So I'm officially a maid for my best friend who is getting married in about two years. In addition to the BM duties, she has asked (ok, more informed) that since I am the member of our group who bakes, and bakes well, that I be the one to make her cake to keep costs managable. So far we know that the wedding is going to be quite formal, Catholic ceremony, masquerade reception in a ballroom, estimated 200 people, and the thought of making the cake is stressing me out already. I would really love to make it, it's just the sheer enormity of work that would go into a formal cake for 200 people plus the cost of materials (just finished one degree and plan on starting another within the next year, so finances are an issue) and the thought of last minute failure is stressing me out. Is this something I should be able to learn enough about and practice enough given the long engagement to be able to pull off or would we be better off looking into a professional bakery?