This is the cake table with the cake and cupcake tower. I was happy with how it all came together. The cupcakes were especially cute.
Here's a bad sideview picture of the cupcake tower. I wish I took better pictures but you definitely get the gist of things.
And here is the cake being used for it's intended purpose and that made me happy to see.
I included this picture so you could see the tables were decorated with the brown and teal- so you could see how the cake fit in with the decor.The direction I was given for the cake was to make flowers to match the ones on the invitation and have them sporadically placed on the cake. If you saw my previous post, you know all about my flower debate. They also asked for a bead border and the ribbons around the center of the middle layer. She said she wanted it to be very simple. That was what they wanted and that is what they got!
For the most part, the cake came together pretty smoothly. My one big "moment of stress" was about 9pm on Friday night when I was putting the flowers on and it just wasn't clear to me, how they should go. I didn't feel like it was working. Luckily, I got some great advice from my oh-so-patient mother which settled my stress and then in a moment of pure inspiration I changed the flower centers from dots to smaller flowers and voila suddenly I was back to loving the cake again. It worked. It was exactly what they asked for and I was happy. The bride seemed to love it too- though she was on cloud nine so I am pretty sure she would have loved anything... but my mission was accomplished.
So many people asked me how long that cake and cupcakes took me- so here is my long answer (and yes it is long, skip it if you like).
Last Saturday- made fondant- 3 batches.
Monday -baked ALL day- it shouldn't have taken ALL day- just most of the day- but it took all day because my first couple batches of cupcakes didn't right come out so I redid (plus I am also a mother of 3 and wife of 1 so nothing I do is ever without interruption- wonderful interruptions, but interruptions nonetheless). Apparently my tried and true chocolate fudge cake recipe doesn't double well. I have no idea why- oh well- lesson learned. I wrapped up all the cakes and stuck them in the freezer. While things were baking at night when the kids were down, I got started on the cupcake flowers- these little cutouts should have been quick and easy but they didn't cut so cleanly around the center so I had to fix each one with a knife---very time consuming. Plus I did shape them all with the fondant tool so they would have some shape and dimension.
Tuesday- Most of this morning was spent making and coloring icing for my class that night but I also spent my spare time finishing up the flowers for the cupcakes. When I got home at night I took a cake break. As a sidenote, I was very annoyed that Obama was delaying my beloved "American Idol"- come on Mr. President these are tough times for people- we need our American Idol and we need it now! :)
Wednesday- I mass produced icing- 36 cups of buttercream (only 3 quadruple batches)- some raspberry, some lemon, and some vanilla- all yummy! This wasn't all for the wedding cake- I was doing a YW activity on cake decorating and providing the decorating icing for that so about 1/3 went to that. That night when Kevin was out to special sneak preview of "Monsters and Aliens" with the kids, I made a few different daisy samples to figure out what I would put on the cake.
Thursday- I got nervous that my cake layers were not going to be tall enough so I baked another 10" layer and 14" layer. I also got nervous 3 fondant batches wouldn't be enough so I did another one of those. I also colored icing and filled bags for YW's and filled and frosted the 14" cake layer. As another sidenote- I couldn't believe the bottom three on American Idol- seriously Megan so needs to go- she may be cute and quirky but she can't sing- come on people! Don't get me wrong though- it was indeed time for that Michael Sarver to go home too.
Friday- I woke up excited to put it all together today. I started by frosting and filling the remaining two layers. That went smooth as silk. Then I got to the fondant which was a bit of a hiccup. It was really dry so I had to work it and knead in moisture for hours!!! It should have only taken maybe an hour or so to cover all three cakes but the fondant needed so much TLC it took more like 4 hours -remember of course I had many kid interruptions (much welcome interruptions though) so it's not like it was torturous. I definitely underestimated the task of covering the big 14-incher. It is the largest cake I have ever covered and just working with a piece of fondant that large was way more difficult than I expected. I got it done though and by the time I covered that last 6 inch layer I felt like the fondant queen. Oh and I covered some foam board that I had cut for the cake base with fondant. I will admit I got a bit sloppy on this part but I don't think anyone noticed. Also I should mention - during this time Brielle was soooooo good. I brought up a big box of basement toys that's been packed away for a while and she just happily played and watched her shows all afternoon. Occasionally she wandered over to scavenge for fondant scraps- which she LOVED and then she just went back to playing. It was great.
After school, the kids played with some neighbors across the street so I was able to dowel and stack the layers. Then when Kevin came home I got the bead border on, and when the kids were in bed, I added the ribbon and made the flowers to use, had my previously-mentioned "moment of stress", made chocolate buttercream- 2 double batches and frosted the cupcakes. Got to bed at 11:30- not to bad at all.
