Hello
I have have a wedding cake to do next weekend. And it's my first outdoor reception so the cake will be outside. I plan to assemble it there at the last minute so its won't be outside for too long..It is a white cake, Buttercream icing using NO butter or milk, with Buttercream filling.
My question is;
Would it be a good idea to refridgerate the cake before I deliver it or have it at room temp before delivery.
Also was thinking of bringing a fan and a cooler of ice to blow in the cake.
Any thoughts?

Hopefully, the cake will be under some sort of shelter. direct sun will melt you icing and can help the icing fall of and the cake can be unstable.

It should be very cold when you deliver it.

The fan will just dry out the icing exterior

I don't even think you need ice or a fan. There's nothing perishable in the cake really. What kind of buttercream are you planning to use? I'm assuming since there's no animal fat it in the cake that the buttercream has to be the same right?

You don't say where the reception will be (other than outdoors) I mean, city, state etc. This could make a huge difference. Things like heat and humidity play a majoy roll. but if its somewhere where it will not be too hot than being outdoors will not really matter to the cake.

HTH

I've had a few outdoor receptions. One was at dusk so it wasn't as hot. But one, the cake sat in the sun for the entire ceremony and reception. And it survived. Some of the color faded, though. I don't freeze or refrigerate my cakes prior to delivery. It is humid here and the cold cake "sweats" and makes the cake so moist that it is wet and unstable.

HTH

I dont' put mine in the 'frig. I use Crisco and milk in my icing. They sit outside just fine. 90 degrees in August with super high humidity. No problems. I've never had a meltdown.

For those of you who have done outdoor weddings; what do you suggest to the couple about protecting the cake from bugs? I ask b/c my niece-in-law is having her graduation party outside at a local park under a shelter. The cake that I am making will be 4-tiers, all buttercream with MMF accents. What do you suggest to use to protect the cake?

Most of my outdoor brides contact an exterminator and have them spray the area the day before. It's pretty common and will last thru the next day. I can only recall one outdoor wedding where there was a problem and they didn't spray the area the day before..... BEES swarmed the yard!!! It was like an Alfred Hitchcock movie!!!

Thanks Indydebi! I wouldn't have even thought about that! I will see what my SIL says when I mention this to her...she will probably nix the idea b/c she's CHEAP--but, that's another story.