cakes as table centerpieces, any thoughts or pictures?

[kcoursolle]

I was thinking that instead of doing a floral arrangement for centerpieces, I would have a small cake in the center of each table. I figured this would save me a little money since I won''t have to buy centerpieces and I have to buy a cake anyways. Can I make this work? I think the tables at the reception site sit 10 people for reference. Do you guys have any pictures or suggestions for this idea? Maybe I can put petals around each cake to make it look more like a centerpiece. By the way, the wedding colors are ivory, gold, black...and maybe burgundy for flowers.

 

[AmberWaves]

K, are you sure it would be cheaper to do a bunch of cakes? Is this instead of one BIG cake, or in addition? How many tables? Seems like a lot of effort, but I''ve heard of it. I don''t have any pictures, though. Sorry!

 

[Gypsy]

I would be concerned about three things:

The cost of all of those cakes.
You would have to be careful if you used buttercream-- it can melt.
Guests being rude and sampling with fingers all the while.

Can you do fake cakes? You know... buy some round craft boxes and decorate them like cakes at each table. Do a small cake for cutting, and sheet cake in the back for serving?

 

[kcoursolle]

Would people really stick their fingers in the cake?? Ew, can''t they restrain themselves? I don''t really want to do fake cakes, because that kind of defeats the purpose. However, I think it might be cheaper to do small cakes rather than a big one. We are considering using pre-made cheesecakes from a local bakery that is very reasonable. The cakes are tasty and much cheaper than the traditional wedding cake since they are pre-made and not customized or fancy. Each one is about the right size for the table. We just need a way to decorate them as a centerpiece. My mom thought flower petals around each cake.

 

[AmberWaves]

I agree with Gypsy, sometimes people DO stick their fingers in cakes. Especially kids and people who want to know if the cake really IS real.

As long as you''d be okay with the cakes sitting out through the whole reception, I''m sure it''ll be fine. Just keep in mind the lights, and the air and all that good stuff around the sticky cheesecakes. If you want to do it, good luck! You didn''t say how many tables you were planning on having, either.

 

[kcoursolle]

I think it''s going to be around 13-16 tables of ten people at each.

 

[AmberWaves]

That''s around what we''re having for tables, too. I just wanted to say that I''ve heard it''s been done, and sounds like a great idea, hopefully you can find someone who has done it. Although one thing you might want to think about, not everyone likes cheesecake, I for one, do not, as most of my family doesn''t as well. Is that going to the only dessert? You might want to consider possible dairy allergies, too. Just an idea.

 

[kcoursolle]

good point Amber, not everyone loves cheesecake. Although, of those who like it...they really like it. I think we could solve this problem by having a small cheap sheet cake in the back that the waiters could mention to the guests.

 

[sumbride]

I''ve heard of people getting them from Whole Foods and it does seem like it would be a pretty reasonable option. As far as making it look like a centerpiece, I think you need to put it on a cake stand so it''s sort of elevated. I saw (somewhere) somebody make their own out of plates on upside down cups and they were adorable. You could put petals around it. You might also want to have the cakes pre-cut for ease but I''m not sure the best way to do it and still have it look pretty.

I''ve thought about doing a cupcake stand on the kids table... but that would be even more of a "finger" issue. I would hope adults would restrain themselves, but if you make it clear that "that''s your cake" they would need to be accountable for themselves, eh?

 

[kimberlina13]

The caterer that we just met with inspired my mother to come up with the idea for my centerpiece. When we went in for the initial meeting and tasting, the table had been set up with a cheese plate in the center, in this too cute plate setting. So my mom asked if I would maybe like to have the cheese plate for the setting and then I thought of maybe putting pictures on the table. So I''ll probably be using a cheese plate centerpiece. I hate to think of how much money would be spent on the centerpiece just for them to get trashed.

 

[kcoursolle]

Sumbride and Kimberlina, these are great ideas!

Kimberlina, you don''t have a picture of the cheese plater stand by chance?

 

[kimberlina13]

The plate wasn''t actually on the stand, it was just a plate on the table, but now that you mention it, a stand would be good...

 

[LAJennifer]

I remember seeing a profile a profile on the knot in the Hawaii section that has some pictures of cake centerpieces. Maybe go over there and do a search?

 

[Gypsy]

People will poke the cake if it''s on the table. I promise. Especially if you have kids attending. Even if you don''t... some a**hole who thinks he''s cute/funny will do it just to prove he can. It''s inevitable.

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 9/7/2006 9:01:46 PM
Author: Gypsy
People will poke the cake if it''s on the table. I promise. Especially if you have kids attending. Even if you don''t... some a**hole who thinks he''s cute/funny will do it just to prove he can. It''s inevitable.

maybe I''ll stick all of the a**holes at the same table and they can destroy their cake if they want to LOL!!! Seriously, people are really gross sometimes.

 

[Gypsy]

LMAO.

That's one solution!

My FI (who is very well behaved and not an a**hole at all) says he would have a hard time not poking it to see if it was real. I just shook my head.

Would it be rude to have a sign that says, "Yes, this is a real cake. Please do not poke it as those seated with you will be eating it too."

Then at the a**hole table you'll have them all poking it just because the sign says not to.

ETA: I've been to too many weddings. I'm clearly jaded. Ignore me.

 

[kcoursolle]

maybe I''ll use reverse psychology and have a sign on it that says "touch me, touch me" and then since it''s not bad to touch it nobody will LOL. Who knows. BTW, you aren''t jaded, just really funny. If I were somebody that wanted everything to be perfect I''d be more worried about people touching it, but honestly not everything is going to be perfect at a wedding and I''m fine with that.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 9/8/2006 12:15:30 AM
Author: kcoursolle
maybe I'll use reverse psychology and have a sign on it that says 'touch me, touch me' and then since it's not bad to touch it nobody will LOL. Who knows. BTW, you aren't jaded, just really funny.

