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Top Tips on How To Transport a Wedding Cake
• The Cake Decorating Company
Whether you're planning to transport a wedding cake long distance or a short distance, fully tiered or to-be-assembled, the thought of transporting our precious cakey cargo is nerve-wracking! And we all know it can go horribly wrong if we're not fully prepared.
So, to help you get a handle on it and grow in confidence when transporting your masterpieces, we asked some of our lovely cakey professionals for their top tips on getting their bakes from A to B!
Contents:
- Creating a sturdy base
- Chill your cake
- The perfect packaging
- Communicate with your clients
- Inspect the venue
- FAQs
It's All About The Base
A sturdy base is absolutely vital when it comes to transporting your cakes. Opt for cake drums over your standard cake boards, and ensure cake stands are strong enough to support your fully assembled cake.
For multi-tiered bakes, ensure you use plenty of cake dowels within each tier, especially the base tier to provide more support to the above tiers. You can also use internal structures to further support your tiers.
It's worth considering a non-slip mat for your vehicle to place beneath the cake box to prevent it from sliding around when traveling. Such a simple and cost-effective way to keep your cake standing in one piece!
Get everything you need to make the perfect wedding cake in our wedding section.
Chill Your Cake
Whether coated in buttercream, royal icing, or fondant, a chilled cake works as a coat of armour. We recommend chilling your cake in the fridge for 24 hours before the journey, so slight bumps and touches won't be noticeable and the cake will hold together much stronger while in transit.
Packaging
It seems obvious but with so much to consider for your cakey masterpiece, it's often a last-minute thought when it comes to packaging. When planning how to transport a wedding cake, this is a key consideration! Plan ahead to get hold of the best possible packaging for your cake, opting for cake boxes that are strong and stable so if something should fall on it, it'll protect the cake.
Size is important too. Make sure you've got the right size box so the cake can't slide around, but large enough so the cake doesn't become squashed!
Think about how you'll move it - make sure the cake is an ideal size to hold/carry or opt for a box that has carry handles to make it easier to lift.
Shop our entire cake box collection now to find the perfect option for your wedding cake!
Communicate with Clients
Before starting your journey, make sure you have the full address from your clients and you've checked the details on your Sat Nav or Google Maps. The last thing you want is to get lost with a wedding cake in the back of the car. It also means you can check road conditions before leaving and work out an alternative route in case you should hit traffic. As well as that, by communicating with your clients beforehand, you can arrange the best possible place to park when you arrive. The least distance to carry the cake, the better!
Inspect The Venue
You've made it to the venue safe and sound - awesome job! Don't start unloading just yet though. Have a look round and check out the area you need to move your cake to. Check the area for bumps, trip hazards or high traffic areas before moving your cake. A quick trip into the venue can prevent awkward corners, difficult routes and fatal mistakes when it comes to getting your cake in final position.
Check out some top tips from ganache artist, Chell of @chellbells_cakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use buttercream, fondant, or ganache for easier transport?
When it comes to a wedding cake, you should always go with your favourite option - there are ways to safely transport all three of these types of cake! However, if you are new to cake making and worried about getting it there in one piece, a fondant wedding cake is easier to transport.
Unlike ganache and buttercream, you don't have to worry about it beginning to melt quickly in a hot car. So, for longer journeys, fondant will usually hold up better. Any decorations made of fondant or sugarpaste will be sturdier and the cake is less likely to get smudged.
Do keep in mind though that if it is particularly cold, fondant can sweat and crack, so temperature can have an impact here too.
How to transport a buttercream wedding cake
A buttercream wedding cake can be particularly daunting to transport, especially in the summer! After chilling thoroughly, consider using cool boxes to move it - this will keep the buttercream cool.
It's also important to place the cake in a box that is the same size as your cake board, so the cake is held securely and stays stable. Having that space around the cake within the box will stop any contact between the buttercream and the sides of the packaging!
How To Transport A Wedding Cake In Hot Weather
As well as chilling your cake before traveling, you'll also want to ensure your vehicle is cooled for at least 10-15 minutes prior with air-conditioning to make sure it's cool enough for the cake. Place it away from sunlight (ideally protected with a sun shield) to prevent it from melting.
How To Transport Your Wedding Cake In A Car
It goes without saying, that if you're transporting your cake in the back of the car, you need to make sure you plan your trip with plenty time and take extra care with the handling of your vehicle.
For quiet areas where it's safe to do so, drive at slower speeds. Make sure you leave early to give yourself plenty of time. Avoid routes with speed bumps or sharp corners and tackle them carefully if unavoidable. Brake early and gently.
Transporting a cake over a long distance:
For those extra hot summer days, or for a cake travelling long distances, consider using insulated transportation/cool boxes, and make use of freezer packs around the sides of your cake box.
To be on the safe side, you should probably pack an emergency repair kit. That way any little imperfections caused by the heat or the car journey can be fixed at the venue.
What do I do if the cake gets damaged during transport?
You emergency repair kit should include any tools and items you might need to take care of unexpected damages. Hopefully you won't need it! But if you do, here are some of the things we'd suggest having on hand.
- Piping bags, piping tips and extra buttercream or royal icing to tidy up any smudges.
- Extra fondant to match what you've used (and a rolling pin!)
- A spatula and a smoother for smoothing out any bumps
- More cake dowels
- Some sugar flowers / other ready made decorations - ideal for covering any blemishes
- A mix of pearls and sprinkles to replace any that have come off
- Any lustre dust or powder colouring you've used
- Florist tape and florist wire for fixing any flower issues
- Scissors
Take some time to total up what exactly you might need to take with you for your specific cake - this is just a general list!
How to transport a tiered wedding cake
When it comes to assembling your tiered wedding cake, there are pros and cons to each method. Many cake artists prefer to perfect their creations at home before making the journey to the venue. Whereas others prefer to separate the tiers and construct their tiers at the venue.
Say, for example, you have to decide how to transport a 4 tier wedding cake. Let's explore the pros and cons of pre-assembling your cake.
Pre-Assembling Pros and Cons
✓ Save time at the venue ✓ Less distraction ✓ Less pressure from on-looking party guests
✗ Heavier to lift ✗ Tricky to maneuver ✗ More risk of tipping over during travel
If you decide that the pros outweigh the cons, before even approaching the car, make sure you have securely attached each tier with your cake dowels.
Ensure that the vehicle you are transporting the cake in is tall enough to fit the whole cake in, and that there is a large, totally flat surface. You'll want to place a non-slip mat down first, and then carefully place your cake inside.
We hope this post helped you feel more confident in how to transport a wedding cake! Good luck with your masterpiece - and don't forget to tag us on Instagram so we can see it!
Looking for more inspo?
What size of Wedding Cake do I need? Our Guide!
