Help! Wedding In 10 Days - Cake Only Quoted Last Night!

Decorating By Sweet_Toof Updated 21 Oct 2010 , 6:26am by Sweet_Toof

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Sweet_Toof Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 9:53pm
post #1 of 25

I told the bride that I need the deposit this weekend and then I need full payment a couple of days before the wedding.
I'm still waiting for approval on quote and then payment of course.... I need to buy everything, bake & decorate all within 10 days! IS SHE DREAMING?!

What's worse is she wanted a PLAIN mud cake - covered in white fondant and decorated only with ribbon at the base of each tier.
Now she wants this!---...

P.S. If she goes with this, how do I get the detail on the sides of the cake -colour black royal icing (what size piping tip?) or coloured fondant? I'm starting to stress.

24 replies
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Sweet_Toof Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 9:55pm
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http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1839966.html

^^^^^^^ PICTURE OF CAKE ^^^^^^^

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Scarlets-Cakes Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:11pm
post #3 of 25

You could do the leaves and flowers in fondant, and pipe the stems with RI. I'd use tip 2. Or you could use a clay extruder for the stems. Either way, it will be beautiful! Good luck and don't stress too much! icon_biggrin.gif

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indydebi Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:19pm
post #4 of 25

The side decors are similar to what I did for my son's wedding cake (first cake in my pics) and in fondant they won't take long. I used just plain black BC and a #12 tip for the stem (yours looks a little finer, so maybe a #7?)

My biggest concern would be getting paid in full prior to even starting it. When a cake is ordered thsi close to the wedding, its a good idea to get paid right now. If they don't have the whole thing now, they won't have the balance in a week (theoretically they COULD, but it will also be 2 days before the wedding and everyone will be in a whirlwind of final details and who has time to remember to pay the cake lady?) Most cake/catering payments are due in full LONG before 10 days before the wedding, so it would not be unheard of to hold out your hand and say "Cash, please!" icon_biggrin.gif

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Sweet_Toof Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:32pm
post #5 of 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scarlets-Cakes

You could do the leaves and flowers in fondant, and pipe the stems with RI. I'd use tip 2. Or you could use a clay extruder for the stems. Either way, it will be beautiful! Good luck and don't stress too much! icon_biggrin.gif




Yeah, I thought I'll do the leaves and flowers in the fondant (well we call the harder stuff Modelling paste, can't remember what american's call it)...
What is CLAY EXTRUDER?

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Sweet_Toof Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:39pm
post #6 of 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydebi

The side decors are similar to what I did for my son's wedding cake (first cake in my pics) and in fondant they won't take long. I used just plain black BC and a #12 tip for the stem (yours looks a little finer, so maybe a #7?)

My biggest concern would be getting paid in full prior to even starting it. When a cake is ordered thsi close to the wedding, its a good idea to get paid right now. If they don't have the whole thing now, they won't have the balance in a week (theoretically they COULD, but it will also be 2 days before the wedding and everyone will be in a whirlwind of final details and who has time to remember to pay the cake lady?) Most cake/catering payments are due in full LONG before 10 days before the wedding, so it would not be unheard of to hold out your hand and say "Cash, please!" icon_biggrin.gif




Yeah, its going to be a good test for me to stay very firm and get that money!!!
If its going ahead I just want the money ASAP so I can go buy all the stuff - I'm not going to buy everything and then find out she's getting her own cake from Safeway!
Cake decorating is not even my full time job so I am going to be a very tired girl next week!
I might actually make the smaller 2 tiers and freeze them - if she cancels I can use them for something else. If she goes ahead, at least I've given myself the head start.

When you say you did the side decors in fondant and then you used just plain black BC for the stem ...... what do you mean?

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Ursula40 Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:41pm
post #7 of 25

it's a tool, which you put fondant in and press out a rope, easier and faster than rolling by hand

and yeah, cash up front or no cake

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Sweet_Toof Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:43pm
post #8 of 25

ok, I just did a google search and saw the clay extruder tool - would a piping bag do the same thing with RI or does it work much differently?

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Sweet_Toof Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:45pm
post #9 of 25

Oh right.... I see..... so you put fondant in it as opposed to putting RI in a bag....
HMmm... might be safer that way I guess, since such dark colouring RI could stain the cake if I want to take it off because I make a mistake?

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Sweet_Toof Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:45pm
post #10 of 25

And then... what would be the best way to glue the fondant accessories on with?

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Ursula40 Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:47pm
post #11 of 25

either gum glue (CMC mixed with a bit of water and leave overnight, keep in fridge) or RI or just a dab of water

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Scarlets-Cakes Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:47pm
post #12 of 25

I use Piping Gel as my fondant glue. I know others use Vodka. I'm not a drinker, so I don't have Vodka readily available in my kitchen! icon_smile.gif

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indydebi Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:51pm
post #13 of 25

I had black buttercream in a piping bag and piped the black stem. then placed the fondant leaves in the BC. The BC was the glue that held the leaves on. Had I needed to, I could have place a dot of BC on the back of the leaf to glue it in place.

