hi everyone! my wedding is this weekend and i've got a question ... i've not had much experience with the "side strings" but have gotten it figured out (i think). the wedding is about 30-45 minutes away from our house ... i'm decorating it friday and will have zero time to work on it when we get there (i can't get into my reception room until 30 minutes before the wedding starts) will the strings travel okay? my fear is that they'll either fall apart or fall off and i need to know now if i need to rethink my design to get rid of them now before i have a mess on my hands. any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated! thanks so much!!

Hello Dackn8tr, I'm not a cake expert at all, but my feeling has always been an ounce of prevention...if you are concerned about it and it will cause you stress as the week goes on toward the wedding, I'd rethink the design of the cake, just simplify it to the point that you won't have to worry about it. Best Wishes for your wedding! Janice

I think I would nix the stringwork. I asked our instructor about that very question, and she will not do any stringwork on a cake that has to be transported.....she says she has never had any luck with it. She saves it and does that last thing after setting the cake up. The more experienced decorators may have some insight on it? Since you don't have the time to do it at the reception hall, I would go with something else. (just my opinion)

Dackn8tr~ Experiencing firsthand the disappointment of intensive labor stringwork falling off and/or breaking during transport...I would advise against it. You have so much more to worry about on your big day. Unless you can find some time to do the delicate stringwork after transport or someone who could do it for you, I would find something else just as pretty to add to your wonderful cake. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear...just my opinion though. Good luck with whatever you decide and enjoy special day!

besides a simple cake is elegant and that means a more relaxed bride!

thanks to all of you for taking time to reply and for the wishes! i had pretty much decided to leave them off just because i didn't want a nightmare on my hands, but thought maybe someone knew a secret i didn't.
i've been decorating for about 5 years but in a supermarket setting and we only had about 2 dozen designs to choose from ... none of which included stringwork. we never set them up so the customer had to transport them, i guess that should've been my first clue. anyway, the cake is beautiful w/out them so i'll plan to leave them off and i'll post a pic of it when the wedding's over. again, thanks for the advice!!! danielle

i asked a baker about stringwork..and he told me if your transporting it and you don't have time to fix the cake..do not do it.. it will just frustrate you... COngrats on the wedding..

I hate trying to move one that has string work as well....I would much rather leave it off it is was acceptable, if I didn't have time to repair it.

i spoke to our reception hall today and am able to get in a few minutes earlier than i thought (not much but alittle bit) but after thinking through all the good advice i got here, the possible outcomes, and what i'm willing to go through that day, i'm going to opt out of the stringwork. if i feel the urge i'll put them on when i get there but i don't think the cake will look like it's missing anything without them so i'm not going to worry about them. thanks again for taking the time to help me out, it's much appreciated!! what a great site filled with great people! i'll post a pic in a few days so you can all see how it turned out. danielle