Condensation - Wedding Cake Delivery Question

Decorating By kblickster Updated 28 Jul 2014 , 8:49pm by cupadeecakes

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kblickster Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 3:02pm
post #1 of 8

I had and order for a 5 tier buttercream wedding cake that needed to be delivered 75 miles away.  I knew that the reception was outside in a large tent, so I used Sugar Shacks buttercream recipe for stability.  (I tried to get her to go with fondant, but she hates it.)

 

I stacked the first three tiers, boxed and refrigerated them and the other 2 tiers.  The outdoor temp was around 80 degrees and humid.  I placed the cold cakes in the back of my SUV with the temp inside the car cold. 

 

It was raining heavily when we arrived and terribly humid inside the tent despite having huge fans on.

 

I set the cake up and huge beads of condensation formed immediately.  I asked them to position a fan where it would blow on the cake.  Not much else I could do.

 

I talked to the bride later and she was very happy with the cake and she provided me pictures.  It still looked good, but she did say that they cut it early because it was still weeping and she was worried that it was going to melt.

 

Is there anything you guys can recommend that I do differently next time? 

7 replies
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cai0311 Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 3:33pm
post #2 of 8

AI don't box my cakes when I deliver them. At least, not a box with a lid. I do put the cakes in a cake box with the lid removed just so nothing bumps the cake.

This gives the cakes time to dry during delivery.

I use the same buttercream as you. I have never had any problems. Even in condensation does form, the icing has never melted or bled.

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-K8memphis Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 3:50pm
post #3 of 8

AI remember doing a 600 serving cake 30 something years ago -- no air conditioning -- decorating a massive bottom tier and had a fan on -- by the time the cake had turned all the way around the first part of the caker was melting from the 'convection' oven I had created --

but under the conditions you describe it's a wonder the cake survived at all -- the temp in the tent could only rise with all the hot bodies going in and out too -- I'd say count yourself most fortunate--

I avoid outdoor receptions --

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cakesbycathy Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 4:26pm
post #4 of 8

You can't control the weather.  Honestly, I don't think there was anything else you could have done.  Other than decline the order in the first place.

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kakeladi Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 5:27pm
post #5 of 8

.........talked to the bride later and she was very happy with the cake........

 

Be happy :)  You had a happy bride.  That doesn't always happen.

I agree w/the other posters.  We cannot control weather.  When brides insist on an outdoor wedding they have to understand all the problems that can happen!

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kblickster Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 6:59pm
post #6 of 8

Thank you for all the replies.  It was harrowing to say the least.  This is the second delivery I've had to do in the pouring rain.  The cakes were still very cold when I took it them out of the boxes and they were already beading up with condensation as I was starting to stack them.  By the time I got done, they looked almost like someone had turned on a sprinkler.  Panic set in as I got help to position one of the giant fans in front of it.  I was sweating as much as the cake.

 

K8 - It's a good thing my thoughts to position a fan on the cake didn't turn out like yours did.  Whew!

 

I guess I dodged a bullet. 

 

Does anyone else wish that tents and barns would fall out of favor with brides?  They are so popular right now.  My experience with the air inside of those musty old barns isn't much better.  The last barn wedding I did had buckets of those paper fans for their guests at the entrance.  Not a good sign!

 

Wish the brides would consider this before booking their venue.  By the time they get to me, most have already booked.

 

I can't give a fondant cake away.  It has such a bad reputation in our area. 

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-K8memphis Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 8:15pm
post #7 of 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by kblickster 
 

K8 - It's a good thing my thoughts to position a fan on the cake didn't turn out like yours did.  Whew!

 

I guess I dodged a bullet. 

 

 

 i gasped when you said you turned the fan on it-- the cake gods were smiling down on you!

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cupadeecakes Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 8:49pm
post #8 of 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by kblickster 

 

Does anyone else wish that tents and barns would fall out of favor with brides?  They are so popular right now.  My experience with the air inside of those musty old barns isn't much better.  The last barn wedding I did had buckets of those paper fans for their guests at the entrance.  Not a good sign!

 

Absolutely, all weddings should be held inside where climate control is king!  There has been some great information here already, so I'll only add that I recommend fondant to my clients for hot outdoor weddings.  I explain to them things like the melting point of butter, and that gnats and flies love buttercream as much as people do, but they tend to get stuck in it (which is NOT good eats).  If they still say they don't want fondant, out comes my hot-weather contract rider.  It stipulates that the client has been advised that the order being placed is being done so against my professional recommendation and that once the cake has been delivered they take full responsibility for any heat or weather related mishaps.

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