Wedding Cake

GingerLily

Do you really need wedding cake?

My OH and myself never eat it at weddings - but we don't want to cut corners if it's something our guests will miss.

Opinions on wedding cakes please

GingerLily

GingerLily wrote: »

Do you really need wedding cake?

My OH and myself never eat it at weddings - but we don't want to cut corners if it's something our guests will miss.

Opinions on wedding cakes please

If you have a family member who is any way handy, a simple Madeira, lemon, coffee or chocolate cake, simply decorated will do the job!

GingerLily

That's not an option for us with the venue/logistics/guest list. I'm more curious if we're the only ones who think wedding cakes are overrated!

Princess Peach

We're having a cake, because I seriously love cake

But I don't think they are necessary, since guests get a dessert anyway. I've even been to weddings where the cake was cut and served and barely eaten. Mostly its good for photos and leftovers if that's your thing!

baby and crumble

I am a DEMON for cake and a friend of mine has a cake business and they taste AMAZING so we're having one. I will say though, I was at a wedding a few weeks ago and while there was a cake there they didn't do a cutting, and nobody noticed until the cake was sliced and brought out with the finger food.

wily minx

It's each to their own really... If you don't want one you don't have to bow to tradition. That's what I love about weddings these days, you don't have to have speeches, or flowers, or a first dance! People can pick and choose what suits their tastes and personalities rather than having to follow a blueprint because that's what their parents did!

That said, personally I would want a cake, but that's because I'm an amateur baker and have made wedding cakes for friends and generally drool over cakes on Facebook (husband calls it cakeporn!)

Faith

We had a cake, made by a relative. It was a waste of time because A) she fûcked it up, and I didn't even know it had been served so I never tried it! Only about 50% of the cake was touched. We brought it back home after the weekend, and I'm sure a lot of it got thrown out.

Stepping Stone

I went to a wedding where there wasn't a cake. The bride and groom made a big deal about how they couldn't afford a cake, despite the fact that they had gone all out on everything else...it was definitely missed but only because they called attention to it.

I was at another wedding where they cut but didn't serve the cake...again it was missed because we were aware of it.

I think that if it isn't there and you say nothing, then it may not be missed!

TheFunnyOne

How about Cheese instead of a traditional cake?

lollpop

I love cake and would definitely miss it if it wasn't there. We served ours at around 11pm with some sandwiches, every bit of it was eaten.

PhoenixParker

We weren't going to bother with cake as I couldn't see the point of it.
My MIL insisted though since how else would people know it was a wedding? (we did the ceremony privately the day before so there were a few wedding elements missing).
She didn't ask for much so we ordered a cake that literally said "This is a wedding cake" in letters down the side. (It matched our invitations).

It actually proved a real talking point for the day and from that point of view it was worth it.

Details like cakes and cake toppers, if they're in the middle of things and there's something unusual about them, give guests who don't know each other that well an easy topic of conversation. It smooths the way and gets the party going a little.

From that point of view cakes can be worth it, even if they wouldn't otherwise be missed. A cake made of cheese, or a table full of different desserts or a hundred other similar ideas can perform the same function just as well though.

SarahMollie

I also really love the idea of a cake made of cheese. Sheridans do them as do some other places I think.

I've never really seen the point of having 2 deserts myself, so this way theres a cheese course too!

lazygal

Didn't have a cake or any replacement ideas either. It wasn't missed. I personally don't like the cake cutting photos and the whole wedding cake thing I kind of don't understand in the first place.

GingerLily

lazygal wrote: »

Didn't have a cake or any replacement ideas either. It wasn't missed. I personally don't like the cake cutting photos and the whole wedding cake thing I kind of don't understand in the first place.

That's how I'm thinking, wedding cake and favours are part of a traditional wedding but I don't understand why?

