I've been reading in magazine that wedding consultants are telling brides that if they want to save money on their wedding cake then ask the decorator to use a cake dummy for the wedding cake but ask the decorator to make sheet cakes for the actual cake to serve. How in the world would this save money? The decorator has to purchase the cake dummy (if they don't have one) then decorate, that still taking the time with delicate detail plus bake and at least shell border sheet cakes for that many servings. How do you feel about this and if you do offer this what are you charging, the regular way vs. cake dummy and sheet cakes. Thanks


Missy

I often have wondered about this, too. I had one bride ask about the dummy cake because she wanted a cake that was bigger than the guests she had invited. I simply told her that I didn't do dummy cakes and that if there was cake left over to send it to the rescue mission here.

I have a wedding booked in April for a cake to serve 600--it is for the pastor's son and they are anticipating a big turn-out; however, the cakes that I have done for this church, everybody orders huge cakes and only about 100-150 people show up. Oh well, I tell them they only need a cake for about 300 but if they want it for 600, far be it from me to turn away $.

I agree that this is not that much of a cost saver. Unless the wedding is very large, I guess the price wouldn't change that much.

Maybe if it were a dummy cake with only one edible tier for the cake cutting....the rest sheet cakes....I guess I would charge less per serving on the sheet cake. But still - dummies are a pain in the you know what to deal with and compensation for their decoration would be needed.

I'm going to offer a different perspective on this subject.

I only do dummy wedding cakes. I like them because I can decorate at my liesure. I just did a dummy wedding cake last month for 300 people. I decorated the wedding cake and made 10 cheesecake/cakes for the back to cut up and serve. I like doing it this way much better. I get the display cake back and use it for another bride. I've used the same display cake for 3 different wedding cakes without having to redo the fondant. I just took off the scrolls from the last cake and put a different design on. The only cost on it was the icing for the scrollwork and ingredients for the cakes in the back. Its also easier to setup and transport because dummies are much lighter.

It would be expensive if you had to buy styrofoam for every wedding cake you did because each bride picked a different shape, etc. But if you can reuse the dummy even once its worth it. Most of the brides even give me the silk flowers they bought for the cake and I can use those for the future also.

I too have done the dummy cakes. I agree that it doesn't make sense that it is cheaper. However it is a lot less stress on delivery. Especially when its a large cake. I reuse my cake dummies but make sure you cover them first. People have no idea the cake is fake. In my photos the sea shell cake and the square choc cake are both dummies with real tops.
Good luck!

Where do you buy cake dummies? I want one.
I agree though, I wouldn't think it would save anything. It would be more work for the baker with decorating and transporting multiple cakes to accomplish one task. I don't think its a wise decision but people know what they want I suppose. It wouldn't be my way to go though.

How do you decorate a dummy cake? It is the same as a regular cake? What do you do different?

Decorate them the same as you would any cake. I buy mine at a cake supply store. I have seen them on Ebay too. THey arent all that cheap so keep that in mind. It's kinda funny when you do your first one, because they are so light they like to move around. Use a lot of frosting underneath to hold it in place.

Thanks psurrette

I usually don't offer dummies, they aren't cheaper for me!!!!! I still have to decorate them and invest my time!!!

Dallas Foam Company has the cheapest dummies I have ever seen anywhere. Shipping is a bit pricy!

My husband took a heavy chunk of board and put nails in it sticking up, I glue the styrofoam to a board, then I stick the cake on the nails to ice, the weight of the board keeps the styrofoam from moving! Very simple!!!

A floral supply also sells styrofoam in rounds and sheets.