Please help! I am dealing with a bridezilla who informed me yesterday that the placement of the cake at her reception had changed and now the cake needs to be outside. This is summertime in the southeast United states, and our days are 90+ degrees! New to this website, but have been doing cakes for nearly 20 years. All the hundreds of other brides have exhibited common sense and consideration when I gave them the advice they asked for. I am wondering if there are any tips that would help with the decorating or if I should just make an "executive" decision and say that the cake can not be outside in such heat! If she truly insists, I plan to set it up at the last possible minute and not guarantee results after about 45 minutes.

I just had the same thing happen to me last weekend...my cake was at least fondant covered, but it was placed outside in 35 C weather with no cover!! NOT GOOD!
I would attempt to explain that it cannot go outside for all obvious reasons.
Is the cake buttercream with real butter or fondant covered.
Fondant is at least a bit safer, but still in major heat and/or sun nothing is great.
If its buttercream, you could use more or all shortening to the buttercream in order to make it more heat tolerant.
Good luck

Thanks for your reply. Sorry, forgot to mention that the frosting is all shortening and no butter with only butter flavoring (an attempt on my part to ease my stress at least a little). However, we are having here in North Carolina an extreme heat wave with temps averaging 90 degrees plus! When she told me that she wanted the cake outside, I asked why and she said that the rest of the food is out there. Maybe they should have the photographer take pictures of the chicken wings and veggie platter instead of the cake; they'll hold up at least in the heat! I think I'll have to be adamant about the placement, at least for tomorrow with more hot, hot temps expected.

I'm just offering a bump for you. I always love it when people know it's going to be excruciatingly hot and decide to have parties outside anyway. There's nothing quite like people passing out to liven the wedding. I hope the bride's makeup lasts.

All you can do is remind her of the chances she is taking. Advise her. And then make her sign something in writing to make sure you don't get blamed later.

Good luck!!
Angie

I would definitely explain to her how the heat can affect the overall appearance of the cake, not just the icing. The cake may begin to slide and if you are using flowers they will certainly start to wilt, in addition to the icing melting. If she still insists on the cake being outside, let her know that you will set the cake up pursuant to her instructions but once it's set up, you are certainly not responsible if anything goes wrong. Make sure that you bring your camera and take a picture after the cake is set up. Additionally, I would make her sign a disclaimer stating that you have advised her of the consequences of placing the cake outside and she holds you harmless for anything that may happen to the cake after it is set up. Be sure to date the disclaimer and have two witnesses present to sign. By the way, if you need a document drawn up, I will be happy to do it for you. Just p.m. and let me know. Sorry for the long reply I guess its just the attorney in me!!!

I totally agree that the bride should sign something that stated your concerns and that you are not responsible. Good luck.

I like the disclaimer!! I think the icing will hold up to the heat, but not the direct sunlight. What time of day is the wedding? If the cake is to be set up before 3, I would insist on a shady or covered spot.

I have an order for next April that is for an outside country wedding at Noon! South GA Gnats, mosquitos, extreme heat and humidity. The food will be in a tent but the services won't. I'm afraid that the groom will pass out!!

Anyway... stick to your gut feelings on this and definitely get something in writing!

Thanks for the tips. I have finished the icing and decorating, now hoping for a good crust and a thunderstorm so that festivities will have to be moved inside! The ceremony is at 5; the bride and groom expect to arrive at reception venue by 6:30. I'll deliver and set up at the last possible minute. I'll definitely have some sort of pictorial documentation that the cake was perfect after set up, just not sure that there will be anyone from the wedding party there to sign something since I'll need to get there at the last minute. Hoping for the best! You guys are the greatest! Thanks for the concern.

If it is that late, I don't think you will have too much trouble. I hope!

Good Luck!

mrs-tate: where in NC are you? At this moment in central NC we are under extreme weather conditions (lightning, thunder, and TONS of rain). If her wedding is supposed to be outside tomorrow......I highly doubt it. There are floods everywhere. So maybe this will be your solution!!!! I sure hope so. Good luck.

Ellen

I don't know where you are in NC but every weather forcast I've seen for the weekend calls for afternoon thunderstorms. . . the electrical kind! We had several here Durham today and its still raining! Good luck with your bridezilla. My daughter got married last summer down at the beach with an outdoor reception . . . thankfully after dark. Her cake was decorated with BC and survived the August beach heat.

I think the disclaimer idea is great . . .that way you are not held liable for her insistence. LOL
Leslie

Ellen, I am in Stanly County! The thunderstorms you are experiencing just now, we had an hour ago! Lots of lightning and strong winds. Maybe weather will be the answer, but at 5:00 today, it was still 90 degrees. As much as I want the reception to be inside, I really don't want someone trying to move the cake inside quickly in the event of bad weather. I'll just cross my fingers and hope for the best. Maybe I'll have some pictures to post tomorrow; trying to transfer digital images of all my other cakes, too. Technology isn't my strong suit, though.

Hi Mrs-Tate I am in Stanly County also!!!!

**WAVES and says HOWDY NEIGHBOR**

~Sonya

Well, once again we (Stanly and Montgomery Counties) are under a severe weather advisory. It may work out that the reception will be inside. Here's keeping our fingers crossed. Sonya, I'm in Montgomery County!!

Ellen

mrs-tate: how did it go? please post a pic so we can see your beautiful cake.

Ellen

**WAVES AND SAYS HOWDY EGARMAN**

Its great to see some of my neighbors here!
Mrs-Tate how did it go? Did it rain, was the cake outside?

~Sonya

All in all, it went better than expected. The cake looked great and I had told them that I wouldn't guarantee it any longer than 1 hour after set up. They assured me that the wedding party would be at the reception venue by6:30, but it was 7:55 (I have no idea what they were doing! Pictures shouldn't take that long!) when they finally arrived. There was more than a little left over due to the fact that guests waited in the heat for so long with no wedding part, so many left. The only thing that happened to the cake was that after about 2 hours in the sun (yes, we were in the sun) the frosting started to look a little translucent. I am trying to resize pics to post them. Thanks for the concern!