To spend £100 on a 1st birthday cake?

[FannyTheFlamingo]

DD is almost 1 and we're having a small family get together to celebrate. I've seen a couple of beautiful cakes and would like to have one made, but it costs around £100. DP says this is ridiculous and wants me to get a cheap(er), supermarket cake. I'm so excited for her 1st birthday and just wanted a special, unique cake. I know she won't remember, but she'll see the pictures one day.

For info, we can afford it, so it's not a budget issue. The small party isn't really costing us anything as it's at home with a bit of party food and some balloons. If I had the time and the skill I'd love to be able to make my own, but it would be a disaster!

FWIW, DP thinks a family party is a silly idea and I should have a get together with mums and babies from the baby groups I go to, which I've tried to explain is a silly idea because I only talk to a couple of the mums, so it would just be awkward!

Fondant icing actually seals the sponge cake and cakes can still be tasting fresh a few weeks later although I wouldn't recommend it obviously!

I'd put it towards a weekend away for me and dp tbh, £100 for a cake is ridiculous.

I didn't bother with a cake for my dd's 1st birthday, we went out to the zoo and for lunch, then my mil guilted me about not having a cake on WhatsApp, so I did a last minute evening dash to Sainsbury for a cupcake to stick a candle in. Held it in front of her bemused litte face just before bedtime, then ate it myself.

2nd birthday I made a ladybird cake, piece of piss even if you're not creative, she adored it.

This year, it'll be Peppa or Frozen. I'm saving the big flashy cakes for once she's at school and cares more.

Think £100 is quite steep for a cake for a first birthday but...it’s your money and your baby and I can understand why you want it to be special.

I’ve had 4 kids so 4 first birthdays all a bit different due to circumstances at the time but special nonetheless. No one can tell you what to do or not to do. Think your baby will have a lovely time, the first of many wonderful birthdays. Hope the cake is really yummy and you get your dh on board x

I think it's too much and wouldn't do it personally, seems like a waste of money to me but up to you.

I never made cakes until I had the DC but now I always make their cakes and that feels special to me.

My point is it's not the money you spend but how special the cake/birthday is so if this cake is worth it to you then just buy it. I agree that a home party is more appropriate for a one year old too.

Do what you like if you can afford it. But I would agree that the best looking cakes are not necessarily the best tasting. To make them look that good they have to have much too much icing. I make my own, including I made a simple but cute ladybird cake for dd1s first birthday. But if I was going to spend a lot on a cake I would get a fancy grown up chocolate cake, and get a little cupcake suitable for the baby....

They won't even be aware that it's their birthday - this is all about showing off to one's own friends/other parents. That amount could provide months of support for another toddler who's been been born into extreme poverty, preventing infant growth stunting and mortality. I'm seriously grateful that my childhood birthday cakes were all made by my mum - it makes the memories/photos so much more special

everyone knows that a first birthday party is less for the actual baby and more for the family, especially parents/primary caregivers. it is a celebration for the parent of all their own achievements, and a time to be proud and look forward to the future.
i would want to go all out and celebrate in true style with a personalised stunning birthday cake. i appreciate that not everyone feels like this, but some do. i wouldnt spend so much though, as you can buy stunning personalised cakes for cheaper. if you have the money, ask yourself if this is something you would regret spending so much money on. perhaps the best idea is to compromise with hubby and get a stunning cake for a better price?

Go for it, you can afford it, so sod what anyone else thinks, in a way it’s your birthday too, I always treat myself on DDs birthday too & so does DH as he sees it as the anniversary of my giving birth too

I do agree that £100 sounds very OTT for the cake you have describe though, even in an affluent area

Too, too, too many toos

If you want a nice cake, get a nice cake. You say you can afford it so everyone else's views on how much £100 is are irrelevant. I didn't spend that much, but I just went and ordered what I wanted.

Why doesn’t your DP make the cake? Would solve the angsting over £100 and the straw man argument that the only other solution is for the OP to do it.

Yup, men can do things concerning their DC too. Who’da thought...

If you can afford it, have your cake... And eat it!!!

Go for it. You’ll treasure the memories and it’s no more silly than buying any other luxury purchase.
I made an elaborate cake for my youngest’s first Birthday and it probably cost about £50 in ingredients

Unless it will cause problems between you and DP, do it and enjoy the fun

Have you thought about getting a personalised one from Costco? They’re under £30 and taste unreal!! Maybe it would work out a bit better than paying loads for one that doesn’t taste great?

Up to you, as long as you're not planning on doing one of those god awful cake smashes.

Totally agree that in general people do not value the time and effort taken to make something. Even charging minimum wage for your time an intricate cake could take 5 hours - £37.50 before you even start adding in ingredients and electricity for your oven. Comparing a mass produced supermarket cake with an individually created cake someone has worked hard on is quite frankly an insult. It's like saying an acrylic jumper from Primark is the same as a 100% merino handknit.

Lucky you, Grace. Not everyone has a mum to make them a cake!

Have you thought about getting a personalised one from Costco? They’re under £30 and taste unreal!!

Literally unreal. Incredibly sweet and artificial.

The cake is ordered! DP doesn't know exactly how much it costs....I should've learnt my lesson when we had the same argument about a Xmas tree last year.

Good decision OP :)

I was coming on to suggest m&s online. They do lovely cakes (of all budgets). It may be a compromise for you and your dh.

Pointless imo.

For both our kids’ first birthdays their grandmothers offered to make a cake.
So it looked pretty rustic but tasted far better than any manufactured cake.

Good for you op. Enjoy the day!

BertrandRussell can I ask cheeky question? How do you get your cream cheese icing to not curdle?

And I would like to know how to make a cream cheese icing that doesn't slide off the cake. I buy the highest fat cream cheese, but as soon as I add icing sugar to it it goes liquid.

I used to be able to buy proper cream cheese that used to have a higher fat content than Philly/supermarket own brand, but I can't find it anywhere now.