August 2012 Weddings

Cutting & Serving cake

So, I have a caterer for my venue (not in-house).  The caterer only supplies staff based on the # of guests.  However, they told me that if they have an extra staff person available that night, I could hire them to cut & serve my cake (because I want this).

However, they won't commit an extra person to me until we are 2 weeks from the date Obviously they want to be able to use their staff to cater events that will bring them in more food $$ and don't want to have to turn down another party because they lent out too many staff members. I get it.

That being said, I need someone to cut & serve my cake no matter what!  I would like someone familiar with doing this because I went to a wedding where the personal attendants cut the cake (my guess is the bride tried to avoid the fee of the facility) and it was a mess - sloppy pieces, crumbling cake, frosting chunking on the knife, and a massive line as they couldn't cut fast enough AND they weren't serving to seated guests. 

So, I could hire/find someone else now (my mom works at a high school and could easily find a reliable student looking to make some $$), but I just have the horror of the above story in my mind for someone who is not a professional.  Now, the cake we are having is very firm (I am making it and have practiced), so it *shouldn't* present a mess.

Have you ever been to a wedding where a non-professional cut & served with success?  Do you think I should go that route now and save myself the stress of possibly having to find someone 2 weeks before, or should I just hope it falls together with the caterer?
image

Re: Cutting & Serving cake

  • Have you asked your venue if they can do this (most likley for a fee) even thought you have outside catering? I would try that if you havn't already
    126 Invited image
    37 Ready to Rock! image
    9 Party Poopers image
    80 Can't find the mailbox imageWedding Countdown Ticker
  • i2012doi2012do member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary
    edited May 2012
    I have never heard of a catering company asking you to hire extra people to cut a cake. It probably doesn't take more than 20-30 minutes....Can you elect to have one of the "servers" or the chefs cut the cake. Since the chefs will be done cooking while food i being served??

    Or i'd ask the venue. some places can charge a fee upwards of $3 but its worth checking.
    i would not under any circumstances not have a pro do it.There is a special way to cut cakes to get the most slives out.

    In fact, most bakeries supply a template with their cakes to show how it needs to be cut to get the most slices out .
    www.weddedeverafter.blogspot.com
    167 Invited image 34 Attending image Declined 4 image Still Waiting 129 image
  • Good points - to answer some questions:

    The venue cannot do this as the only staff are the bartenders & event manager.  We are renting out a room at a golf course (one that does NOT have a restaurant or food).  So, they are no more pro at cutting cake then anyone else.

    There is no chef from the catering company as I assume they cook the food and bring it with in warming pans.  We do not have a carving station, so they supply 2 servers to setup & man the buffet.

    I am making the cake and could make a template if need be for a hired cutter.  Since I hate small cake pieces, I intend to bake enough to serve "normal" size, so running out shouldn't be an issue.

    I suppose at this point I'll cross my fingers they have an extra server to send me and figure it out at that time if they don't.
    image
  • My Aunts are serving our cake (as they've done for many weddings, they aren't what you would consider professionals but they have an idea of what to do without making a huge mess). 

    Is it possible to make a pretty cake for you and your FI to cut, but then have a sheet cake or two behind the scenes to serve?  That could cut down on the "messiness" and be easier to cut decent sized pieces. 
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards