I'm making my brother's wedding cake. The wedding is 5 hours away. We are travelling on Thursday, rehearsal on Friday, wedding on Saturday.

With this timeline, the latest I can bake is Wednesday. I'm thinking that's not too early but now I'm second guessing myself.

Also, any good tips on transporting? I've got an extra fridge, so will chill everything well. I plan on stacking the bottom two tiers, and top two, and travelling that way. Assembling on site.

Luckily it is cool here, the temp. probably won't get above 70.

Your plan sounds good to me. Good luck!

Does that mean you are baking and decorating on the same day?

Well, that's the problem. If I bake on Wednesday morning, I could fill and let settle, then ice later in the evening. Generally though, I bake one evening, fill and ice the next day. I'm concerned I won't get everything done by the time we need to leave my house.

Do you have time to bake ahead (like the weekend before) and the space to freeze the layers? You can do that, so that you don't have to bake and decorate on the same day.

Depending on what the fillings are, you could even fill and at least crumb coat then freeze.

This is so odd, bc I am in the SAME situation! I am doing my sister-in-law's wedding cake for next weekend, and it is a 6 hour car trip. We are traveling on Thursday morning, rehearsal that night, free day friday and wedding on Saturday. I am planning to bake and wrap all the cakes to sit overnight, make buttercream and fondant on Tuesday; dirty ice and settle on Wednesday morning, and cover in fondant Wednesday night. I am prepping all the tiers with dowels and boxing them for the ride on Thursday, and going to stack and finish decorating at my in-law's house on Friday. From what I have read, the fondant will keep everything fresh, so I'm not that worried. I am now wondering if I should wait until Wednesday to start - that doesn't give me much time!