Saturday- Enjoyed a relaxing morning with the family- knowing everything was done and the cake had not toppled durring the night (fewf). After a bit of stress about being late since I had cake class until 4pm and a half hour drive home, we made it to the reception right on time at 5pm and the cake was completely intact. It was rewarding to be there for the whole reception and a lot of fun to cut and serve that cake. Kevin and I really enjoyed being at the reception and reminiscing about our own wedding, eating some delicious food, and visiting with some good friends.
Throughout my whole undertaking Kevin was my super supporter and I could not have done it without him. I am so blessed to have such a great husband who puts up with me and all I take on.
Monday -baked ALL day- it shouldn't have taken ALL day- just most of the day- but it took all day because my first couple batches of cupcakes didn't right come out so I redid (plus I am also a mother of 3 and wife of 1 so nothing I do is ever without interruption- wonderful interruptions, but interruptions nonetheless). Apparently my tried and true chocolate fudge cake recipe doesn't double well. I have no idea why- oh well- lesson learned. I wrapped up all the cakes and stuck them in the freezer. While things were baking at night when the kids were down, I got started on the cupcake flowers- these little cutouts should have been quick and easy but they didn't cut so cleanly around the center so I had to fix each one with a knife---very time consuming. Plus I did shape them all with the fondant tool so they would have some shape and dimension.
Tuesday- Most of this morning was spent making and coloring icing for my class that night but I also spent my spare time finishing up the flowers for the cupcakes. When I got home at night I took a cake break. As a sidenote, I was very annoyed that Obama was delaying my beloved "American Idol"- come on Mr. President these are tough times for people- we need our American Idol and we need it now! :)
Wednesday- I mass produced icing- 36 cups of buttercream (only 3 quadruple batches)- some raspberry, some lemon, and some vanilla- all yummy! This wasn't all for the wedding cake- I was doing a YW activity on cake decorating and providing the decorating icing for that so about 1/3 went to that. That night when Kevin was out to special sneak preview of "Monsters and Aliens" with the kids, I made a few different daisy samples to figure out what I would put on the cake.
Thursday- I got nervous that my cake layers were not going to be tall enough so I baked another 10" layer and 14" layer. I also got nervous 3 fondant batches wouldn't be enough so I did another one of those. I also colored icing and filled bags for YW's and filled and frosted the 14" cake layer. As another sidenote- I couldn't believe the bottom three on American Idol- seriously Megan so needs to go- she may be cute and quirky but she can't sing- come on people! Don't get me wrong though- it was indeed time for that Michael Sarver to go home too.
Friday- I woke up excited to put it all together today. I started by frosting and filling the remaining two layers. That went smooth as silk. Then I got to the fondant which was a bit of a hiccup. It was really dry so I had to work it and knead in moisture for hours!!! It should have only taken maybe an hour or so to cover all three cakes but the fondant needed so much TLC it took more like 4 hours -remember of course I had many kid interruptions (much welcome interruptions though) so it's not like it was torturous. I definitely underestimated the task of covering the big 14-incher. It is the largest cake I have ever covered and just working with a piece of fondant that large was way more difficult than I expected. I got it done though and by the time I covered that last 6 inch layer I felt like the fondant queen. Oh and I covered some foam board that I had cut for the cake base with fondant. I will admit I got a bit sloppy on this part but I don't think anyone noticed. Also I should mention - during this time Brielle was soooooo good. I brought up a big box of basement toys that's been packed away for a while and she just happily played and watched her shows all afternoon. Occasionally she wandered over to scavenge for fondant scraps- which she LOVED and then she just went back to playing. It was great.
After school, the kids played with some neighbors across the street so I was able to dowel and stack the layers. Then when Kevin came home I got the bead border on, and when the kids were in bed, I added the ribbon and made the flowers to use, had my previously-mentioned "moment of stress", made chocolate buttercream- 2 double batches and frosted the cupcakes. Got to bed at 11:30- not to bad at all.
Saturday- Enjoyed a relaxing morning with the family- knowing everything was done and the cake had not toppled durring the night (fewf). After a bit of stress about being late since I had cake class until 4pm and a half hour drive home, we made it to the reception right on time at 5pm and the cake was completely intact. It was rewarding to be there for the whole reception and a lot of fun to cut and serve that cake. Kevin and I really enjoyed being at the reception and reminiscing about our own wedding, eating some delicious food, and visiting with some good friends.
Throughout my whole undertaking Kevin was my super supporter and I could not have done it without him. I am so blessed to have such a great husband who puts up with me and all I take on.
All in all- it was a great cake making week!
