icing and texture. Only I would do the icing/texture as you stack your cakes. Do the first tier with texture, then stack the second, texture, then finish with the third. I think you'll have a more consistent look if you do it that way. It's only 3-tiers and it should transport well...as long as you tell whoever is picking it up how to handle it!