cake anxieties

If you mean a cake you are going to make, bake and decorate the day before your wedding i would agree with your mum.

If you mean a cake that is already made and iced but you are just adding a few of your own decorations such as ribbon flowers etc would say no problem.

The only reason I'm doing 3 tiers of fruit cake (for a 3 tier stand) is because I want to be able to ice the display cakes sufficiently in advance.

Not at all stressed about baking the day before the wedding, but decorating to display standard would be far too stressful. Admittedly my cake is the 3 tiers of fruit cake for display and those who like fruit cake, and then 2 chocolate cakes, a vegan chocolate cake and a victoria sponge which will be cutting cakes rather than display cakes, but need baking the Thursday or Friday at the latest. Planning to bake the two normal chocolate cakes on the Thursday evening, and the other two the Friday morning. Icing will be relatively basic. Victoria sponge will have jam and glace icing, chocolates will have fudge icing, possibly with white icing on top and vegan cake will just have chocolate icing, so no major stresses. Admittedly the display cake icing will also be simple, but I will have time to be fussy about it.

That reminds me, MUST practice piping icing as I really need piping to sort the join between cake and cake board - ribbon won't work!

I'm not a baker to any stretch of the imagination, but even if you are and find it therapeutic then I still think it will be too much pressure, you've really no idea to how you will be feeling on that did , let alone if there will be any last minute this still needing to be done.

Definitely give it some further thought.

L x

I'm not going to bake and ice them just trim up bought ones. I'm going to try one layer this weekend and see how I get on. Maybe I could do one layer fruit so it could be done earlier. If I fail this weekend I may just end up with a simpler design using more ribbon and flowers and less icing detail. I'm very arty in a paint and glue kinda way but not so much in a food way.

As I said in my earlier post, I'm not a baker, but from what you have said then if your just trimming them up it sounds do- able. Excuse my ignorance on the subject, but can you make the flowers and things to add to it previously so its something less to actually do for the cake on the eve of your wedding ?... I do think its the best way to make your cake really personal especial if your an art person. Hope your trial one goes well this weekend ?... feel free to take pics ?

Ah yes, mum's and their helpful comments ? You know they're only trying to help, when in fact they are creating something new to doubt yourself about!

I think you should be fine- sounds pretty straightforward. I'm doing cupcakes for mine, and will be decorating them the day before. My mother also thinks I'm mad, but I know it will give me something else to focus on than general wedding terror, as I find baking/making things very therapeutic. Just try and prepare anything you can in advance and enjoy getting a bit crafty!

What else do you have planned for the day before your wedding?

I think that it all depends on how you deal with stress and how organised you are.

If you're the sort of person who is up all night before an important exam or presentation, then you probably don't need the added pressure of cakes to deal with.

If you're going to be running around at the last minute making finishing touches on all sorts of things, then you might just be too busy.

Im the sort of person who will go crazy (and drive my man crazy) if I have nothing to. I do not do well at sitting still.

I will certainly give a flash once first attempt is done and will happily take advice / helpful critisism.

Thanks all

I made and decorated my cake in the days leading up to my wedding, was fine. (although a tad risky as i'd not baked a cake before ?)

I'm planning on making and decorating my cake too. My mum made similar comments so I promised her I'd do a practise run a few months before and if it's a disaster I'll just order one from M&S.

I'm making my own wedding cake, with one fruit layer and two sponge, so will be icing and decorating the day before. I think it depends on what you have planned the day before and how organised you are. If you know you are going to do it, and you have practised and feel confident with it, then why not go ahead and do it.

I'm doing a dry run of all my tiers somewhere around xmas so it will all be eaten, then if it takes years or doesnt go to plan, then I will order one from somone else as I'm getting married next august.

I'm another one baking and decorating my own cake. I'm also doing a fruit cake which can be covered with sugarpaste ages and ages in advance and I'm doing the sponges two days in advance. Sugarpaste will seal the sponge and it'll keep for a few days so no need to do the day before if you have the time. All sugar decorations that you make will literally keep for years!

Soooooo impressive Ebony!!!!

**** FLASH ****

Well I had a go at decorating my cake today.

I couldn't get the proper shape I wanted in my local store so its not looking as it actually will once Ive ordered the proper shape layers.

And I only did one layer as a test but all in all Im pretty pleased.

I think with practice my hand will get steadier - I was a little nervous of how much I could rest my hand on the cake!

Im planning to have 3 layers sat on top of each other and place the flowers one on each layer. Plainted with black food colouring and then added sprinkles that dont show up on the pic very well. I also didnt stick on the ribbon as I want to save it for the real cake.

This cake was an ASDA apply your own photo cake with sponge filling for £10. Also discovered the cake had a sell by of 20th April so not as short lived as I thought either - and the cake inside tasted great.

What do you thing everyone?