Cake smash cake

[WishUponAStarBar]

DDs first birthday this month, not spending alot of money on anything because

1. I don't know anyone with babies
2. I'm saving money to get my own place as I'm staying with my mum, im a single mum, her dad pays no money.
3. She won't remember it anyway.

Just going to take her to soft play, have a birthday cake and go out for dinner, I've got her a couple of things too but nothing major as she had alot at Christmas. Anyway, ever since I saw the photo shoots of a cake smash, I've wanted to do it for DD's first birthday. It's not an expensive one, I use a photographer who's just starting out but she's still really good but at a really good price. She told me she could include a cake in the cake smash shoot but it would be an extra £30. My stepdad, after hearing this, insisted that his mum would be able to make one for free. I said I wouldn't expect it for free, I was also looking for something specific and he insisted. He asked for photos of examples and he would ask her. I found a photo, almost exactly what I wanted, the most simple design as it's going to get smashed up anyway, the main colour was right in the picture I sent, which is yellow, but I asked for a couple of red "big swirls" dotted over it to look like roses. (Not a cake maker so don't know the terms lol) I have a specific theme for the shoot, I have made props and banners to tie in and her dress is matching. My stepdad told me that she could do exactly that, no problems. She's made cakes for us before and they've all been lovely. So we all agreed it would be like that and I was planning on buying her a bunch of flowers or something as a thank you. Photoshoot is tomorrow so my mum and stepdad went to collect the cake today while i took DD out, my mum text me at half 4 saying she wasn't sure if she shoukd send me a photo or not... This made me think there was something wrong so I asked her to send it. The cake, it's nice enough but it's not what I asked. She's used pink instead of red, and there's too much pink, she's also stuck these hard icing daisies all over it. And it's too small, although that isn't such a big issue. Now I feel really bad as she's done a lovely thing, but I had an image in my head and the cake doesn't fit in. My stepdad and his mum really wanted to help out, and so I would feel bad to say it wasn't what I expected. I still intend on buying her flowers or something as she went to the effort to make the cake. I was thinking of running to the supermarket to buy a cake and some icing and piping bags etc and trying it myself, I've found a tutorial on YouTube which makes it look easy enough... WIBU to do this? Am I just being stupid? I just really wanted these photos to be good as I wanted one blown up for my wall when I get my own place and I'm worried it's not going to look right, so I thought I would at least attempt to make a cake right? Is it really hard?

The mums who are against cake smash are probably the same people who put their baby's feet in cold spaghetti for sensory play.
There's nothing wrong with it OP, but to answer your question I'd stick with the original cake just maybe take the daisies out. Don't stress the small stuff just enjoy her first birthday.

You’ve posted on the wrong thread if you wanted nicer responses.

I think your stepdad might be offended if you don’t use the cake and YABU if you think you can make a professional standard cake overnight with no experience (also buying the gear is expensive if you don’t bake).

You might prefer nicer photos in a lovely dress, then slice the cake for baby to eat after taking photos with the whole cake. Cake smashes don’t always look as nice as Pinterest shows in reality.

Enjoy her birthday

I’ve just googled cake smash I have to say it wouldn’t be my choice but I think any cake would do. The rest sounds fine tho hope you and your little one have a good day. You’re doing a grand job I bet.

You deserve a good time, her 1st birthday should be celebrated, go enjoy soft play and your meal, life can't be all penny pinching, doom and gloom.
Smash cakes is a love or loathe issue on MN.
I like a pp idea of changing the flower colour on the cake to red.
1st birthdays are just as special for moms.

Good grief!! I take it she is your first OP?
Trust me when I say you will look back on this one day and turn inside out with cringe (been there)

Cake smashing is an absolutely gross trend, and will date very quickly. If you want nice, timeless, photos, just eat the bloody cake and get some more tasteful (pun unintended) photos done.

You’ve posted on the wrong thread if you wanted nicer responses

The wrong place more like. This was never going to go well where baby showers are seen as common.

