AMy nephew has asked me to make his wedding cake for August 3. Here in Missouri, the temperature that day could easily be between 90 and 100 degrees. The venue is about 40 minutes from me, and I do not have a refrigerated vehicle. I am concerned that I will have a buttercream mess by the time I deliver the cake. I would also then need to rush back home to attend the wedding, which is close to my home. Should I gracefully decline and refer him to a bakery and save myself a great deal of stress, or should I figure out how to make this work. I would really love to do his cake. Would appreciate input from anyone who has had a similar situation.

omg why avoid a ton of stress when you can put it on the map and plan on freaking out in advance

no but seriously do it if you want

i deliver in memphis steam bath heat all the time

my own cakes i've tested in corrugated cardboard boxes--the kind you get to move with--available at the storage places

i affix the reuseable freezer packs in there

i wrap a paper towel around the freezer pack to absorb any condensation--slide that into a plastic bag

affix it firmly inside the box so it cannot come loose--seal the cake & all into the box

it will keep an already chilled cake cool for hours even in direct sunlight

of course you would keep it out of the sunlight anyhow

but just saying my test was in full noontime sun

Find out the contact details for the venue. Ask what time you can deliver the cake the day before, is there a refrigerator available, etc.

If the cake starts dead cold from your house and you drive it to the venue the night before, you can avoid the worst of the day's heat. Air conditioning in the car would be enough after 8PM. 

Then you can repair any slight details that need it at your leisure, and not have any crazy last minute fuss.

AThank you for your ideas.:-)

ADoes it have to be buttercream? I find ganashe stands up to the heat better here ( Queensland, Australia) in the Summertime.

I'm in Virginia and the heat here in August can get up to the  90-100 range in a bad year. I refrigerate all my cakes overnight then deliver them in a sealed packing box that I get at Staples. No need to put a cold pack or anything in it, they stay pretty well insulated as long as the box is taped shut. I've travelled over an hour away with this arrangement in a regular air conditioned car and never had a problem. I don't use a special stacking system or a center dowel either, it isn't necessary as long as the cake is good and chilled when you put it in the box. Take it from the fridge, into the box, seal it up, straight into the car (cooled off ahead of time if needed) and go.

I had to make a three tiered cake for a birthday party that was being held outside in a park in August.  After reading about Indy debbie's buttercream under fondant and refridgerated it.  It went off without a hitch and it was in the 90s that day.  Hope that helps.