I was asked to make a cake for a friend's daughter's sweet 16. They want a tiered cake for 100 people. Never did a cake for that many people. How many tiers and what size cakes do you think I should do?

There are a ton of combinations, check the Wilton Cake Data chart

For example, a 12-9-6 tiered round is exactly 100 wedding sized servings (8 cubic inches).

You can do a 10", 8", 6' Square which is 50, 32 and 18 servings or 12" 9" and 6" round which is 56, 32 and 12 servings. Or better still look at the wilton website for a complete list of serving guides for different sizes.

Thanks, I checked the wilton guide, but for a backyard party, I think that people will cut larger sizes than that??? Or do I explain how to cut?

I agree that 8 cubic inches is pretty small for the average party sized piece of cake. But in the end several people might not eat cake, so others can have more, and just make sure the client knows how big a serving is, they can order more if they want. There are also cutting guides for cakes...

eg. http://www.wilton.com/cakes/cake-cutting-guides/wedding-cake-cutting-guide.cfm

I found this link somewhere on here a while ago...
http://shinymetalobjects.net/cake/calculator/cake_calculator.cgi
You put in whether it's wedding or party and the size pans and it calculates servings (based on each tier being 4" tall)

Wow! that is a cool interactive guide.

Or by volume:
http://shinymetalobjects.net/cake/calculator/cake_calculator_byVolume.cgi
(punch in your own numbers).

..........but for a backyard party, I think that people will cut larger sizes than that??? Or do I explain how to cut?.......

Yes you explain how to cut it! That is what a decorator is all about - informing the public.

If they want to serve larger pieces then they need to order *and pay for* a larger cake - simple as that.
You help them by showing a piece of cake cut to the sizes - 2x2x2 OR 1x2x4. I cut pieces of styrofoam for this. Also find out what other foods are being served. Is it cake only? Then yes, order a bigger cake Or a sweet table? - just a little bigger cake needed - or a sit-down dinner or a buffet? can probably stay w/the 100 servings.
All of that helps them decide how much cake to order with your quidance.

Thanks everyone for all your help. I just told her the price and now she says she will let me know......

I was just reading these posts and visited Wilton as well as checked out the calculator.

I was asked to do a wedding cake with 250 guests. I have attached the cake that the bride wants. I have researched and I am more confused now than ever.

I'm being told to use 3" high pans, 16, 14, 12 and 8 - another site told me 3" high pans 2-12", 2-10" and 1-8" - yet another has suggested 3" high pans 16, 14, 12, 10, 8 and 6, etc........

I have no clue what size pans I should use, what height size pans I should use and how many cakes for each size pan?????'


Please someone shed some light on this for me........

forgot the pic of the cake.....hope this time it works!

thanks Lisa

the pic will not post - her cake is from theknot.com/real-weddings and the description is a 4-tiered covered in white fondant with yellow swiss dots and royal blue ribbon on each tier - sugar/gumpaste swirl flowers as topper....can't miss it.....thanks so much!!!!!!!!!

Lisa

http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/Cake/results.aspx?type=3&wedding+details=Cake&pageIndex=2