What do you all do about setting up wedding cakes at the reception hall?

When you deliver, do they get set up right on the reception floor on a separate table so they sit out the whole time of the reception?

Or do they go into a refrigerator at the hall and then get brought out later by the staff?

I'm just wondering if it's okay to leave a cake with a "refrigerated" filling sitting on a table for 4+ hours while the reception is going on. But the alternative is leaving it up to someone else to move my cake

You set it up at a dedicated table before the reception.........to be safe, I contact the reception hall and see what type of table set up they have, you would be surprised how flimsy a cake table can be, and if you have a large tiered cake, they can be quite heavy. If I were you, set up as close to the reception as possible, if the room if kept cool enough, I am thinking your refrigerated filling should be fine for a few hours.......anyone else ?

For my drop-n-run cakes, I set up about an hour prior to the reception and it is not moved once it's set up.

So, is that where you do your final finishing touches to the cake?

For example, if you stack at the reception and need to finish borders, etc., do you just do those things right on the display table?

That's correct. I do all finishing touches there on the table. If there is a kitchen near by I will sometimes go in there & work. I hate working in front of people. I try to get to the reception hall 2 hours before the wedding just in case I need extra time to fix something. Like indydebi said, once it's set up it's not moving

I ususally do mine about an hour or two before the reception. I stress to the bride the table must be completely set up and ready for me to assemble the cake once I arrive. If I have a 4-tier cake, I usually tier it up 2 and 2 then transport. I'll have my borders on the bottom tier, and the next tier up, then I'll have it on the top tier. When I get there, all I have to do is carry in the two sections of cake. I carry in the bottom half of the cake and place it on the table where it's suppose to go, then I carry in the top half. I always carry a large towel or cloth with me to set on the table. I place the top 2 tiers on that. I have my bottom section of cake marked and doweled, so all I have to do is place the other 2 tiers of the cake on top of that, add the border, flowers if I'm suppose to and then I'm done! It moves quickly if you prepare and bring everything you need with you. HTH

Projectqueen, I just did my first wedding cake delivery/set up this past Saturday. My cake didn't require refrigeration, but I took it to the reception site a couple of hours before the wedding and left it sitting there. They had a table set up for me (look for the one with the cake server if there's no one there to ask!), so I just brought everything in, stacked it, placed it where it needed to be on the table, took my picture, and left. I wasn't sure what to expect, but everything went just fine. I'm sure yours will go great too!

Do you put the cake on the turntable to do the borders once it's assembled?

I can't imagine lifting the stacked cake on and off of a turntable, but I can't imagine doing a neat border without one.

I wouldn't...just take a walk around the table!

I just walk around the table too ... the borders come out fine with no problems

Agree .... just walk around the table. About the only thing I have to do at the site after assembling the cake is add bottom borders and/or ribbon, and any silk/fresh florals (provided by bride). I can be in and out in 15 minutes, sometimes less depending on the design.