A wedding cake is arguably the most important (not to mention expensive) cake you will ever have. It is the centerpiece of your wedding in many cases, and you will want something that leaves a lasting impression on your guests.
However, what you don’t want is a cake that gets so damaged whilst being transported there that it becomes the talk of the wedding for a whole other reason!
This is why it is absolutely vital that you transport your wedding cake safely and securely. When professionals move your cake, they should already have these safety measures in place (although accidents can still happen).
Therefore, it is super important that, if you are transporting your own wedding cake, you read up on the necessary steps you need to take to ensure it arrives in one piece and looks like it’s meant to.
Stability and design
Before you even get to the stage where you are transporting your cake, you should start planning immediately.
If you know that you have chosen a cake maker who is far away from the ceremony then you need to start thinking early on about how feasible it is going to be to get certain cakes on the road.
If you are set on a stunning 6 tier towing cake, but the cake maker you want is 2 hours away on a bumpy road, then you should consider downsizing your cake (or finding a closer cake maker).
Consider a smaller cake, for example, such as 2 or 3 tiers that will be a little easier to transport. You may even want to think about the types of decorations that you want on top of it.
If you want delicate flowers or things piped on intricately, sure they look lovely but they will be far more difficult to keep looking perfect during a long journey.
You could even consider keeping your decorations separate and then assembling them when the cake arrives at the venue. Keep on reading to see our next section which explores pre assembled vs assembled cakes.
To pre-assemble or to not pre-assemble
Pre-Assembling your cake means that there is nothing that you will have to worry about on your big day. The cake maker will get the cake looking perfect before they bring it to you, and you can just focus on being wowed by it when it comes in.
However, there is a huge problem with this! Pre assembled cakes can be a little tricker to transport, especially on long journeys.
Instead, you should consider choosing cake designs that are suitable for travel, or consider choosing a cake that can be easily assembled at the venue. For example, you could still have a 6 tier cake, but you may need to transport them as singles, rather than all piled high.
As we mentioned in the previous section, you may also want to consider whether you can decorate the cake at the venue.
Sure, no one wants to be worrying about this on their big day, but perhaps you can entrust a member of the bridal party or groomsmen to adorn your wedding cake with the decor you have picked out. This will ensure that it does not get messed up during the transportation.
The journey itself
Now that you have done all that you can do to the cake to make sure that it will stay as stable as possible, it is time to think about the actual journey with the cake.
There are so many factors that you need to consider such as the length of time you will be travelling, the vehicle in which you will be making the journey, and importantly, the temperature.
If you are travelling for more than 2 or 3 hours then you will need to think about the condition of the cake and the fact that it will not be on stable ground for some length of time. You may also have issues such as bumpy roads to contend with.
In terms of the method of transport you are using, we hope that it goes without saying that a car or even better, a van, is the best bet. Don’t try to fit it onto a motorcycle or bicycle!
Then, of course, there is the matter of temperature. Hot weather and balmy temperatures can be a wedding cake worst nightmare! You can experience melting, sweating, and the whole cake may even go bad! To combat this consider a vehicle with an air con!
Cake security
Consider using tools and gadgets to help to secure your cake. The tools you use really don’t have to be fancy. All you need is to invest in a magical little gadget called a non-slip mat!
These can be placed under the cake to ensure that, even on lumpy, bumpy roads, the cake stays secure and doesn’t topple over.
They are super cheap to get hold of and could save you money, time, and tears on one of the most important days of your life!
If the cake needs something a little more secure than a non-slip mat, you may also want to consider getting a piece of large plywood. You can actually screw the cake onto this! You will then be able to place the whole cake and plywood board oto the non-slip mat, and voila, a super secure cake ready for transportation.
Back up plan
Last but by no means least, we want to suggest that you consider putting a back up plan in place. This can come in any form you wish, but it is a good idea in case the very worst happens.
You should always consider having a repair kit with you, with extra icing, tools, and perhaps even a spare cake tier or two. Keep your smoothers, piping bags, and anything else you may need in a bag with the cake.
You could also consider using a fake cake to put on display, and then bring pre cut slices of cake to give out to the guests. This is becoming very popular and often works out cheaper.