OP I would just stick to the cake you've got. Can you go over the pink with red? That might be easier.

@HopeClearwater as I previously said, yes I wanted a picture blown up.

I keep my child clean, I don't like her looking messy when we're out, but realistically kids get messy! It's natural, they're exploring. Whenever there is good around, my DD is straight for it, she's very smiley too. I thought It would like nice.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams yes it was beauty and the beast. Our family have always been big Disney fans.

My DD had her first birthday in France and we had no cake, so we went to a patisserie and bought a load of little cakes and cut them all up and shared them, it was August so it was boiling and I sat her in the garden with just a nappy on and she ate all the pieces I had given her and was ultimately covered in cake.

I was so ahead of the time 20 years ago

Seriously OP, chill, I hate cake smashes but you don’t, so I am sure the cake you have will be fine.

Maybe get the photographer to take a nice photo if you with your DD in her birthday (before the cake).

I don't 'get' cake smashes, they seem a bit pointless, but I think I would probably be annoyed that I didn't get the cake I had asked for.
I know the cake didn't cost OP anything and she should be greatful etc but she did say she wanted something quite specific.

You could always buy red, edible glitter spray?

*of/on !!

No problem with the soft play. Have fun.

I do think being snotty about a cake someone has kindly gone to the trouble of making for you which you are then going to smash for the sake of a photograph is crazy.

A picture of your DD with a cake that has been lovingly made for her, and a candle will remind you of her birthday for ever more. And you can share the joy by sharing the cake.

Is it half term already?

I totally understand why and fully expected people not to like cake smash shoots.
Just like I don't like other styles of photo shoots. And I definitley didn't expect all people to be nice on MN.

Thanks for everyone's input though! I'm going to speak to the photographer tonight and see what she says about cutting out the cake and just doing the themes photo shoot

Maybe already suggested but could you tell the kind baker that it's too nice to smash so you're smashing one that doesn't taste or look so nice and using hers for the birthday cake? X

We always did a cupcake, because a 1-year-old doesn't need a whole cake. Do people understand that the point of a "cake smash" is for the child to eat the cake? I always see these comments that it's wasteful, and it is, to an extent, but not any more than giving them baby food or banana slices and having them rub them all over their faces and hair, which most of them do at some point. Unless you never let your child attempt to feed himself until he's capable of using utensils.

Didn't know 1 year old like going out for dinner either

Add some squirty cream and coloured icing or something.

I know its stressful and you have a lot going on but you sound extremely ungrateful. The colour etc really doesn't matter. Someone who loves your dd has took time to do something lovely for her. That's what matters most.

What a one year old wants is a nice day with their mummy. They don’t want to be a performing seal and the food waste is a horrid message to give. It’s also unreasonable to sound quite so ungrateful about a cake someone has taken time and put effort into making.
I just googled the photos. None that come up are remotely cute or appealing - but each to their own. Babies fallen asleep in spaghetti bolognese is sweet enough to take a snapshot but the cake ones are just contrived and anything but.
Of course you want a nice day. Enjoy your meal. Even spend out on professional photos, if you must but I’d personally avoid the cake smash idea like bubonic plague.

She can easily edit the colours on the cake afterwards.
I hope DD enjoys her birthday.

I’d freak out about the mess. And the clothes! Getting cake out of the carpet! The hair! Icing all over my clothes! Cakey handprints all over the place.

Not for me! We went to the park when DS was one and the older kids had water pistols.

I wonder if the parents who do this then complain when their baby does the same at grandmas house for dinner and gets messy .

A couple of photos yes. Cake smash, no! So tacky and unnecessary in my opinion

@roundligament if you read one of my replies you will see why we are going for a meal.

I have a photo of toddler DS asleep face down on the table (face not whole child) in a Chinese restaurant with his chopsticks clasped in his hand. Poor kid was so keen to go for noodles but was exhausted after a while 3 hours at nursery!