We're not having a traditional wedding but I still want it to feel like a wedding, if that makes sense!!

miamee

My sister and her husband weren't too bothered about a cake but decided they should have one anyway. They ordered a three tier, fairly simple cake. They got some photos with the photographer pretending to cut it after the dinner (it wasn't announced so only guests who spotted them got their own pics) then it was whisked off to be stored and served the following night as planned (we stayed 2 nights in the hotel). Following night about 12.30am I asked her what happened to the cake - they'd totally forgotten about it. So they went home the next day with all 3 tiers intact, lol. Now it's all been divided out among family and eaten since but really no one missed it at all. There was enough other food at it.

afkasurfjunkie

The dearest cake you'll never eat.

Judge Trudy

I love the idea of a cake but I don't want to spend a fortune on it. We've been quoted 200 for ours so not the worse. I do think it is one way of saving money though. Most things about weddings are unnecessary expenditure anyway. If you can rope in anyone who can bake and make a simple cake, job done. A dessert and cheese table seem to be popular at the minute. Anything to keep costs down.

The_Stranger

Judge Trudy wrote: »

I love the idea of a cake but I don't want to spend a fortune on it. We've been quoted 200 for ours so not the worse. I do think it is one way of saving money though. Most things about weddings are unnecessary expenditure anyway. If you can rope in anyone who can bake and make a simple cake, job done. A dessert and cheese table seem to be popular at the minute. Anything to keep costs down.

Ooooh, I've never heard of that but I really like that idea. Too late for me to organise one now but super idea.

I would say each to their own, if you don't want a cake then don't get one. My sister had one but the hotel wanted to charge €3 a head to cut it!!! (back when the tiger was roaring!!) She told them not to touch it and had it served at a small get together the next day down at the local pub. Nobody missed the cake on the day itself.

We went with a very simple 2 tier cake and cupcakes for the younger guests. I love cake so it was a must have for me!

wily minx

I think the idea is that it is the visual centrepiece of your wedding feast. I'm guessing. But it's usually plonked in the corner these days although it's cute when they decorate the table nicely and I love when they put photos of the bride and grooms parents cutting their cakes in frames on either side! Wedding favours, I've no idea where that idea comes from, seems like a total waste of money to me!

mahamageehad

I don't think I even noticed the cake at any wedding I've been at! Sure, you already serve dessert! That said, if it was my wedding I'd have 3 or 4 apple tarts tiered like a cake. Cheap, delicious, easy and no waste.

Rose35

GingerLily wrote: »

That's how I'm thinking, wedding cake and favours are part of a traditional wedding but I don't understand why?

We're not having a traditional wedding but I still want it to feel like a wedding, if that makes sense!!

I think wedding cake is a tradition but if you are not having a traditional wedding and each to their own. I had the traditional 3 tier fruit cake, it looked fab and tasted even better. It seemed to go down a treat. I think I would miss the cake at a wedding some of them are fab to look at.

Loveinapril

lazygal wrote: »

Didn't have a cake or any replacement ideas either. It wasn't missed. I personally don't like the cake cutting photos and the whole wedding cake thing I kind of don't understand in the first place.

This exactly. To me there is no sense in the cake cutting thing. I love cake but not when I am drinking! We just had more night time food.

CorkClaire82

We were going to have a cheap cake, probably just something from Marks and Spencers, but my mum really wanted to make it so we left her off. I asked her if she could make it in the shape of a tent and ice it to look like one and the genius did it The tent was fruit cake, the mucky field was chocolate biscuit cake. It looked cool and people were commenting on it. Having said that it was pure non-traditional so some people probably gave out. We weren't going to do the cutting of it, just have the hotel cut it up and bring it out with the evening food, but as Mam had made it we thought we should get a couple of photos for her.

Also, I really wouldn't notice if there wasn't a cake at the wedding so if you don't want it don't bother.

GingerLily

I'm loving the variety of responses on this one!

