So I have a customer who is wanting a carrot cake for her wedding.  She has 1 guest who is lactose intolerant.  She is planning on 150.  I am meeting with her tomorrow to discuss the possibility of only doing 1 tier dairy free. Either way, its on the to-do list.  Does anyone know of a good recipe that is dairy free but can be stacked? Also, I am thinking we will have to go with a standard buttercream, unless anyone has a better idea?!  She is going for a country theme and wants it to look similar to this picture. 

I am hoping she will clarify tomorrow whether the guest has a dairy allergy or lactose intolerant.  I know there is a difference in both but for now, I am planning dairy free just to be safe.

There are buckets of carrot cake recipes published in reputable cookbooks that use oil, sugar, eggs, carrots, spices, flour, baking powder, and maybe raisins, pineapple, etc. All delightfully dairy-free.

For dairy-free icing, you would use dairy-free or vegan margarine.  These don't work for meringue type buttercream because they have more water than butter.

Or you can make white chocolate ganache with coconut milk--very mildly flavoured that goes very well with carrot cake. I use the regular Thai style, NOT reduced fat.