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Original poster

Making my own wedding cake-2 tiers please help!

186 replies

bratnav · 15/02/2009 20:19

I have decided to make my own wedding cake as we are on a tiny budget. 20-25 guests plus a few elderly relatives to send slices to.

We would like a stacked 2 tier square cake, sponge, a bit of a quirky design, I am wearing black velvet and DP is wearing a purple velvet jacket, so not a traditional wedding.

ANY advice on how, designs that I will be able to manage, how far in advance I could make it etc etc would be wildly appreciated

OP posts:
Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 20:36

Please????

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PlumBumMum · 15/02/2009 20:37

Oh there was another thread for a black and red cake that had links to some lovely looking cakes I'll bump it for you

Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 20:38

Thanks Plum

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lucysmam · 15/02/2009 21:12

Just a thought, since it's only for 20 - 25 plus relatives to send to . . . would a single layer, decorated really effectively not be easier than trying to stack 2 smaller cakes? Unless you're really good at cakes, in which case ignore me!

I don't know anything about cakes really, was just a thought

Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 21:46

Ir would definitely be easier, I am a reasonably good baker, but I have never done a stak or similar before, but the idea has just stuck itself in my head.

Having looked on other websites, it looks like I would need to get dowels for the bottom layer so it doesn't collapse.

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MaureenMLove · 15/02/2009 21:51

Do you need to use pillars? A friend of mine had a cake with just one directly on top of each other. It had a cascade of flowers from the top, falling down and round to the bottom. It was very effective.

Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 21:53

No, not pillars, just one on top of the other, but I think I need to put thin pillars inside the bottom cake to support the top one.

MIL has promised to help me, I think I will need it!

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lucysmam · 15/02/2009 21:54

Well, good luck with it! I'm still struggling to find anything like what I was hoping for so will be sitting down with the lo's pencils & paper to attempt my own design.

What sort of design were you thinking of?

Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 21:54

Can't have a cascade of flowers though, as I had that for my cake for my first wedding

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MaureenMLove · 15/02/2009 21:55

Fair point! It doesn't have to have flowers on it though, it could be anything.

drlove8 · 15/02/2009 21:56

can you not get one of those fancy cake stands that "tier" the cake for you ,but off set and not one on top o the other? . really fab way of making a cake a centrepiece. and you dont need to bother with the dowels. will try to find link for one.

lucysmam · 15/02/2009 21:59

oooh, I've seen some really nice ones of those on some sugarcraft websites I've been looking at drlove8. They were a bit pricey though

MaureenMLove · 15/02/2009 22:00

I'm not an expert, but I'd have though, if you make a madeira cake, it'll be dense enough to hold its own. OTOH, there's no harm in putting some dowels through the bottom one and stand the top one on a cake board the same size, so that it rests on the tops of the dowels, iyswim!

BTW, with timings, if you do make madeira and then cover it with icing straight away, the cake will stay moist for quite a while. As long as it's in an airtight box, the icing will be fine for a couple of weeks too. What sort of icing were you thinking of? You could also bake the cakes and freeze them, until you ice it.

Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 22:01

I cannot find anything like the very vague idea in my head, I have been googling like crazy, but so far nothing.

Nothing too frilly, flowery etc, bold colours would be nice, but it also needs to be easy to decorate as I am a pretty good baker, but a novice at icing etc.

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Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 22:05

I was planning to do sponges and use James Martin's recipe on the BBC website. I was hoping to do it at the end of this week as the DDs are at their Daddys, so I have plenty of time. If I did it then (wedding is 6th March) can I freeze the sponges until a couple of days before?

I was thinking of using ready rolled icing, would that be ok, and would I need to use anything to stick it on? Also how do I make the yummy creamy filling?

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Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 22:06

OMG Maureen, have just seen the cakes on your profile, I bow at your fabulous cake decorators feet.

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lucysmam · 15/02/2009 22:10

yummy creamy filling . . .I'm guessing buttercream icing?

3oz butter,
6oz icing sugar
tiny splash of water & mix until yummy & creamy

Might need to increase quantities though depending on size of cakes & I'm not very good at figuring stuff like that out (tend to double it if for a big cake & munch the rest on scraps of cake or make a small one just to spread it on & munch

Ready rolled icing is easy enough to use I think (in my very limited experience) just buy it ready coloured too if you can, saves a lot of faffing around! You can use jam or the buttercream icing to stick it to the cake, although I've never tried using the icing yet . . . am trying it for the first time on Tuesday

MaureenMLove · 15/02/2009 22:11

Thankyou. All self taught. If you can read instructions and roll play-doh, then it's easy enough!

Ready roll is what I use most of the time. Very easy to manipulate and easy to repair cracks or mistakes! The creamy centres are usually just butter cream and you stick the icing on with either a thin layer or butter cream or you could use warm apricot jam.

lucysmam · 15/02/2009 22:11

Maureen, I have the book some of those cakes are from . . . were the horses in the stable easy? I was going to make it just for the fun of trying it out

MaureenMLove · 15/02/2009 22:14

If you can get all the colours you need, it makes it much easier. If you do need to colour some though, DO NOT use liquid colouring!! Use paste. I learnt a long time ago, that liquid just makes a sticky mess and red is particularly bad! A bit like chain saw massacre!

Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 22:14

Oooh, thanks both of you, perhaps purple ready roll, black ribbons and freez dried petals?

That would be easy wouldn't it?

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notsoteenagemum · 15/02/2009 22:15

I made my own wedding cake for my wedding in 2007, I practised for a year with lots of faliures!
In the end I made a fake cake with just 1 real bottom layer and iced polystyrene for the top tiers. I made 3 other cakes which were just in the kitchen of the venue which were the ones eaten on the day.

Spectacular cakes by Mich Turner has good recipes and advice on stacking etc.
I would def choose a freezable recipe and icing that lasts- I spend a stressful night before my wedding constructing white chocolate shards for my cake decorations as it took loads longer than I imagined and they didn't freeze very well.
However everyone was well impressed and the cake was lovely.Good luck

drlove8 · 15/02/2009 22:15

heres some links for you.....www.lakeland.co.uk/F/keyword/cake+tierrs orwww.cakestands.co.uk/index.html and www.cakecraftshop.c.uk/shop/7/382/14/index.htm

MaureenMLove · 15/02/2009 22:16

Er no! They were not!! You will definately need dowels for that one! And something to prop underneath the heads, whilst it all sets! The rest of it was very easy, but the heads were a nightmare! I had bad dreams about waking up with a horses head in bed with me!

Original poster
bratnav · 15/02/2009 22:18

maybe the 2nd one down but in a different colour scheme?

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