SusieBlue

I was at a wedding recently where they had a fake cake. It worked out fantastically.
They had one real tier, and four fake ones. The fake ones were made out of some sort of stirafoam/plastic type material but covered in real icing to match the real tier.
It blended perfectly, nobody knew any different and it looked great aesthetically.
They cut the real tier for photographic purposes.
The bride was a close friend so I was comfortable asking the price, they got the whole thing for €200 and there was no waste as the real tier was brought home by the family and eaten.
The guests were none the wiser! I only knew because the bride told me. Definitely something I'd consider myself.

HugsiePie

I work at weddings and I was going to suggest the fake cake as well. There was one couple who had a completley fake cake, made of styrofoam but decorated immacuately, no body would was none the wiser had it not been gor the shape of cake which was something like this

The couple cut the fake cake and posed for photos with it, it was bought in to the back kitchen to be "cut up and served" but in reality the actual cake they had us serve was probably the equivalent of just 1 tier of cake, simple, plain retangular victoria sponge with plain white icing, it was something a 5 year old could have made, however as the cake got cut up (and the guests were none the wiser that the large spherical tiered cake was not an actual cake and what the actual cake was in the kitchen the whole time) the aesthetics didnt matter.
Similarly, whilst it seems to have gone out of fashion now, people used to have cupcakes insted of cakes at their wedding.

Biscuit/Rocky road cake is by ar the most popular cake we seem to have, its simple to make if you were up for the challenge of baking it yourself.

Ive seen a cake melt/tip over also, the cake had to be cut before the meal was served as to avoid it collapsing so Id just be wary of not having a profressional make it (although said cake was actually made by a profressional baker).

Loveinapril

WhiteRoses wrote: »

I was at a wedding recently where they had a fake cake. It worked out fantastically.
They had one real tier, and four fake ones. The fake ones were made out of some sort of stirafoam/plastic type material but covered in real icing to match the real tier.
It blended perfectly, nobody knew any different and it looked great aesthetically.
They cut the real tier for photographic purposes.
The bride was a close friend so I was comfortable asking the price, they got the whole thing for €200 and there was no waste as the real tier was brought home by the family and eaten.
The guests were none the wiser! I only knew because the bride told me. Definitely something I'd consider myself.

I think fake cakes are absolutely ridiculous. A cake is flour, eggs, butter and sugar! The idea of getting a box of decorated polystyrene so you can look back at the fond memories of cutting it is hilarious to me!

GingerLily

I've heard of fake layers, I do think they make sense, if you want a large tiered cake.
The more I think about wedding cakes the more ridiculous they seem when you think of the price - but that's true for almost all wedding expenses!

Sofiztikated

Loveinapril wrote: »

I think fake cakes are absolutely ridiculous. A cake is flour, eggs, butter and sugar! The idea of getting a box of decorated polystyrene so you can look back at the fond memories of cutting it is hilarious to me!

The idea of a fake cake is this. You can have it designed to any size and shape you want.

In the kitchen are flat trays of cake, cut, and ready to serve, with little to no waste or fuss. It's cheaper as well.

As someone who works in hotels, the amount of waste is horrendous. Cake is walked into the floor, with sheets of it left over. If you are getting a fruit cake, get a lot less than you think. It is the one that is usually binned at the end of the night. Very few people eat it.

SusieBlue

Loveinapril wrote: »

I think fake cakes are absolutely ridiculous. A cake is flour, eggs, butter and sugar! The idea of getting a box of decorated polystyrene so you can look back at the fond memories of cutting it is hilarious to me!

So you feel it makes more sense to spend upwards of 2k for a cake you don't want and that your guests probably won't eat?

Loveinapril

WhiteRoses wrote: »

So you feel it makes more sense to spend upwards of 2k for a cake you don't want and that your guests probably won't eat?

No, that is silly. Why would you even bother getting a cake? The 'show' of cutting a cardboard cake is ridiculous. If you want to serve your guests cake, do that. Have the kitchen serve it so noone cares what it looks like. Or if you know it won't be eaten, don't bother with it.

daveyeh

TheFunnyOne wrote: »

How about Cheese instead of a traditional cake?

