Has Anyone Used A Fountain In A Wedding Cake?
Business By mrskennyprice Updated 2 Mar 2007 , 11:12pm by qtcakes
The bride and groom want a fountain as the base for their wedding cake. I don't own one, and since I don't get many requests for one, told them that I don't plan to buy one. They didn't have a problem with that, and they're looking for somewhere to rent one. Does anyone know where you can rent a fountain? Also, have you run into any difficulties assembling the cake with the fountain? Any advice?
I haven't used one yet, but I have a wedding coming up in June and the Bride is requesting the monster cake in the beginning of the Wilton book. I got my fountain online for about $25. I can't remember the website. I'll look when I get home from work.
I have used mine twice now, with another one coming up. I got mine at Michaels with a 50% off coupon, and I got the cheaper of the two. It does add a lot of drama to the cake, and a good investment.
Here is my latest with a fountain. I was afraid at first, but it ended up being the easiest cake I have set up!!
You can take any cake and set it on top of a fountain. The stands are very sturdy. If you can get one on Michael's 50% coupon, that would be a good deal.
FOuntains and stairs came into vogue in the late 70's, early 80's. My best friend in school was the first one in our area to have a fountain wedding cake and we all thought we were in the big time to see that cake! During the 80's, this was the only cake set up I ever did. At least the cake decorations differed slightly!
I have a number of pics in my photos of cakes with fountains.
I had a bride who the cake was her way of working her Mom's memory into the wedding(her Mom died about 4 years ago).. Her Mom decorated cakes and she gave me a stash of equipment including the fountain which I purchased a new top fountain part for. I agree with the PP in that the way to get one is to use a 50% off coupon at JoAnn's or Michaels... Otherwise, ebay is the way to go. They've got some on there pretty cheap. The stand wasn't that expensive either in the grand scheme of things, and was cheaper to buy the pieces separately from the cake deco store than it was to buy it as a set.
I have used my fountain many times, it goes in spurts. I have 2, so I can rent one, and use one. They are not difficult to set up. Always check your fountain to make sure it works. I use distilled water. You can add food coloring to make the water a different color, but use water base color. Make sure you take an extension cord, just in case the outlet is further then the regular cord will reach, also some tape in case you have to tape the cord to the floor. The hardest thing is putting the cakes on the top, I am short so I have to use a chair or stool.
Fountains add so much beauty and drama to a wedding cake. The set of alternate cascading edges is a good investment, too. Try adding just a couple of drops of food coloring (to match the brides colors) to the water for added drama. I charge a refundable deposit of $75 plus the value of my other equipment when using the fountain for weddings. My contract requires that all equipment be returned to me within 10 days and must be in excellent condition, and I usually charge a $15 rental fee, too. If I set up a wedding cake several hours in advance of the time the reception starts I always turn it off and instruct personnel to turn it on when the guests begin to arrive. The water sometimes splashes out which can cause the fountain to turn itself off. If the fountains run for an extended period the water can evaporate and the fountain will stop. Let someone know that if this happens, the simple solution is to add more water. I've owned this same Wilton fountain for at least 15 years and with care it still works beautifully and I use it for probably 10-12 weddings a year. I am convinced that by charging the equipment deposit the bride is extra careful with all the parts and plates, pedestals etc. and makes sure I get it back in good shape.
Around here, the smaller cake decorating supply stores rent them out. I did a cake for a family member last year (before starting my own business), and they rented a fountain. Well, it worked in the store, but never worked for the wedding. We just left the light of the fountain on, and let it go at that. I am not sure if I will purchase my own, since I've done many wedding cakes since June (when I opened) and I have not had one bride ask for the fountain. Seems as though they like simple better.
i too have used fountains many times. i always take a backup one just in case it doesnt want to run. ive had this happen, even if i check it at home first before we leave. be careful with the ones on ebay, i bought a couple and when i got them they were much bigger then the wilton ones and wouldnt fit under the stand. so read the heights on it. wilton ones are good. i did make use of the too big fountain and have it on display in my cake studio. also the ebay sellers i worked with didnt have replacement parts. where wilton does.
some of your rental places rent the fountains too. i get 100.00 deposit thats refundable and a 20.00 user fee.
ive also noticed they are used in spurts. last summer i only used it a couple of times, but this summer i have it booked multipule times. so if you charge a user fee you will deff. make your money back plus replacement parts. they do get damaged. at the end of the eve. the person taking the cake down doesnt care how they load stuff back most of the time, and as we know plastic breaks.
so yes, get one! good luck! cake decorating can be so much fun.
I bought my fountain off of the internet, you can find some nice fountains for under $50 off of the internet. (And that's including the shipping)
I've used it twice now: http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-photos-by-m0use.html Look at the "Fall Cake" and the "Rob & Shirley..." cake.
mouse,
i looked at you fountain cakes, they look good. my question is, i noticed you mentioned an ameretto cake. i have a order for one this summer. where did you buy your ameretto flavor? around here ive only found the candy flavorings in that flavor. whish is oil base, i can use this cant i?
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