Making my own wedding cake? Crazy?

$500 for piece of mind. I would avoid it. You will have enough to worry about in the days before your wedding.

A practical wedding did a post on this: http://apracticalwedding.com/2011/01/how-to-bake-a-wedding-cake/

You could always do tiers of cupcakes? Or cupcakes plus a mini cake for your cutting. If you do decide to do 3 tier just do a practice run or two first. If you leave off the elaborate decorations it would still probably be cheaper then buying it.

I wouldn't. Between what you'll spend practicing and the stress of the week, you'll be thinking that's the best 500 bucks you spent. And that is really reasonable for a cake for 130.00

You're also in August. August is hot. Heat and cakes are not best friends.

Honestly, even if I did it for a living, I wouldn't actually do it myself. You have so many other things to do, and there's just so much that could go wrong. I would pay the $500 (which is a pretty decent price, at least for the going rate around here...maybe it's just expensive down here in Houston)

I am not saying you are "crazy"...Per se...Maybe more "ambitious"...

Making a large tiered cake is no small feat.

I would suggest you consider making multiple cakes or having a desert table with one small layer cake...Or cupcakes...

You will definately do a dry run no matter what you decide.

I think that $500 is worth not having the stress of the day...

Additionally, have you considered just doing a grocery store cake? I hear that SAMS and Costco and some other stores actually make pretty decent wedding cakes at really reasonable prices.

I think you're brave. I think you can do it but it will take work. I understand what you are saying about the price (that's why I booked a package that includes the cake!)

No way I would do it myself! Too much stress when you have so many other things going on right around your wedding. If you really want to do it yourself, you should ask some people to help you and have as many other things done early as possible.

I'm planning on doing it. If you're confident in your skills, do a full trial run and have a back up (sheet cakes maybe, so worst case scenario you could decorate a fake 3 tier or even a real one days prior)

It'll be fine if you choose to do it yourself, just make a back-up plan for worst case scenario to ease your mind a little.

ETA: Ahh, didn't notice your wedding date.

Maybe get it done by a pro - that way, the stress of making sure it's alright on the night is on THEM not you.

Yeah I would be afraid it would melt in the summer. They've got different icing, and usually have vehicles they can keep it cool in during transport.

Also, just the transportation and setting up of the cake would stress me out. I make some hard turns in my suv lol...

If you have the skill for cake decorating then I say go for it! I wanted to do my own cake but FH won't let me - he says I'll be to busy and shouldn't worry with it. His aunt does cakes for a living so she will now be doing it.

Eek...I don't know. I probably wouldn't. Not saying you can't but it might put too much pressure on you.

Go for it! But I would do some trial and error before the big day. Good luck!

Thanks for all the opinions. I am taking the two days before my wedding off, so I shoooulllldddd have enough time. I am really just worried about transportation and assembly.

Luckily I still have time and will think about it thoroughly

If you really really want to and have the skills, I still wouldn't risk doing a 3-tier cake. I think it could be fun (but maybe $&dollar to bake a few layer cakes and display them on pretty cake stands. Maybe you could do 12-inch cakes in chocolate, red velvet, German chocolate, and vanilla? Or just chocolate and vanilla but decorate each one differently? If the cost is the thing that's really bothering you, would it be more acceptable to buy a small display cake for you two to cut and then serve sheet cake? Costco, Publix, etc. can do that for you.

Do you have a cooking school near by? Maybe a student would do it for at a better price. They would already have all of the tools

I think it would be fine. I'm letting my sister make mine. If you are really worried about stability dowel works well or you could do cascading tiers.

I'm doing my own! 3 tiers.

I'm doing a full test run well before.

I will assemble on-site the night before so I don't need to worry about it tipping over in transport.

Use dowels and cardboard (or metal) supports.

http://cakestackers.com/

I'm making my own wedding cake as well - except I only have to make one small round cake to go on top of an elaborate display. The guests will actually be eating the dessert that comes with our buffet. The "cake" is just so we can do the typical cut the cake and eat a piece event.

I would consider only if the cakes were going to be on separate tiers and not stacked. I had this cake done at a bakery and it cost me $125 (including stand rental). It served 96.

I hope it's obvious, but this is not a pro pic :-)

My friend was in a wedding that the bride made her own cake... I will try to find a picture to post later... I think they got nails and all done friday night as she did the cake Friday morning... Saved her a ton of money