Wedding cheese? :pac::pac:

daveyeh

Get a fake cake and attack it with a chair.

mewe

I think every wedding has a wedding cake OP but each to their own. It's ye're wedding so do whatever ye want.

As someone else said, if you know someone handy and want a cake go with them. My mum did our cake for our wedding a few weeks back and it was savage! She really is an unreal baker though. Anyways, good luck with the planning.

SusieBlue

Loveinapril wrote: »

No, that is silly. Why would you even bother getting a cake? The 'show' of cutting a cardboard cake is ridiculous. If you want to serve your guests cake, do that. Have the kitchen serve it so noone cares what it looks like. Or if you know it won't be eaten, don't bother with it.

I already said they cut the real tier, they didn't cut into cardboard.
They got a cake because her parents are very traditional and were worried people would notice and talk if there was no cake.
However, b&g didn't have much interest in a cake and would have preferred to spend such a large amount of money on another area of the wedding.
So they got a few fake tiers. Parents were happy, b&g were happy, guests were none the wiser and still got a portion of cake with their cup of tea.
I'm failing to see what's so outrageously 'ridiculous' about this.
Win-Win situation imo.

GingerLily

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Loveinapril wrote: »

I think fake cakes are absolutely ridiculous. A cake is flour, eggs, butter and sugar! The idea of getting a box of decorated polystyrene so you can look back at the fond memories of cutting it is hilarious to me!

The idea of a fake cake is this. You can have it designed to any size and shape you want.

In the kitchen are flat trays of cake, cut, and ready to serve, with little to no waste or fuss. It's cheaper as well.

As someone who works in hotels, the amount of waste is horrendous. Cake is walked into the floor, with sheets of it left over. If you are getting a fruit cake, get a lot less than you think. It is the one that is usually binned at the end of the night. Very few people eat it.

Who spends 2k on a cake?

lazygal

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/octogenarian-us-baker-crafted-100000-quinn-wedding-cake-28818294.html


Some people spend six figures....

Spuddeeez

give this lady a bell for some good advice (Ann Marie)
http://www.weddingcakes.ie/

wily minx

Their are a lot of good professional cake makers out there, should you want a cake.

The dummy cake idea is a strange one to me because the difference in cost of cake ingredients versus cost of a polystyrene dummy is minimal. It won't save the cake maker a huge amount of time in baking (especially if they're providing a cutting cake anyway for serving). The biggest charge in a wedding cake is for the bakers time it takes to decorate the cake, whatever their hourly rate is, plus consultations, design and delivery, which will be the same. So there's not that much of a saving, plus you get to eat less CAKE!!

LirW

Where I come from it's a bit of a tradition having some kind of cake buffet. I'm a sucker for cake and I said when I'm getting married I want one like that. It's cheap and usually it means a lot to relatives or friends contributing something like that. You just ask a few relatives if they want to make whatever cake or dessert and in the end you have a variety of good homemade cake, cookies, cupcakes etc. Believe me, every single bit gets eaten (when you calculate it right, no need for 20 cakes for 45 people of course).

triona1

LirW wrote: »

Where I come from it's a bit of a tradition having some kind of cake buffet. I'm a sucker for cake and I said when I'm getting married I want one like that. It's cheap and usually it means a lot to relatives or friends contributing something like that. You just ask a few relatives if they want to make whatever cake or dessert and in the end you have a variety of good homemade cake, cookies, cupcakes etc. Believe me, every single bit gets eaten (when you calculate it right, no need for 20 cakes for 45 people of course).

We had a 3 tier cake.chocolate biscuit then a madiera type for kids and traditional fruit for the older guest nana's and granddad types they always look for it so we had that as the 1st tier and they were all thrilled everyone was happy they could choose what they liked and all also had desert choices too.

snickerpuss

I wasn't pushed on a proper wedding cake so we went to the lovely Camerino Bakery on Camden St in Dublin and ordered a few tray bakes, cookies, and a few small cakes (carrot is amazing!). All cost €100 and went down a treat with adults and children! All the cake was demolished, not a crumb left.

