My do-it-yourself crocheted wedding cake

[Mara295]

I've been engaged since May 11, and my wedding day isn't until August 9, 2008. However! I was inspired by one of crochetville's own (over at gourmetcrochet.com). Given that I'm -far- too cheap to spend the kind of money vendors want for an edible one of these, I decided to take hook in hand and make my own. I won't post a pattern because I'd like to see some business go to my inspiration site--but I was able to come up with this on my own as I've been crocheting for about 30 years now.

I intend to serve a slab-style cake (far less expensive!) and we'll use this for the obligatory pictures as well as a nice decoration somewhere at the reception. :yes

The front:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Mara295/cake3.jpg

The back:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Mara295/cake2.jpg

A closer view of the top tier:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Mara295/cake1.jpg

I used about 3/4's of a 454g bag of Red Heart "Comfort" and an H hook. To support the top tier I bought 4 pretty little liqueur glasses 2 for $1 at my local Dollarama and set them on the cake bowl-down.

It's not entirely finished yet (but I couldn't wait to show it!), if you look closely you can see the styrofoam core peeking out from the bottom of a couple of the layers--I still have to pin them down nice and even. The flowers are all silk, and I plan to add more roses and a few lilies, some black and gold ribbon (our colours are black, gold and silver), and the foil-covered "cake plates" (silver!) to make it look more authentic. I'm likely to add some pearls here and there as well. I also haven't taken the glue gun to it yet, so the final product will be nice and stable.

It's a super-fun project to do, and one that I recommend to any bride-to-be. In my neck of the woods, an edible version of this would run me into the $300-$400+ range--this one has so far only cost me $50 cdn. TOTAL.

When it's finally done, I'll be taking -many- photographs of it and will update this post at that time. I expect that to be soon as I'm completely obsessed with this thing.

Anyhoo, that's enough o' my babbling, I hope you've enjoyed and thanks for looking!

June 8, 2007: I'm finished! I'm considering removing some of the larger roses from the bottom tier, but other than that it's finished. Woo! Thanks again for all your kind comments folks!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Mara295/cake5.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Mara295/cake9.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Mara295/cake6.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Mara295/cake4.jpg

[crochetluvknot]

its very pretty

[Debbi-a1]

Beautiful! You did a great job. Looks yummy! You did great in designing it yourself.

[Tampa Doll]

Very beautiful. I love that web site (gourmetcrochet.com).

I thought about doing a wedding cake in minature for my cousin that will match her daughter's cake.

I can't wait to see yours when it is complete.:hook

[vonnie]

Looks good enough to eat!!! Great job and best wishes on your upcoming wedding.!!

[eurolyons]

this is great...wonderful job and best wishes on your wedding!

[MsSuzKelly]

That is really very pretty and what a great idea!!!!

Congratulations on your engagement:dance :2spin :woo

[smileyface]

Very pretty and yummy looking. Great job!

[RoseRed]

Wow!!!

[Mermaiden]

Very creative and lovely looking! :hook

And btw, you can get some really nice & cheap cakes from Wal Mart, yes Wal Mart's bakery, even a 3-tiered :drool
:cake
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=120764

[Feliciter]

This looks fantastic! We also did the glasses thing to hold up the top layer - the glasses had roses inside as well.

[crfty]

Just beautiful! Crfty

[NanaKaren]

:cheer Your wedding cake looks SO realistic! Its beautiful and what a great job you've done. I wish you all the best life has to offer.

[champygirl]

It is very pretty, you do amazing work.

[crochet30]

That's wonderful! You may have to go into business making cakes for other occasions for all the wedding guests. :rose :rose

[ladysnow]

That is beautiful!

[lisaluger50]

making me hungry for sweets. Excellent job

[jap]

Wonderful IDEA! and super gorgeous too! and this beautiful cake won't go to everyones hips the thighs. And you can always admire it for years to come like a keepsake. maybe even include this beautiful masterpiece in many of you wedding photos too! The possibilities for decorating a cake like yours can be endless! Great job!

[slicer]

I love it! And when I finally get married, I might just have to make one of these for myself!

Oh yeah, CONGRATS on your engagement!!!

[sonnets_and_stitches]

What fun!

[Cassis]

Wow! It's beautiful! Great job! :D

[misssmaggie]

So pretty!!! Thanks for sharing!

[clare]

WOW thats amazing and it sure is pretty !