I actually had to take the cake apart AFTER it was decorated and then put it back together, making sure to line everything up! icon_eek.gif

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BluntlySpeakingKarma Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 10:58pm
post #14 of 25

I'm sorry, but that would look horridly tacky in royal icing or buttercream. It should be done in fondant or gumpaste, like that cake was done as well.

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Sweet_Toof Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 11:00pm
post #15 of 25

thanks for that. sounds good......
when should I do the draping? I will be delivering the cake (eek!) and assembling it on site but I'm not sure If I need to be rolling out fondant on site to do draping work - scary.

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indydebi Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 11:01pm
post #16 of 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by KarmaCakes10

I'm sorry, but that would look horridly tacky in royal icing or buttercream. It should be done in fondant or gumpaste, like that cake was done as well.


Hmmmm. Interesting. Because I dont' think my son's wedding cake, done with a BC stem and fondant leaves, looks "tacky" at all. And neither did his guests. And neither did he or his bride.

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Jen80 Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 11:26pm
post #17 of 25

If you don't have far to travel, that cake could be pre-assembled before departure. Just make sure the leaves and flowers are "glued" on really well.

If you want to go with extruding fondant and you're in Australia, this seller ships really fast. They always have my items to me within 2 days.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Makins-Ultimate-Clay-Extruder-35055-/250395146783?pt=AU_Art_Supplies&hash=item3a4cb6ba1f#ht_516wt_905

But yeah, I'd be looking for final payment............yesterday icon_wink.gif .

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cakesbycathy Posted 20 Oct 2010 , 2:26am
post #18 of 25

If it were me I wouldn't be spending any more time contemplating how to get things done until you actually get paid. You could be wasting your time.

You need to inform the bride that either you have payment in full in cash by 5pm tomorrow or she will have to find someone else to do her cake.

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Sweet_Toof Posted 20 Oct 2010 , 4:02am
post #19 of 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakesbycathy

If it were me I wouldn't be spending any more time contemplating how to get things done until you actually get paid. You could be wasting your time.

You need to inform the bride that either you have payment in full in cash by 5pm tomorrow or she will have to find someone else to do her cake.




Problem being I've asked for deposit by the weekend - so I can't really go back and demand money 2 days earlier - even by rights I should have asked for it earlier - I just had to think on my toes so quickly
I was also trying to prepare as much as I can knowing that wedding being just 10 days away. If I don't, well this has been a good discussion on what I should be doing if something like this happens again.

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Sweet_Toof Posted 20 Oct 2010 , 4:04am
post #20 of 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jen80

If you don't have far to travel, that cake could be pre-assembled before departure. Just make sure the leaves and flowers are "glued" on really well.

If you want to go with extruding fondant and you're in Australia, this seller ships really fast. They always have my items to me within 2 days.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Makins-Ultimate-Clay-Extruder-35055-/250395146783?pt=AU_Art_Supplies&hash=item3a4cb6ba1f#ht_516wt_905

But yeah, I'd be looking for final payment............yesterday icon_wink.gif .





Thanks heaps for that. Yes I am in Australia. I have a local supplies shop but I'll check the prices of this. At least this will give me time to try using it before putting it on the cake - since I've never used one.

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Jen80 Posted 20 Oct 2010 , 7:42am
post #21 of 25

Ok cool. If your supply shop is just for cakes they might not stock it as they were originally marketed for using with polymer clay.

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Sweet_Toof Posted 20 Oct 2010 , 8:23am
post #22 of 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jen80

Ok cool. If your supply shop is just for cakes they might not stock it as they were originally marketed for using with polymer clay.




Thanks heaps. Its actually a supply shop that do some cakes & classes too.
I saw the ones on ebay that you sent me. The plastic one is so much cheaper - will it do a good enough job or should I invest in the metal one?

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Jen80 Posted 20 Oct 2010 , 8:56am
post #23 of 25

It depends on if you think you will use it again. I'm not certain, but I think the metal one holds more, which makes it easier to do longer ropes and I've heard that the plastic one is a bit harder on your hands.

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Jen80 Posted 20 Oct 2010 , 8:59am
post #24 of 25

Oh, but as far as effect, yes it will do the same job and look just as good thumbs_up.gif .

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Sweet_Toof Posted 21 Oct 2010 , 6:26am
post #25 of 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jen80

Oh, but as far as effect, yes it will do the same job and look just as good thumbs_up.gif .




Thanks heaps. I might try my luck with the plastic one first - given the amount of times I'll probably use it. Can always upgrade later icon_smile.gif

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