Gatica

I wouldn't have bothered with cake except OH and MIL thought it was needed. Looked pretty, did the cutting, and had a ton left over, gave it away at the second day.
Don't think it would've been missed much. Always find cake gets forgotten by the time it's served as snack.
Friends did a cheese wheel cake but it was warm and had to be taken out early cos it started to smell, so be careful if you go for that option.

bee06

The last two weddings I've been at there has been no cake and no-one missed it either time. It was only a few days after that it popped into my head. My mom made our cake. I wouldn't have been paying a few hundred euro for one.

Loveinapril

WhiteRoses wrote: »

I already said they cut the real tier, they didn't cut into cardboard.
They got a cake because her parents are very traditional and were worried people would notice and talk if there was no cake.
However, b&g didn't have much interest in a cake and would have preferred to spend such a large amount of money on another area of the wedding.
So they got a few fake tiers. Parents were happy, b&g were happy, guests were none the wiser and still got a portion of cake with their cup of tea.
I'm failing to see what's so outrageously 'ridiculous' about this.
Win-Win situation imo.

If the couple want to cut a cake in front of people, why can't they just cut the cake that they could afford/ were willing to buy?
Stacking it up with fake tiers so it looks like you bought a bigger/ fancier cake is silly to me. It is like having your wedding pictures taken near a posh car that you didn't rent! It is all for show.

SusieBlue

Loveinapril wrote: »

If the couple want to cut a cake in front of people, why can't they just cut the cake that they could afford/ were willing to buy?
Stacking it up with fake tiers so it looks like you bought a bigger/ fancier cake is silly to me. It is like having your wedding pictures taken near a posh car that you didn't rent! It is all for show.

For the same reason that many couples end up including and having lots of things they don't want or need for their wedding, familial pressure and to make a statement.

They didn't want a cake, or to cut a cake, or anything to with a cake, but the compromised for the sake of keeping family happy.

I was trying to be helpful by suggesting a cheap alternative for those who don't have the budget for a big cake, but people really seem to be taking issue with it. If it isn't for you, don't do it! It was simply a suggestion.

mcgiggles

I was having a cake conversation at work with one of the girls today because I went to a cake tasting at the weekend. She had no cake at her wedding, and no-one noticed! Personally its a lot of money to spend on a cake, for a few photos and drunk people to eat at 11pm..

I would totally be on for doing the fake tiers! Have the largest tier cake so it can be cut and eaten, the other 2 tiers can be thrown out, there's way less waste. I was even saying you could go to Tesco and buy a bunch of cupcakes and have them on a cake stand sure no-one would know any different To me the cake is not a big deal. I've been to at least 11 weddings in the last 2 years and couldn't tell you what one of the cakes looked like!

I'm tempted to make my own, the price we were quoted from that one cake lady was 395 euro for basic cake no decorations. That's LOT of money for a cake.

What's peoples opinions on the cake being served instead of dessert? you would have to do "the cutting" earlier but feck it, it might actually get eaten that way :)

GingerLily

Dessert > Cake for me

SarahMollie

GingerLily wrote: »

Dessert > Cake for me

Me too, I'd rather have a nice desert and no cake.

mcgiggles

Yeah I think my OH would feel the same tbh, he's not a big cake-eater!

IvyTheTerrible

We had a very small, intimate mostly non-traditional wedding. But I did want a traditional French croquembouche. It was gorgeous to look at, but as we had unseasonably warm weather for the time of year/altitude, it had half collapsed by the time it was served. Still delicious, just no "cutting the cake" photos, unfortunately.
Ultimately it's up to you, and tbh your guests will probably be full by then anyway and won't necessarily miss it if it's not there.