Help On Tree Stump Wedding Cake...
Decorating By Michele25 Updated 5 Aug 2007 , 1:06am by missnnaction
Hi,
I normally do not do wedding cakes yet, but a friend asked me to make her sister-in-law's wedding cake. It will be an informal back-yard reception, and the couple wants a very non-traditional wedding cake with a tree or bark type of theme. I remembered seeing some cakes that looked like tree stumps on this site and decided that might be my best bet for a design.
The cake needs to serve 150. Do I just stack large rounds on top of each other? (I imagine I must at some interval put cardboards in between). If so, how many cake layers and what size?
I also plan to decorate it in buttercream. As I said, there are some terrific cakes in the gallery to look at for inspiration but if anyone has any helpful hints on the decorating part of it, that would be great too.
I also have no idea what to charge for this type of wedding cake.
Thanks so much in advance!!
Well, the pricing part is easy. 150 multiplied by your per serving price. You can add on a bit of "degree of difficulty."
I'm doing a tree stump in a garden cake for next weekend, but it only has to serve 50. It's a 6" round on a 14" round, with the stump off center. Grass and flowers.
Are you thinking about one big tree stump to serve 150? 'Cause that's a ginormous tree stump.
i am not really sure of the sizes, a stump for 150 may be hard to cut since it would have to slowly taper up. maybe you could do a stump and some toadstools? i've seen tutorials for toadstools, or if you found one for a kind of "cottage" house, you could revamp it to look like a toadstool. i would fill the top of the stump with flowers, maybe some butterflies, ya know- really "naturey" things 
The problem is, I just don't know what to do. I am kicking myself for even saying I'd do this cake. If it was a regular, traditional wedding cake, I could probably pull it off. Even though I don't normally do wedding cakes, I've done enough other stacked cakes and anniversary cakes that I could probably do fine. This theme is going to make me a wreck.
Helen, that cake is beautiful!!! So the tree stump stand in that photo is actually cake? I can't wait to see your photo when it's done! What size cakes do you think make up that "cake stand"?
Since I'm just trying to cover all my options, if I don't use Helen's idea, and a tree stump to feed 150 will be enormous, what sizes do you think I could use to make it a more manageable size? Maybe if they really want the stump I could do one to feed less people and make up the difference with sheet cakes that stay in the kitchen?
look on Earlenescakes.com, she has some awesome "stump cakes" with initials carved in them, soo cute 
You might consider doing one with dogwood going up the side of the tiers. There are more of these types cake on here and they are very elegant but yet simple and outdoorsy ...
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_75781.html
So the tree stump stand in that photo is actually cake? I can't wait to see your photo when it's done! What size cakes do you think make up that "cake stand"?
No! It's a real tree stump that they used as a cake stand.
I ended up "ditching" the tree stump idea because I was just too confused on how to do it with such a large number of servings. This cake stressed me out all week because I just couldn't visualize how I wanted to decorate it. I received the swatch of fabric being used in the theme and ended up finding the same print. I used the fabric as an accent in the design and then decorated with silk leaves, etc. For my first wedding cake, I was happy with the results. Hopefully the bride liked it!
Thanks for looking!
Michele
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=871793
Your cake turned out very nicely... I wouldn't have known that it was your first wedding cake...
antonia74, where would one find a tree stump to use as a cake stand... do you get it made or what... does it have to be treated.....
antonia74, where would one find a tree stump to use as a cake stand... do you get it made or what... does it have to be treated.....
Ummm, you'd go to a forest or a woodpile to get it! 
I just got my brother to grab me stump from his woodpile at the cottage this summer. I asked him for one that was at least 14", pretty round and at least 5"-6" in height. He first cut it roughly with a chainsaw, then spent a few hours sanding it nice and smooth and level. It doesn't have to be treated because your cake isn't actually touching it since all cakes are on boards. (Better untreated in fact.)
Helen, when I pm'd you earlier in the week about where to find a tree stump stand and you told me you found it in "the forest in northern Ontario cottage country" I burst out laughing. Only because I think you are one of the best and most creative decorators on this site--I just thought to myself, well, it's fitting that Helen found a real tree stump in the woods to use as a cake stand!!! 
You never cease to amaze me! Can't wait to see your finished cake!
I also started laughing.. when I read your response... That's what I thought the answer would be.. but, on here... I wasn't really sure....
Thanks..
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