Glad to entertain. Have I mentioned that I attended a wedding where the grooms father got drunk and stripped on the dance floor?

Nothing. And I mean, NOTHING, has surprised me since then. FI's has some colorful friends... who have married colorful families.

He got down to his tighty whities before they caught him.


He was 80 if he was a day.

 

[Mannequin]

I am planning on doing cake centerpieces too, kcoursolle.

That is my one MUST HAVE wedding reception thing. I will be doing about 35 small 8-10 serving tortes with fresh or silk flowers on top. I have not priced these out compeletly yet, but just the cakes will be about 20 dollars each. I want them to be made in multiple flavors so my guests can walk around and sample and mingle. I plan on using a cake stand and some loose petals on the table, nothing else.

I also want to have something special happen for cake cutting time. Idea #1 is to have the couple who has been together the longest at each table cut their table''s cake when FI and I cut ours (the cake we cut will be bigger and feed us and our wedding party separately). Idea #2 is to have our wedding party go to the tables to help cut the cakes and serve the first slices. I just don''t want to buy one mammoth cake for this 325+ wedding and have it all go to waste. The smaller cakes are more likely to disappear.

Pictures?

What I want mine to look like:

What I have also seen that was cute, though too ornate/expensive for our larger wedding

:

 

[kcoursolle]

I love the way you think equestrienne, these are awesome ideas! I like the idea of having them do something special to cut the cake. Another idea would be to have the person willing to sing a song or make a toast cut the cake at the table.

Thanks for the pictures, I love the first one! We could definitely pull something off like that.

 

[E B]

What if you put the cakes on little cake stands with covers? Like this (just an example):
Cake Stand with cover

Perhaps people will get that they shouldn't touch it until dessert?

 

[plantationcatt]

Cute, Ebree, that would (hopefully) eliminate the potential poking!

 

[GTAnna]

Just add some fresh flowers to the cake. See the attached pic. My cousin made the cake for my brother''s engagement party, and added some roses to the top.

Also, making some cake stands as suggested or buying some would make it really nice.

 

[GTAnna]

Here is a pic of the cake from the side, so you can see that it is on a cake stand as well.

 

[jas]

Date: 9/8/2006 12:19:03 AM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 9/8/2006 12:15:30 AM
Author: kcoursolle
maybe I''ll use reverse psychology and have a sign on it that says ''touch me, touch me'' and then since it''s not bad to touch it nobody will LOL. Who knows. BTW, you aren''t jaded, just really funny.

Glad to entertain. Have I mentioned that I attended a wedding where the grooms father got drunk and stripped on the dance floor?

Nothing. And I mean, NOTHING, has surprised me since then. FI''s has some colorful friends... who have married colorful families.

He got down to his tighty whities before they caught him.


He was 80 if he was a day.

Hopefully nobody poked him to see if he was real.

Thank you. I''ll be here all week.

 

[Clarygrace]

kcoursolle:

If you check out Martha Stewarts summer bridal issue, there was a spread on a bride who did just that and it was very very nice....I really like the idea. Each cake was white but it they were all very unique....and they looked absolutely yummilicious!!!!

 

[wifey2b]

Date: 9/26/2006 1:58:36 PM
Author: GTAnna
Just add some fresh flowers to the cake. See the attached pic. My cousin made the cake for my brother''s engagement party, and added some roses to the top.

Also, making some cake stands as suggested or buying some would make it really nice.

I love this cake - so fresh and so alive in the pictures - I always look for cakes that stand out in pictures and I really like this one....now you have me thinkin about our wedding cake again hmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 9/27/2006 8:54:34 PM
Author: wifey2b

Date: 9/26/2006 1:58:36 PM
Author: GTAnna
Just add some fresh flowers to the cake. See the attached pic. My cousin made the cake for my brother''s engagement party, and added some roses to the top.

Also, making some cake stands as suggested or buying some would make it really nice.

I love this cake - so fresh and so alive in the pictures - I always look for cakes that stand out in pictures and I really like this one....now you have me thinkin about our wedding cake again hmmmmmmmmmmm

hey babe ya know we are going to do byoc :}

 

[wifey2b]

Date: 9/27/2006 9:06:58 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 9/27/2006 8:54:34 PM
Author: wifey2b

Date: 9/26/2006 1:58:36 PM
Author: GTAnna
Just add some fresh flowers to the cake. See the attached pic. My cousin made the cake for my brother''s engagement party, and added some roses to the top.

Also, making some cake stands as suggested or buying some would make it really nice.

I love this cake - so fresh and so alive in the pictures - I always look for cakes that stand out in pictures and I really like this one....now you have me thinkin about our wedding cake again hmmmmmmmmmmm

hey babe ya know we are going to do byoc :}

yes dear

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 9/27/2006 9:09:54 PM
Author: wifey2b

Date: 9/27/2006 9:06:58 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 9/27/2006 8:54:34 PM
Author: wifey2b

Date: 9/26/2006 1:58:36 PM
Author: GTAnna
Just add some fresh flowers to the cake. See the attached pic. My cousin made the cake for my brother''s engagement party, and added some roses to the top.

Also, making some cake stands as suggested or buying some would make it really nice.

I love this cake - so fresh and so alive in the pictures - I always look for cakes that stand out in pictures and I really like this one....now you have me thinkin about our wedding cake again hmmmmmmmmmmm

hey babe ya know we are going to do byoc :}

yes dear

more money for diamonds and rubies and sapphires EH!