OK.  I have a bride that has chosen to display her 4 tier (6,8,10,12) wedding cake on a square card table.  The venue has warned her about this, as have I.  She insists on using it and believes it will be sturdy enough.  A 4 tier cake is heavy!!  How much do you all think one weighs?  Surely too much to trust a card table, right?

What should I do in this situation?  Do I place it on this table even though I worry it will fall?  Or can I refuse to put this wedding cake on that table?

AReally? Tell her to find a dang suitable table, end of story.

AHi hannahsmomi. If you don't think it's sturdy enough refuse to put it on there. If you do against your better judgement you'll only have yourself to blame when it falls. Your cake, your reputation. Good luck telling the bride that tho! :-)

I know, right!  I don't get what this bride is thinking!  A card table?  The venue says space is tight and so is money.  I think I'd spend some extra money to keep my wedding cake from falling.  I have informed the bride that a card table is not acceptable and she needs to replace it with a stronger table.  I just hope I don't show up there to deliver and see that dreaded card table...

What are people thinking????

AWe've just been talking about brides and their funny cake ideas on another thread, you wouldn't believe what some of them are thinking. Not wanting to cut the plain cutting cakes let alone the wedding cake, cutting it in half and pushing it up against a wall so it doesn't notice and using the other half the next day, you couldn't make it up!

No. way. If you show up and there's a card table, I would find another, sturdier table to place it on and take a picture of the cake before you leave!

Great advice!  At least now I have a plan if I get there and they have left the wonderful card table for me.  And yes, that is great advice about taking lots and lots of pictures of the sturdy table I set the cake on...because I will NOT set that cake on the card table.  No way.

You would think after spending so much $$ on a wedding cake, you wouldn't want it to come tumbling down to the floor...go figure.

it's not just brides, I've had venues who set the cake table up on a 30 degree slant on a hill, and some that left me with wobbly tables that I had to refuse to set the cake on. When this happens I tell them that I won't put the cake on that table, and then I stand there until they go get me something appropriate. I also have a clause in my contract that details the "table requirements" for the cake. It sounds stupid but this is what I put in there:

The client is responsible for ensuring the reception venue has the following at time of delivery:

·          An appropriate and secure environment for the cake, including a sturdy, flat and level table capable of supporting the weight of a cake without wobbling, tipping or moving.

·          A place for the cake that is away from all heat sources and sources of vibration (including dance floors, band amplifiers, and high-traffic areas.)

·          If outdoors, a setup area that is not in direct sunlight.

·          Whether indoors or outdoors, a temperature-controlled area at 68-72 degrees from cake delivery time until the time it is served.

Feel free to steal that and add it to your contract, because the first time some moron puts a cake on a wiggly card table and tries to blame you for the disaster you can wave it in their face.

Is there some sentimental reason that they want to use this particular table? Seems odd otherwise! If there is perhaps you can reach a compromise - maybe just a small 'cake for two' on the card table for just the bride and groom and the actual wedding cake on a sturdy table would be suitable for them if the table is special for some reason.

Costumeczar...I do have a clause in my contract that states the client must provide a sturdy, suitable table to place the wedding cake on, but now I think I should elaborate like you do!  Thanks for providing that!

You would think there would be certain things you wouldn't have to spell out to people...Oh well, live and learn

Maybe she's planning on taking bets as to when the the cake goes splat...reception entertainment, y'know.  Silly people.