[Roli]

Very original! That's a cake that you can keep for a lifetime!

[ktfdj]

Wow! At first glance I wouldn't have even thought it was crocheted! You did a nice job.

[Simply Hooked]

That's wonderful! you created your own wedding keepsake..that is so neat!!!

[ldyer1]

Gorgous, and what a great idea. Many brides do a smaller cake and serve from a sheet cake anyways, this way you get the full size model. I love it!

[busym1]

Very nice, and a great idea!

[nevadamama]

Just Charming!

It looks so real and I love how you used the glasses for the top tier. Cupcakes are another idea instead of a sheet cake & no one has to slice and serve. Also saves on the expense of plates and forks ....... every penny counts.

[blackpurl]

very pretty!

[SDmom]

Awesome! Great job!

[mustang lady]

that is a very pretty cake. congrats on your upcoming marriage. May God bless you with many happy years together.

[silkymist]

Wow, it's just beautiful!! You did a fab job! Congratulations!

[Marty53]

Just beautiful! Great job!

[Loralynn]

Gorgeous!

[MyissaG]

What a beautiful cake!!!

[Coffeywoman]

Good for you! It's lovely and so creative and a keepsake forever!

[TX CrochetLover]

What a clever idea! Great design and BTW, congratulations on your engagement!

[trinichiqn]

That is absolutely gorgeous. A certified WOW!!!!

[nana5boys]

very nice cake..nice photo too.

jaye

[Mara295]

Just a quick note as an update. I've finished the cake since these pictures were taken, but my internet connection at home is down until the end of the week so I'll post updated pictures then.

I also wanted to thank everyone for their compliments and well-wishes, it really means a lot so THANK YOU!

[Bess]

I need to pass on this idea to friend of mine who's an avid crafter. Shes getting married in a year and its a very low budget wedding.

Yours is fantastic and fantabulous. ^^

[Mara295]

Thanks! It needs to be mentioned that the styrofoam I used for this was -not- one of the pre-formed ones that you can get at the craft store. I found those way too expensive for the thickness I needed (each layer is about 6" thick). SO! I went to RONA and bought a sheet of their 3" thick styrofoam for $10 (canadian) and cut the pieces myself. It was messier (it looked like it snowed in my back porch when I was done), but way cheaper in the long run. Wish your friend the best of luck for me! :)

[Iowa yarns]

That is just fantastic and beautiful!!! You did a awesome job! :yes

Congratulations on getting married.

[darski]

I really like this idea. it is a good way to deal with that whole gotta have a great looking cake/we have :2c to make it so. :wlol

It really is very pretty.

I agree about gourmet crochet dot com. great place to visit.

[copchic905]

:cheer now that is creative, & beautiful....& what a great keepsake memory.

[dewbaby00]

That is a beautiful cake, I am getting married July 07, 2007 and if I had my way the cake and all the other food would be crocheted.....

[Her]

what a great idea! It's beautiful.

[Bess]

Thanks! It needs to be mentioned that the styrofoam I used for this was -not- one of the pre-formed ones that you can get at the craft store. I found those way too expensive for the thickness I needed (each layer is about 6" thick). SO! I went to RONA and bought a sheet of their 3" thick styrofoam for $10 (canadian) and cut the pieces myself. It was messier (it looked like it snowed in my back porch when I was done), but way cheaper in the long run. Wish your friend the best of luck for me! :)

I'm a design student, and having made rough models out of that white foam, I know the feeling! There was a day when I was solid white, head to toe from the stuff. A good steak knife tends to go through it fairly well.

[shayken]

Wow!!!!

[Cinnaminn]

Beautiful cake, Mara295. :)

Maybe after the wedding, you might want to consider renting it out to other people? I was just reading in a local newspaper last night about a new business that rents out fake cakes.

Here's a link to the site that rents them out if anyone wants to read more:
http://cakerental.com/index.html
The newspaper article, "Business offers chance to rent fake wedding cake" can be found in the Grand Rapids Press newspaper dated Wed., June 6, 2007 written by Cami Reister:
http://tinyurl.com/2aqco8

(ThUD for the above links!)
- Cheryl

[Mara295]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've added pictures of the finished product to the very first post in this thread! Thanks for looking!

[kimbo]

This is such a great idea!:cheer I have 3 teenage daughters, and I think that I am going to make the basic cake and have each of may daughters personalize it for their future weddings. What a great heirloom!!!

Kim