I had posted this before the crash and now it's gone... I've been asked to make a cake for 100 for a 50th Anniversary of a priest's ordination in two weeks. Since this is a pretty big milestone, I want to do a grand cake. So I plan do go the tier route. I'm having a hard time pinning down an idea, but I plan to do a white or ivory with gold accents and a gold gumpaste 50 topper. After that, I'm stuck.
I don't know this priest very well, I don't even know his last name. He's in his 80s, kind of grumpy (but he's entitled to be! LOL). No one at church is able to give me any ideas.
So, is it appropriate to put flowers on a cake such as this? I've been looking at alot of wedding cakes online to get ideas. But I don't want it to look like a wedding cake. I don't think I want it too funky or modern either, it's kind of a solemn occasion. This is a tough one for me - after a month, I have no solid ideas. 
Any thoughts?
How about something that resembles a stained glass effect? It could be abstract or literal. My (Catholic) Church has lots of stained glass windows for inspiration. Or, you could do a replica of the church itself with a priest figure standing outside. Take a look at his surroundings for ideas.
With that amount of servings you certainly can go w/a tiered cake for grand style
OR a sheet (12x18x4) w/another tier on it - say an 8" round - it will be more servings than you need but you can always give extras to people to take home or leave for the priests to snake on
A cross topper &/or stained glass window that stands up. Yes! men like flowers, but keep them simple and if possilbe blue, lavender etc.
Oooohhhhhh make a 14" or 16" sq 2 layers. One layer (2") has a small sq part (usually 6") cut out of the center of it & stacked on top. Goodness wish I had my pix to show you! You probably can find this idea in the galleries from several people.
I saw a sheet cake last week by MnSnow that was done for a Baptism.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1186291.html
There are 6 pictures by the artist that she choose. If you are doing a tiered cake you could use them all, just use a smaller image. (cake transfer in black) If you go to yahoo under images and do a search on sketches of jesus, the rest come right up. They are beautiful, I think they're called Jesus Laughing!
It could still be elegant, and a subject that is dear to his heart!
Good Luck!
If you were to add flowers, I recommend a cascade of white Casablanca lilies, as that would be appropriately celebratory. Hmmm, 4 tiers stacked, pure white fondant or buttercream, with a gumpaste gold-painted 50 monogram on top, a delicate pearl bead BC border around the base of each tier, and a cascade of white Casablanca lilies. Simple, elegant, beautiful.
One of these days I'm going to make a vase of white Casablancas for my church's rectory. I say that every Easter, tho. 
Sherri
One thought: some people might be more comfortable "cutting" into symbols rather than images of God. It is up to you, and local customs.
Some ideas: Grapes and grape leaves (I am the vine, you are the branches); grapes and wheat sheaf (Holy Communion), dove (Holy Spirit) and Celtic trinity symbol (especially if he is Irish).
Other ideas: what is the parish name? Do you have a diocese or parish symbol? The stained glass sounds lovely too.
Best wishes!
Thank you so much for all your ideas! I haven't been able to get on to see them! So many great ideas! That sheet cake w/ the image is beautiful! And I like the liles idea, but my gp flowers leave alot to be desired!
I have since found out that he is Italian and he doesn't really have a parish (he's retired). He just helps out at a few places when he's needed.
They called me last night and want a sheet cake for cutting up in the back and a centerpiece cake. Apparently there are now 200 people, but they're also having other desserts. So I'm doing a plain sheet for the back and now i'm down to a small centerpiece cake 6-8-10. I was thinking of incorporating grapes...gold, grapes, italy kind of go together?
Forgot to add: kakeladi - that trilevel cake is really neat - I've never seen anything like it. I'll save that idea for the future!
About two years ago, I had the same situation. Wish I had a photo to send to you. I did tiered cake. Quilted the sides with the diamond impression mat. In each corner, used the gold dragees. For the Topper I did a gum paste scalloped edged cross affixed to a sucker stick with a
dainty beaded border around the edge of the cross. Added a few white
simple roses at the base and was simple and regal all at the same time.
Good Luck. I also know that you can find a preist figure (like graduation guys/gals) and could add it to, so it was a little less wedding-ish.
I did a cake for our priest for about 200 people - a stack of books and an open Bible.
I will post a pic.
It was easy - just made 2 sheet cakes and a large square and carved them up.
More great ideas! Thank you all!!
SweetResults - that is terrific! They look soooo real!!
Almost every priest I know has a personal hobby, something that they do when they have a break to nurture their relationship with God and meditate (one has a beagle, another goes fishing, the other skiing, one plays the sax, etc. - can't tell we "church hop" depending on which church's masses fits our schedule..). You might want to find out what this priest's personal interests are. Maybe even a call to say "Father, I'm designing your cake for your 50th anniversary and ...".. He's still a guy, so will probably be like "whatever you make will be fine" but still, it never hurts to create a little rapport and find out what HIS personal traits that make him a good priest are (to him).
If you want the "can't go wrong with...for a priest" cake ideas... A Margaret Braun style chalice topper that replicates the one the priest personally uses with GP grapes and wha-la, DONE!
My Ma did our old priest's 50th and did grapes and vines all over the cake. Nothing fancy at all though still a tiered cake.
Good luck!!!
I've made several cakes for priests and one was specifically for an anniversary of one's Ordination. Is is a white cross cake with red roses elevated over a double sheet by short push in pillars. I wanted to give the effect that the cross was floating so I made sure they were unable to be seen easily.
I've also made a few cathedral cakes for Ordination receptions and they've gone over very well. These are very easy to do and you just stack the number of tiers you need based on number of servings. The windows are piping gel.
I'm trying to upload pics but they are not coming thru. I do have them in my photos, though.
Thanks for all your help! I posted it in the gallery. I decided to go with an Italian theme. http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1209442
Hi, I'm also making a retirement cake for a priest and was looking for a how-to make a rosary. I can't seem to find any of the photos mentioned. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks for any help!!
Hi, I'm also making a retirement cake for a priest and was looking for a how-to make a rosary. I can't seem to find any of the photos mentioned. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks for any help!!
I would recommend that you buy or borrow a rosary in order to make a mold of the crucifix and the centerpiece. I think I saw that Marvelous Molds or maybe First Impressions makes a crucifix mold.
If you are giving the cake to someone who actually prays the rosary, you're going to want to make it as realistic as possible. The rest of the rosary consists of beads, which can easily be made by hand or in a bead mold. Google has lots of images of rosaries to guide you on putting it together correctly.
I am about to undertake that effort as well. I decided on a double layered half sheet cake. I will ice it in white and put a gold sprinkled sugar cross on the top.
I am afraid that a tiered cake will liik yoo wedding like and if your priest is Roman Catholic, he probably will just be crankier.
If you think that the double 1/2 sheet cake will not be large enough, you can always bake a variety of smaller,different flavored, layer cakes. That way everyone's taste buds are happy. You can start early; freeze the cakes and ice when you need them. Good luck.
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