Hot Weather And Cakes

Decorating By ellerchick Updated 5 May 2014 , 8:03pm by ellerchick

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ellerchick Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 1:44am
post #1 of 16

I have a bride who is having an outdoor wedding in July, could be over 100*, she wants frosting, but I told her fondant would hold up better.  What do you guys think?  any experience with frosting melting away?

15 replies
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Sassyzan Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 2:46am
post #2 of 16
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Mimimakescakes Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 4:25am
post #3 of 16

You are the expert , it is your asss on the line when her cake melts. Tell if that is the cake she wants she will have to change venue or go with your suggestion , otherwise run. 

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 5:09am
post #4 of 16

Hahaha - love that video - every professional baker needs something like that to show any bride insistent on having a product unsuitable for their circumstances. Hahaha

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AZCouture Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 6:53am
post #5 of 16

APoor guests, nevermind the cake! All dressed up to sweat like pigs. Yikes!

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Mimimakescakes Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 7:30am
post #6 of 16

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZCouture 

Poor guests, nevermind the cake! All dressed up to sweat like pigs. Yikes!

Yep I went to a wedding like that in December , December in Australia. It was about 45 degrees celcius in the reception room as the aircon broke.   I did the cake and now know for certain that my ganache and fondant covered cake really will stand up to the heat.  It was a large three tier and it didn't move a bit.  

 

I on the other hand was decidedly melted about a half hour in. 

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AZCouture Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 8:18am
post #7 of 16

AThat's good to know! Outdoor events just cease to exist at a certain point in my area, and it would be nearly medically dangerous (absolutely for older people) to be dressed in stuffy formal clothing outside. So thankfully I don't ever to worry about whether the cake will melt....except if the a/c broke I spose. But everyone would be hightailing it out of there and I'd hope someone would grab the cake!

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AZCouture Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 8:19am
post #8 of 16

AAnd geez Louise, heat just makes people crabby and short fused.

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AZCouture Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 8:23am
post #9 of 16

AAlthough someone sprung a last minute venue change on me once on like the hottest day of the year, and had the party in the park at 3pm, hottest day ofbthe year. I said I'd take it to them at the last minute, and walk up with candles blazing like a surprise....lol. It worked, and they said it was great. There they all were, 117 degrees Fahrenheit, grilling and playing tag and drinking beer...just having a good ole time. Some of the older folks were looking stressed, but they were dealing. Now a wedding reception? Oh heck no.

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AZCouture Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 8:24am
post #10 of 16

A

Original message sent by AZCouture

Although someone sprung a last minute venue change on me once on like the hottest day of the year, and had the party in the park at 3pm, hottest part of the [B]day.[/B] I said I'd take it to them at the last minute, and walk up with candles blazing like a surprise....lol. It worked, and they said it was great. There they all were, 117 degrees Fahrenheit, grilling and playing tag and drinking beer...just having a good ole time. Some of the older folks were looking stressed, but they were dealing. Now a wedding reception? Oh heck no.

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Mimimakescakes Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 10:52am
post #11 of 16

I am an aircon sook, mine broke and I had it replaced within 2 days .  Beach weddings are quite the go here but a lot of them are scheduled for around sunset . However pretty much all of our reception venues are airconditioned.   Although we do have the odd outdoor venue or of course birthday parties.  We don't go in for horribly stuffy and formal wear much either , I have been to so called formal or semi formal wedding and some people are wearing their " Good Jeans"  Cringe 

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Gingerlocks Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 2:51pm
post #12 of 16

I am constantly amazed by some customers inability to comprehend that its just a cake..flour, sugar, eggs, and BUTTER..melty gooey butter. Tell her yes you will make the cake she wants; but first she'll have to sign a waver that removes you from the liability if this cake happens melt, implode, keel over, or generally get ruined by the heat. She might quickly rethink her choice. 

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LNW Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 8:05pm
post #13 of 16

I made a wedding cake for my BIL and his new bride last August.  The wedding was to be in the barn but she assured me the cake would be in the house where it would be nice and cool.  She insisted on buttercream because she hated fondant.

When I showed up to deliver the AC wasn't on and it was a bazillion degrees in the house.  The cake instantly started to sweat.  No sooner did I get it assembled did it start to melt, all the decoration started to slide off, the cake sweating caused all the colors in the decorations and the icing to bleed together in this awful mess and of course the mousse fillings she demanded gave in and the cake began to implode. 

It was horrible.  I was embarrassed.  They blew it off like it was nothing but there was a house full of people watching me trying to put this thing together while it's literally melting in my hands.  Forget about the cake cutting picture :P  I looked like an idiot.  As soon as I got it assembled I had to start taking it back apart to cut it.  Which was just as awful because now it was all gooey and melted.  I had icing running down my arms, all over the cake table, piles of it plopped all over the floor etc.

Never again.  I have a bride inquiring about a cake for late June for an outdoor wedding.  I have sent her elsewhere.  I won't be responsible for that. 
 

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AZCouture Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 8:10pm
post #14 of 16

AGood [B]GAWD[/B] LNW....I'd have been livid.

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-K8memphis Posted 25 Apr 2014 , 8:21pm
post #15 of 16

i traveled across country to do a family cake--it was odd--the party planner contacted me in advance to be sure using plastic cake plates was ok--sure fine w/me--i'd never been asked that before to my knowledge--but last minute they decided to do the cake outside in the summer heat of southern california--but it wasn't raging hot that day  and i had boxed it with ice paks so it stayed perfect inside there--so i just whipped it out of the boxes last minute and it was fine--but i tried to be prepared for anything and i was glad i was--but i was a big crab at the wedding--i tried to be good but...inside i was a crab cake ;)

 

but i've had cakes melt too--i just kept putting flowers on a cascade so it looked fuller and taller and i'd come back by and it had flattened out a bit and i put more flowers and i repeated the process enough times to get a great good knot in my stomach but the bride was fine--the cake was fine too--but strange that one--

 

sorry that happened to you, lnw  

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ellerchick Posted 5 May 2014 , 8:03pm
post #16 of 16

thanks everyone!  I love the waiver idea!!

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