Anyone making their own cake?

rungirl12

If so, how are you getting it to the venue?  I plan on making a 2-3 tier cake, but will feel uneasy about it until I know exactly how it's getting transported safely to our reception site.

Sydney91

My future grandmother in-law makes cakes for the Elks and other organizations she is involved in. If the tiers are not sitting directing against each other (below), they can be transported put together (slowly - aka four-way flashers - on the floor of the vehicle) and touched-up once at the site. She also only transports two tiers at a time. If there are 4 tiers, she'll transport 2 "cakes" of 2 tiers. Any more and it's too heavy and can crush the cake if you hit a bump. 

If they have space between the layers (below), each tier must be transported on its own and assembled at the site. The stands are often too flimsy and can cause the cake to fall or sway off-centre on the journey turning a corner.

My fiance's grandmother is building a two-tier version of the cake below.

My fiance's grandmother takes icing and piping equipment with her so she can fix any blemishes that show up during transport once the cake is at the venue. Mine, for example, will be adorned with the fruit only once the reception starts (this is no bother for me - in this time I will be having photos taken of the wedding party and I will never know the difference except the cake will be in good shape until it is dismantled and served to guests). The cake photo will be taken when the wedding party photo session is complete.

I hope this helps!!

squishy17

Im thinking of making our cake as well. Cakes are SOOO expensive and I do it on the side anyways. Transporting is a nightmare but not impossible. Make sure the cake is stable; use dowells and a durible cake (something heavy like pound cake holds up well because it wont crumble) also a durible frosting like buttercream. what i find that really helps is have someone else drive and you hold it on your lap. I want my eye on the cake the whole time and that way you can brace it yourself. Putting in in a big box is a good idea as well. Bring extra frosting for spots that may need some fixing!! Sorry im all over the place, but good luck!

kmmssg

Do check with your venue first.  There are many venues that will allow a cake that was NOT made in a licensed kitchen to be brought in.  There are JUST as many venues who will not allow this as it puts any food poisoning liabilities on the caterer.  There are also caterers who just flat out won't allow this either.

Lots of venues allow this but make sure you are good to go before you take this route.  A few years ago a bride posted on the cakes board that the cake her g'mother made for 300 was not allowed into the venue because it wasn't made in a licensed kitchen.  She didn't check, and she ended up with no cake at her reception and cake for 300 as left overs.

rascal17

I will be either bringing it early (our ceremony isnt til 5pm and having a first look at 3 pm so I have time) and having a friend (who does cakes as well) set it up after the ceremony and before we arrive. Or having said friend take my apartment keys and pick up the cake from my place and bring it over. It will most likely be the first option because I am anal and dont trust anyone no matter how talented handle my cakes I make. 

When I transfer cakes I usually only do 2 teirs assemble at a time (so a 4 teir cake will be transfered in 2 peices). Also make sure you have dowels (the plastic straw ones will work for the number of tiers your thinking of) in the cake to prevent it collapsing in on itself. Put the cake on the car floor as its more stable. Carry an emergency cake cake (A little bit of everything used to decorate the cake: buttercream, fondant, royal icing) to fix any damage once it arrives.