I need some advice.

[Lobodeb]

i found that wedding cakes from bakeries are beyond awful expensive....$2 a slice? and i have to pay for a 1 inch by 1 inch taste piece? b/c it was a wedding cake? rip offs in my opinion. i called around to several grocery stores that had bakeries....krogers, meijers, andersons and giant eagle locally, asked for and got tastes (when i was there at the store ) and got a huge sheet cake from giant eagle for just $45. it served the 100 people who were at the party, and the decorations were fine, the taste was great and i'd use that bakery again in a second.

It's important to note that most grocery store bakeries' cakes are made from box mixes and frozen weeks in advance and their "buttercream" is made from shortening, which is why it has that nasty, greasy flavor (or lack of). Please consider that if you do order from a bakery, chances are that a) your cake most likely wasn't frozen (depending on the standards of that particular bakery), b) that it's made from scratch, no boxes and c) that they use higher quality ingredients, i.e., butter rather than shortening. And that's just talking about the product itself, not labor. I charge more than $2 a slice and hardly feel like I'm ripping people off because of what I just mentioned. I know budget needs to be taken into consideration, I just felt the need to justify the costs. Actually, $2 a slice is a steal. JMO

[caseysmom]

It's important to note that most grocery store bakeries' cakes are made from box mixes and frozen weeks in advance and their "buttercream" is made from shortening, which is why it has that nasty, greasy flavor (or lack of). Please consider that if you do order from a bakery, chances are that a) your cake most likely wasn't frozen (depending on the standards of that particular bakery), b) that it's made from scratch, no boxes and c) that they use higher quality ingredients, i.e., butter rather than shortening. And that's just talking about the product itself, not labor. I charge more than $2 a slice and hardly feel like I'm ripping people off because of what I just mentioned. I know budget needs to be taken into consideration, I just felt the need to justify the costs. Actually, $2 a slice is a steal. JMO

From the pictures you have shown your cakes are really special I am sure they taste great too. I hate buttercream I prefer the whipped frosting probably because the buttercream is made from poor ingredients.

[jennielynn1970]

I like the ideas of having people bring a covered dish, side dish or what have you. We do that at family reunions, but anyone who travels a distance isn't expected to have to bring anything. The BBQ or picnic thing sounds great too. You can get family size packages of hamburgers or hotdogs at many of the supermarkets (around here we have Redner's and Giant that offer good deals). There are always family members that are known for their macaroni salad or baked beans, they might even feel honored that you asked them to make that certain dish for the occasion.

Do you have a friend who's mom or family member makes cakes? Is there a local shop near you that does cakes and baked goods? Some of the local bakeries in my area offer such nice cakes, and they aren't expensive at all.

If you can't get family members to help out with the cooking, could you get some college friends to help you out?? They might like to spend the day at your place, helping with food and all of that. You can make that punch with juice, ginger ale or 7 up and sherbet. That's always a something nice to have at picnics and get togethers where you don't want to serve alcohol. You could also get some bottles of sparkling cider, which tastes really good, and looks just as pretty and fizzy as champagne.

Hope it all works out for you! It's so nice of you to put it together!

[joycenalex]

lobodeb, i wasn't trying to insult you, and if so, i apologize. the cake was almond flavored with whipped cream frosting and i called to have it made the 2 days before the event, they wouldn't make it without a payment upfront. the baker turned out to be a former church friend. maybe here in columbus, the grocery bakery choices are pretty wide and there for fresher then other areas of the country. (a co-workers hubby makes the breads at krogers , ever since i could smell the yeastiness of freshly made buns and bread at their factory just off the main highway i've thought he was more interesting...i never met a carb i didn't love.. ) and i'm so with you on the buttercream issue, massive yuck. and for my event $2 a person was way too much. now, can you ship cakes to me here in columbus....... , yours are lovely.

[jennielynn1970]

the cake was almond flavored with whipped cream frosting and i called to have it made the 2 days before the event, they wouldn't make it without a payment upfront.

I'm surprised any bakery would make a cake for an event on such short notice. I know you can find a cake at most supermarkets and they just have to inscribe what you want on the top, but bakery cakes, from my experience, are really worth that little extra if your occasion is a special one. The one bakery in my area makes gorgeous airbrushed designs and has all kinds of mousse fillings available as well. Their whipped cream frosting is to die for too! Yumm!!! I ordered a cake there to share at my one school when I turned 30. It had a hazelnut mousse filling and was just out of this world good! I need to do that again, come to think of it!

[kitten645]

I have two words for you.....
MARTHA STEWART....LOL
Her website is full of great ideas..

[Lobodeb]

lobodeb, i wasn't trying to insult you, and if so, i apologize.

Oh, no! You didn't insult me at all. I just wanted to justify the pricing. But I appreciate the apology.

