Fiance's Aunt wants to make our cake...Input?

Missmonica1002

FH aunt, doesn't bake cakes for a living, but has in the past. She lives 6 hours away from us, and said she would make our cake, if we just payed for the ingredients. Which would be okay, but I haven't talked to her since July, and i really think it would be more of hassle trying to call her and make sure everything is on track, and trying to tell her what i would like, and the colors. What is everyones opinion on this? thanks! =]

AmoroAgain

If you don't feel like doing it, and have the money for a pro cake, then don't have the aunt do it.  Just tell her that you'd like for her to be a guest that day and not have to worry about anything else.

MJB2010

I would let her make the cake. She has experience and it would save you a ton of money that you could put into other aspects of the wedding. You could ask to see pictures and help her understand your color scheme. I am having an independent cake baker do my cake and she is much cheaper than a bakery but still professional.

MyNameIsNot

Often, venues aren't able to serve cakes that aren't made by professionals because of health code restrictions, so you definately want to check on that before anything.

Using friends and relatives as wedding vendors can save you money, but it often isn't worth it.  If she lives 6 hours away, where is she going to make it?  How is she going to transport it?  What if she flakes out totally?  What if she bakes it, but it doesn't turn out good?  What if she ignores your requests about the style? 

You don't want to be having someone run to the grocery store the morning of your wedding buying a couple of sheet cakes just so you'll have something if she doesn't come through.  If you're on the fence about it, I'd say thanks but no thanks and get a professional.

ElNelson

Your FH know's his aunt's personality better than any one. My guess it, if she offered she won't flake out esp. if she did it professionally. Have you or your FH tasted / seen some of her work before? Were you satisfied with it?

My mom bakes cakes as a hobby and has offered her services to all of my cousins. She will be making my cake... If she offered to do it, I would assume that your aunt wants to. Have you seen her work before? Cakes are extremely expensive and paying for materials alone is a substantial savings.

Transporting a cake is not the end of the world, although things can get mooked up, my guess is she  knows what she is doing and will be able to fix it either with additional frosting or flowers. If she has baked cakes for a living in the past she will know how to transport the cake and fix it should problems arise, the six hours shouldn't be a problem.

 In terms of a pattern, what I am doing with my mom is showing her pictures of things that I like and having her work her magic without a forced pattern. In my experience when I've seen people pick a specific style it does not come out as nicely as the couples who allow her to work with her strengths and changes things in ways that may not be in the picture. Are you willing to relinquish some pattern control or does it have to be your way? My mom has always followed through with a bride's request for a specific cake (making minor adjustments as necessary), but again the brides who tell her what they like and let her go, in my mind end up with much prettier cakes. I guess it's all relative though...  

With respect to venues not allowing non-licensed bakers to bake the cake that needs to be worked out in advance. My mom got a phone call the NIGHT BEFORE my best friend's wedding saying she was not allowed to bring the cake. We worked it out though... my dad threatened to let the "law suit happy bridezilla" take care of the situation and gave them her number. Needless to say they never called her and the cake was welcomed with open arms.

When we looked into reception halls we told them upfront we were not interested if they would not let my mom bake the cake. Our reception site will allow us to do it  as long as we put up a sign that says it was baked by my mom. Look into the state laws also, in Wisconsin a cake does not have to be baked by a licensed baker as long as it is not being sold. (This was also leverage in dealing with my best friend. The venue told us that it was illegal - it wasn't - it was just against their policy)

Whatever you decide, you do need to let her know, and you need to specifially talk to her and let people know what is going on. At one wedding my mom baked a cake after talking to the groom months in advance, but his mom didn't know and ordered sheet cakes. Although it was an honest mistake, my mom did feel a bit put out after the hours of work she put into this relatively small cake. I also wouldn't expect a large gift if she does make the cake. I can't even begin to tell you the hours upon hours of work it takes to make a wedding cake. 

Good luck with your decision! 

MyNameIsNot

With respect to venues not allowing non-licensed bakers to bake the cake that needs to be worked out in advance. My mom got a phone call the NIGHT BEFORE my best friend's wedding saying she was not allowed to bring the cake. We worked it out though... my dad threatened to let the "law suit happy bridezilla" take care of the situation and gave them her number. Needless to say they never called her and the cake was welcomed with open arms.

This might be the worst advice I've ever read.  These policies are in place to protect both the venue and the unprofessional baker in the event that something is wrong and people do get sick.  The bride would never have been able to mount a sucessful law suit, but a sick guest would have been able to bankrupt your mom in a lawsuit. 

Advising people to bully their way around the law is just irresponsible. 

redlayce

She would have to treat it like a business deal and you would have to make sure she understands that. She would need to come to you since you already have a busy schedule, as you're a bride, and you two could go over designs, colors, shapes, flowers, tiers, pillar style, etc. She would have to make mock-ups and examples and one of you would have to draw up an exact picture and description so you know what you're getting. Unless the cake isn't a big deal to you and you'd be fine being surprised. The whole process can get kinda complicated and drawn out. My cake is important to me so I'm using someone much closer that's available on my schedule. 

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! Be sure to take some time for yourself and relax so you don't get overwhelmed by the all the planning details.

jess10/17

We are having a small wedding with just a few friends and close family and my mom is baking my cake.  My mom has made a few wedding cakes before and is a great baker with lots of expierence.
My advice is to take time to taste the bakeries cakes as well as the Aunt's if you can.  We went to a few tastings and both my FI and I always loved my mom's cake the best.  Plus talk to the Aunt she may be trying to do this to help you but she also may have reservations about makeing the cake.  My mom did! She was worried about trasportation and the time it would take to set up the cake.  If your Aunt has reservations it may be easier to convince her to just be a guest and enjoy the day! In the end we all decided we wouldn't be happy with the taste of any other cake but my mom's!  We are all about taste for our cake, which is going to be carrot cake with creamcheese frosting (it's a fall wedding)
Anouther REALLY important thing is that you pick a style that will be easily created/fixed (if needed).  If you really want a fondant cake with suger flowers your Aunt probably is not going to be able to meet your ideas of a dream cake.  If you, like I, want a plain cake with the look of homemade frosting it is much easier to make, much less time consuming and the icing can hide alot of small flaws!  We are adding fresh flowers to dress up our cake!
I am sure it will work out fine... Good luck and congrats on your wedding!

cj5407

My aunt has offered to make my wedding cake.  Quickly I said I'd keep that in mind.  After talking to FI and mom, mom is planning on asking her to make the cake for the bridal shower rather than the wedding.  That way everyone can help is some way and I can have my dream cake.