Question about wedding cakes

I work in a law office and a client of ours just opened his own cake/dessert business. Since I'm getting married, he showed his portfolio and a couple of his 'cakes' yesterday...

Are they supposed to be fake???

He told me everyone does that and the real cake is just a sheet cake in the fridge at the reception hall. Is that true? I am so surprised! Are all those beautiful pics of wedding cakes I've seen really fake? And what about all those times I've seen the bride and groom cut their cake? They always looked real to me...

Help! I'm so confused!

Re: Question about wedding cakes

anyone, anyone???

Re: Question about wedding cakes

Here in Indy that is pretty popular. IMO it is tacky. I think most sites on LI/NY use real cakes.

Re: Question about wedding cakes

It depends on the hall. Some halls do use a *Fake* cake with just the top layer as a real cake (for you to cut & to save for your 1 yr anniversary). Some halls beleive this is less of a liability in the fact that the real cake is not exposed to the elements, and the cake cannot be ruined. Usually in this case the cake is cardboard or some kind of baking foam that they decorate with the fondant or the creame in the style that you choose.

many halls do still display the real cake also. (Mine did!) I would ask the hall if you are concerned.

Re: Question about wedding cakes

I've seen it done, once. but that bride was on a tight tight budget. Any wedding here on the Island, i've never really heard of it. How would you 'cut the cake'?

Re: Question about wedding cakes

my cake was ALL real....

Re: Question about wedding cakes

Thank you so much! I'm definitely going to ask about this!

Re: Question about wedding cakes

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Posted by Laura1976

I've seen it done, once. but that bride was on a tight tight budget. Any wedding here on the Island, i've never really heard of it. How would you 'cut the cake'?

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The top layer is real for you to cut & to take for your 1 yr anniversary

Re: Question about wedding cakes

They did this at one of my best friend's weddings at a temple on LI. The dessert was not going to be wedding cake, so they didn't need a whole giant cake. But they still had one for show, and to cut. So one tier was real cake (the one they cut), and the others were foam or something. I have definitely heard of places doing this. I think another reason they'll use sheet cakes is that they can have the cake cut and plated way before the bride and groom 'cut the cake.' Otherwise they have to whisk the cake away and immediately cut and plate it instead of having it ready in advance.

Re: Question about wedding cakes

I have heard of it before. I actually know people who have had the 'fake' cake with the real top layer and then they got 1/2 sheet cakes from costco and had them sliced up in the kitchen and served. No one knew the difference and the cakes cost 15 bucks each.

Re: Question about wedding cakes

I've heard of places sometimes making a small cake for display, and serving the majority of the guests from a sheet cake in back, but this is definitely not the norm, and even in those cases - the small display cake is 'real' (edible)!

The cakes you've been seeing are definitely not fake. Most of the time (at least every time I've ever seen), a full-sized cake is made to order, displayed at the wedding, and served to the guests. The idea of a 'fake' cake (like what? made out of paper mache?! ) sounds really odd to me.

Re: Question about wedding cakes

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Posted by littlewilson

I've heard of places sometimes making a small cake for display, and serving the majority of the guests from a sheet cake in back, but this is definitely not the norm, and even in those cases - the small display cake is 'real' (edible)!

The cakes you've been seeing are definitely not fake. Most of the time (at least every time I've ever seen), a full-sized cake is made to order, displayed at the wedding, and served to the guests. The idea of a 'fake' cake (like what? made out of paper mache?! ) sounds really odd to me.

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I am not trying to be contrary, but I used to work in catering and I have worked many, many weddings...fake cakes do exist, but they are just not that common on LI. They cover either a cardboard or baker's foam form with fondant or with creme and decorate it just like a real cake.

Re: Question about wedding cakes

I have heard of this.. We had our e-party at Russo's on the bay, and the cake we had was not all real either. I was so surprised. I am sure it will be the same thing for our wedding. You really can't tell.. atleast I could not until my friend, who got married there, pointed it out to me.

Re: Question about wedding cakes

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Posted by HearzBellz

...I have worked many, many weddings...fake cakes do exist, but they are just not that common on LI...

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That is pretty interesting; I knew there were situations like the stories above where there's a small real cake (or just top tier) made, with the remainder being sheet cake, but I'm surprised about the fully fake cake thing. Like everyone is saying, I guess these types of 1/2 or fully fake cakes are just uncommon around here....ETA: or maybe I've actually seen them at weddings and not realized!

Re: Question about wedding cakes

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Posted by littlewilson

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Posted by HearzBellz

...I have worked many, many weddings...fake cakes do exist, but they are just not that common on LI...

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That is pretty interesting; I knew there were situations like the stories above where there's a small real cake (or just top tier) made, with the remainder being sheet cake, but I'm surprised about the fully fake cake thing. Like everyone is saying, I guess these types of 1/2 or fully fake cakes are just very uncommon around here.

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It is a form that they use actuall in pastry school...it is to *practice* decorating the cakes. The only reason why I mention it again is b/c most halls will not tell you that this is what they do, you have to specifically ask them. (And usually the smallest top layer is real, if the B&G are doing a cake cutting, and it comes off when the maitr'd or captain brings the cake into the kitchen to be *cut*)

Re: Question about wedding cakes

I have heard of a few places that use fake cakes. But when I was cake shopping most places suggested getting a smaller regular cake and then using a sheet cake to serve the remainder of the guests. Alot of catering halls do that. I started really noticing that at wedding. Like I was at a wedding of 400 guests and the cake looked like it could only feed 50! For ours we had a cake for 175 and the remainder to 240 guests got the sheet cake which looks exactly the same as the cake. Only thing you will notice if you are an anal bride like me is square corners when the actual cake was round

Re: Question about wedding cakes

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Posted by babybride

Only thing you will notice if you are an anal bride like me is square corners when the actual cake was round

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I never ene thought about the *corners* dead give away.. that is great

Re: Question about wedding cakes

i think cakes should be real...the whole thing!

Re: Question about wedding cakes

Doesn't your hall have to tell you ahead of time if they use a fake cake?

Re: Question about wedding cakes

I heard about people doing the fake cakes, and I think it is very tacky.

Its for those that want to have expensive looking cakes, though they can't afford it. So its kinda tacky...

JMO... its like buying a fake Rolex.