Are Expectations for birthday cakes getting out of hand?

[Yellowmellow2]

More and more I see threads on social media, of people showing photos of incredible birthday cakes (castles, palaces, Disney characters etc), and asking if anyone can make one for their child? When did this become a thing? Is a normal cake not enough any more? People just put so much pressure on themselves.

Some people might put pressure on themselves. I never did. I bought a cake from the supermarket every year (just off the shelf like a Colin the Caterpillar cake, one year we got one in the shape of a Tardis for example). DS is now 19 and has never said he felt hard done by. You don't need to buy into this nonsense (and maybe with the cost of living increases people will just buy supermarket cakes).

Costco for the win every time!

I don't get this trend at all. A cake is a cake - you're only going to chop it up and have it scoffed by small children. Colin the Caterpillar all the way.

Only for those who can afford it.
Elaborate cakes have always existed.
We just didn't have social media to stare at them all day.

I've never paid a cake maker for a fancy cake for DD, always just brought her to the supermarket and got her to pick the one she wants, the price of these cake makers is extortionate and she'd rather have the difference in price spent on a day out instead.

I can and do make my own.
I had to stop doing ones for other people as they want gold standard for supermarket price

Victoria sponge cake for my eldest's birthday recently. He was delighted with it. I do occasionally go to the supermarket to buy them too.

I just bring DS to the big Sainsbury's and let him choose whichever cake he wants, even if I think it looks awful. He is entirely happy with this, and I've had no complaints from his friends.

But yes, some of his friends have had amazing cakes. The Romanian ones are the best because the cake and mousse layers inside are delicious. The English ones may look great, but the cake inside tends to be dull and heavy.

I make my own. It’s fun.

If you want to pay for it, what's the harm? If you don't, then don't. Either way should be fine. Usually I go the supermarket route but this year my 7 year old dc wanted something specific, so I decided to get one made.

I always have a professional cake done. I really like them and think they look fab at parties.

I always had novelty cakes growing up but my mum is a really good Baker. Most of my friends didnt. I also love baking and making novelty cakes so my kids do get rather elaborate ones. However this is just because it's something I enjoy.
I wouldnt fork out £100 on one.

I have contemplated selling them but it would cost about 100 with me paying myself minimum wage and I would feel like I was ripping people off.

I admit to getting the fancy cakes. We can afford it and it is supporting a local business. Also the icing on the ones made by the local lady is to die for.

I can bake a tasty cake but can’t decorate to save my life.

£80 my friend paid for a group of 10 children! On top of decorations balloons, new outfit, ball park hire, KFC food boxes party bags, sweets, near £1000 spent in 2 hours and no she can’t afford it really! All for show, all for social media!

I don’t know anyone that it’s a fancy one. But that might be because I like doing cakes and so often do them for friends and family for the cost of ingredients!
when any of my 3 kids went to parties it was either a supermarket cake or one made by a family member.

This cake thing is a newish thing though.

I've ordered a few. One for my mums big birthday..wasn't extortionate actually. My Sons Christening which was worth it as a lot of people came... and 3rd and 4th birthday parties for DS.

I don't feel pressure and I haven't done it the last few years. But I do agree OP.

My DD turns 4 on Tues and DH is planning an Aunt Bessie covered in fudge icing, Smarties and chocolate fingers - she'll love it!
With my older DCs we've started buying Colin.
When they were class party age we were lucky that my MIL is really good at cake decorating.
Haven't chosen to buy a bakery cake yet but never say never!

I buy a supermarket one for the party and do a fancy ish homemade one for a family party. I do enjoy making it though. I think I'd feel like I was showing off if I did it for a friends party. Whoever says it's supporting a local business makes a good point. I could just never bring myself to spend that much on a cake. Different priories I suppose.

My mum bakes a lovely cake. That's always done for us.

Most people just have a normal cake. The ones who buy or make a huge cake are the ones who show it off on social media. The vast majority who buy a colin the Caterpillar or make a Victoria sponge just don't make a fuss so you wouldn't know.

It was normal in the 80s to have a castle, train or character cake. My sister had Dougal one year and I had a tea set cake.
I think the cost of professional cakes has gone a bit crazy, but then so has the cost of butter and rent etc.

I have always bought supermarket cakes for my dcs, usually from M&S. I could not justify several hundred pounds for a cake. I have seen some elaborate birthday cakes at birthday parties, one child had three. They seem to be a standard thing these days and used as a back drop for photographs. Social media has fueled the need for expensive and elaborate parties.

We made a fancy cheesecake for my son’s 14th birthday last week but I did get a professional cake for my daughter’s 18th. The cake maker is amazing but only takes a few orders a year . Probably won’t get another made unless it’s a landmark birthday.

Whose expectations?

Here you've gone fancy if mum's had a go at a character cake. The vast majority are from Tesco or Asda.

My DS1 would be very disappointed with anything but a caterpillar cake, not necessarily Colin