We are thinking about buying our wedding cake from marks and spencers. We are getting their traditional wedding cake in sponge. Its currently 3 for the price of 2 so we will get 3 tiers for only £63 which is a bargin!!!
The only problem is they come on really big chunky cake boards :-( We were hoping to stack the middle tier directly onto the bottom tier and the using hollow acrylic pillars (filled with smarties) to stack the top one.
I just would like to know how easy it is to change the cake boards to ones that are the exact size of the cake. Also the cake assembley is going to have to be done at the venue on the morning of the wedding by my H2b and his family as we are having it in a field and he is setting everything up before I get there. When looking online they say you have to ice round the bottom of a cake stacked directly on top of the other. Is this true? I thought ribbons could cover the joins. What type of ribbon should I use?
And lastly any tips on attaching the ribbons around the bottom of the bases would be helpful. I though double sided sticky tape where the ribbon over laps and the join could be hidden at the back of the cake? In my photo albums are pictures of the smarties cake I got my inspiration from and the cake we are buying. Sorry for all the questions. Any help will be appricated as I am soooo confused.
CommentAuthorGoff
I dont know about stacking them honey, hopefully someone will be along shortly with some advice onthat. But the ribbon cold be attached with a pin with a coloured head at the back?
UKB Mad Scientist
Ride it like ya stole it.....
I'm a flippin ORTHOTIST
CommentAuthorEmmielene
cupcake might be the girl to ask i know she does a lot of cakey stuff
CommentAuthorsoon-to-be-mitchell
The pink is a good idea Goff I hadn't thought off that. Do you know what type of ribbon I should use?
You have to stick dowels through the cake-cut to the same depth, to support the one on top, which goes on a thin cakeboard. Can get them from a lot of kitchen supply shops or the Bay of E!
CommentAuthorsoon-to-be-mitchell
Thanks, is it easy to change the cakeboards?
CommentAuthorangeleyes
i would do a trial run at home, i'm not sure if the spnge cake would be strong enough to have the top tier stacked above it like that, the tube might sink into the cake. not sure tho!! plus if you do a quick trial run you can taste the cake before hand and make sure you like it!! x
CommentAuthorangeleyes
with changing the boards again try it out, it shouldnt be too difficult as the icing on the m+s cakes are quite strong and with it being a sponge cake they shouldnt stick too much to the base they come on.
CommentAuthoreebeegeebee
it should be fairly easy to switch the cakeboards, you just have to support the cake sufficiently so it doesn't break in half. I'd recommend lifting it with two of those wooden flat bits, can't think of the name...they look like those things you use to take breads out of a stove...sorry that's no help at all.
CommentAuthorvintage lass
What about a gorgeous brooch to cover the ribbon join??? Dont know if this would go well with the smartie theme but you might find a funky sweet one etc online!!!xx
CommentAuthordoangels74
i'm doing the same cake wise hun but we are using the fruit ones for the bottom 2 tiers then sponge for the 3rd.... using the dowling rods for support between all the tiers..... i am using sticky dots to fasten overlap of ribbon then placing a butterfly over each of the joints just to make sure you cant see them.......hopefully this will look very professional!! (and not like its the first time i have done anything like this) hope you get sorted chuckle x
CommentAuthorsoon-to-be-mitchell
Thanks xxx
CommentAuthorEriksfjord
Think this is beyond me! Good luck x
CommentAuthorRoxii
Sponge cake will not be strong enough hun.. My cousin had the same problem, but the cake lady fixed if by putting a thin piece of card under the icing (to be slid out when serving) to hold the top tier on.. Hope you can do something about it though. Maybe your mum or grandma/nan. Could help you, They always seem to know everything about baking etc.. x
CommentAuthorVintageChic
would you consider stacking them on top of one another without pillars and using the smarties in a different way?
"Who, being loved, is poor?" -Oscar Wilde
- Moderator
CommentAuthorcasbride87
Dowels is the answer look in your local cake shop, or i even think they do them in a certain well known craft shop.
CommentAuthorJennyBean
yeah you need to dowel the bottom cake, you put one in then mark about 1/2 cm above the top of your cake, take it out and cut it, then cut the others to match. Put them in the cake to form a good support circle (from the images I've seen you use 6 - 8) then you set the next tier on top and hide the gap with ribbon or pipe some icing around the edge. If you're using ribbon then you don't have to worry so much about hiding the cake board of the second tier with icing as you can hide it with the ribbon (you can get some nice thin but strong cake boards from cake shops.) When the caterers come to cut it, they can easily lift the tiers apart without taking 1/2 the icing off the top of the bottom tier. If you don't dowel the bottom cake then the weight of the cakes above it will squish the cake down and ripple the iced edges.
CommentAuthortrustmeimawoman
we having the same thoughts of stacking the cakes, bottom fruit then 1 sponge on top using dowles but also having cup cakes on a seperate cup cake stans which i got off ebay and mum can use the stand again as she loves dressing the table at xmas & 4 parties.Mum says the sponge cake can be removed from cake board by carefully cutting round the base (on edge of cake) using a very sharpe knife, then a thin cake board exactly same size as cake but dont for get to make holes for the dowling to go throughthe board.then carefully place the cke onthe bottom teir, then put ribbon on and fix with either a pin with a coloured head on it or place organza flowers round the edge of cake, hope this helps you. x
CommentAuthortrustmeimawoman
failing that go and look at some cakes and ask questions on how it is fixed together being careful to make out that u are looking to buy not doint it yourself, say thankyou and you need to go away and think about it but then u will have the knowledge of how its done ha ha ha good luck xx
CommentAuthorsoon-to-be-mitchell
Hi thanks for all your replies. My computer crashed on my 3 weeks before the wedding!!! the cake turned out fine, I managed to changed the cake boards thanks to all your help, but it did collapses when we were cutting it!!! Lol it was starting to sink so we were like quick quick come quick we are cutting the cake before it collapses!!! The only reason it collapsed was the acrylic pillas we brought on Ebay as the spikes at the bottom of them was not long enough. it turned out brilliantly though and was fine when we removed the pillars and stacked the top tier directly on top. Pics are in my album, Thank you too everyone that helped :-) xxxx
CommentAuthorJane
edited
If anyone wants to look on the M&S website there is a video about how to put their cakes together - might be of use! x