As far as shipping goes, I saw on TV that I can fly cakes to various locations and am looking into costs. I have a few family events this summer in New Mexico that I can't attend, so I'm trying to send cakes instead.

[Lobodeb]

From the pictures you have shown your cakes are really special I am sure they taste great too. I hate buttercream I prefer the whipped frosting probably because the buttercream is made from poor ingredients.

Thanks! Have you ever tried "true" buttercream? I mean the one that's made from butter and not shortening? YUMMY!!!

[sabies]

I love buttercream frosting, the sweeter the better. I think I've had both real and shortening cause I've had good and bad and there is a distinct difference. I prefer bakery anything. The fact that it's more expensive and less convenient is good - keeps the waistline from expanding.

If you do a bbq perhaps an invitee would be willing to do cooking so it would be less work for you?

Good luck with whatever you decide Tia!

[caseysmom]

Thanks! Have you ever tried "true" buttercream? I mean the one that's made from butter and not shortening? YUMMY!!!

Probably at weddings, usually wedding cakes are really yummy.

[shais_mom]

Thanks for all of the replies. I have been reading them. I would guess about 15 ppl..

Well, some of our extended family our having problems at the moment.. soo I can't really ask them to bring anything.. Just them being there is enough.

I do like getting a cake & having it decorated with flowers.. That sounds nice.

We will be having it at our house..

Lut, I love those frames.. I really am looking at the 2nd one..

I like the candle idea.. That would be really really cool & I also like the photo touching idea.

Okay,. I was wondering if the menu could be ham/turkey sandwiches, macroni salad, & baked beans,and of course cake. .. or would that be tacky for the 25th?



Thank you all for your help.. it is making my planning much easier.

If that's tacky for a 25th I'm in trouble b/c that is what we did for our parents 40th!!
I don't know if you guys have Arby's restaraunts down south but if you do - check them out - you can get their roast beef and ham for sandwiches with the fixings and buns for pretty decently priced.
That is what we did for our parents 40th.
I had my aunts/cousin's bake sheet cakes. And we had one decorated cake from a grocery. And we went to Gordon Foods and got potato salad and macaroni salad. Course I had help, my sister is 6 years older than me, and my uncles and aunts helped put tables up and decorate. My sister and I covered the cost but its hard to do that when your sibling is under 2!!

[pitc9]

For my in-laws ann. party a few years back I ordered candy wrappers off of E-Bay. They were quite cheap and they looked great!
You can have anything you want printed on them and they fit perfectly on Hershey's miniatures.

There's nothing wrong with just having snacks and appetizers just as long as you let people know in the invites!

[petslover]

Okay, great. thanks for all the advice.

This is what my decisions are right now.

Having it a picnic sounds fun.. If it rains, it can be moved to our house. no biggie about that.

We will be having chicken strip party tray by chickfila, potato salad, & baked beans & of course drinks..& utensils and a cake..

I will be getting decorations. I went & looked at some cute things in town this week. I got a few ideas.

The party favors are going to be candy wrappers. Thats fantastic.

I wrote down an estimate on who to invite. not an actual count.. This isn't going to be a suprise, as my family works out of town alot on the weekends.. I have to make sure my parents stay in town that day. Its going to be the Saturday before their anniversary.

I am trying to find something that the guest can sign. I seen a big plate at the store that people can sign that says happy anniversary on it.. but I didn't care for that to much. It was to heavy and big. It would end up getting broken sooner or later.. I think.

I know at my graduation party I got a stuffed animal that everyone signed. I still have it till this day. It really means alot to me. so I want to do something like that for them.

I pretty much have done all that I can do now. I'm going to start shopping in March during my spring break & the actual anniversary isn't until june..I don't have to get that many decorations since its outside.. so i have plenty of time.

Thanks for all the help. It helped me out alot.

[Karen]

Okay, great. thanks for all the advice.
I am trying to find something that the guest can sign. I seen a big plate at the store that people can sign that says happy anniversary on it.. but I didn't care for that to much. It was to heavy and big. It would end up getting broken sooner or later.. I think.

I know at my graduation party I got a stuffed animal that everyone signed. I still have it till this day. It really means alot to me. so I want to do something like that for them.
Thanks for all the help. It helped me out alot.

Oh - as for something big people can sign ... when Paul's sister got married, they had everyone sign a big matt that they afterwards put their best wedding photo in, and it hangs in their living room. You could get a wedding photo of theirs enlarged and nicely matted and have at least a 3-inch matt all the was around, and people could sign that! And in silver marker have someone with nice writing write Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary!

[Lobodeb]

And for party decorations, plates, etc., check out your local paper goods store. I found a place here in Chicago that primarily sells to restaurants but is open to the public. A pack of 50 plates (various colors) is only $3!