Joint party - one cake or two?

[FimbleHobbs]

DS and his friend are having a joint party this weekend. They did the same last year and it worked really well.

Last year we bought plain iced supermarket cakes and put figure & candles and their names on, that fitted with the theme of the party. They had a cake each.

This year we are in a bit of a quandry because my friend wants to make her son a cake - she is very good at baking so will make a nice one - and she has kindly suggested they both share the one cake.

I am not sure though as I think it could be important somehow that kiddies have their 'own' - they are both 4.

So my options are:
a. they share a cake
b. I buy my son a cake (but next to my friend's home made cake, does it look like I couldn't be bothered?)
c. I make my son a cake (but it will be crap especially next to lovely other cake)

I know I am overthinking this and have lost all perspective. I keep saying to myself - its a cake fgs - but still getting in a fog re. what to actually do. Hoping some wise and experienced MNetters can help me see sense!

Thanks in advance for any replies.

They def need a cake each.

if you're not confident about your baking, just buy one! I always make, but they're very "home made" and not fancy at all

Get someone with more experience to help you make your son a cake?
Agree they do need one each.

A cake each, definitely

My dd's 4th birthday party was a joint one, the other child's cake was this huuuge creation and dd's cake was this teeny tiny thing, it looked really funny but the children didn't care at all.

Cake each.
Go to your local bakers ask for something impressive that you can pass off as your own.

I make cakes - and have done a lot of "joint" ones. I've done a ballet stage with two dancer, for example, or a castle with two turrets and two princesses, or a race track with two cars. Could she do something like this if you pay for the ingredients?

Thanks for all the ideas, looks like 2 cakes will be the way to go then. Seeker's joint cakes sound fab but I think a bit of a challenge even for my friend.

I'm not bothered about passing it off as my own just didn't want either of the boys thinking their cake was better/worse than the other's!