Having a faux cake at your wedding/ celebration is something that almost all of us cake designers here in Florida would agree is the best option (and some only offer faux cakes). Due to the Florida heat, having a faux cake with kitchen cakes for serving is great for those who would like their cake to be viewed throughout the entire event, larger show stopping cakes, intricate detailing, outdoor events, and sometimes for your budget!

Once your cake has been delivered it will be moved or handled at some point by the kitchen / catering team, planner, florist, etc.

Examples: Removal from refrigeration, Putting it on a stand, Florists adding cake flowers, and when the staff take it to be cut.

Once the cake is delivered safely I am no longer responsible for any damages that could occur due to accidents that may happen (and happen more than you would think) if it is moved or handled by someone else

Your design will be created using styrofoam cake dummies - displayed just like any other wedding cake. On the bottom tier there will be a real slice to cut for photos. Once you have cut the cake and photos have been taken, you have two options:

• Option 1
  The kitchen staff / catering team (persons in charge of serving) will bring the faux cake to the kitchen, slice the kitchen cakes and serve them to the guests. The guests will never know!
  (make sure you communicate this to your planner, event coordinator, kitchen staff, etc.)
  
  

• Option 2 *MostLoved*
  If you have ordered a show stopping cake that you want to be displayed as a centerpiece all night... then do it!
  Displaying the cake for the entire event allows you to get the most out of your money, and almost every time a couple chooses this option, the guests never notice! It also allows the photographer to grab a few extra shots with the cake.
  (Again, make sure you communicate this to your planner/coordinator/venue or kitchen staff so they don't remove it from being displayed!)

I want to ensure that your cake is stunning from the moment you see it to the time it’s served. Decisions will be made with your event’s success in mind, especially given Florida’s heat and humidity.

• Pickup is available all year. Keep in mind, once the cake leaves my possession, I am no longer responsible for any damages that may occur! Please make sure you have carefully read over the cake care guide and transportation instructions prior to pickup!
  

When Are Faux Tiers REQUIRED? (delivery)

• Cakes that require 3(+) tiers, being delivered outside of the "cooler" months (November- February) ***this is also recommended for cakes with 2(+) tiers***

• Any cake with more than 3 tiers

• Venues with limited-no refrigeration space available

• Outdoor Receptions

• Elaborate Sugar Flower Designs, or designs with Heavy Decor such as fondant pieces, or weighted cake toppers

• Cakes being transported longer distances

• Larger designs on a budget

• Larger displays without an excess amount of leftover cake
  
  
  Local Venues That May Require Faux Tiers:(limited refrigeration space)

• The Ringling Mansion

• The Powel Crosley Estate

• Philippe Mansion

• Selby Gardens

• Ophelia's On The Bay

• The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

PROS- Benefits to Clients:

• Preserves the Look of the Cake: Faux tiers prevent the cake from shifting, melting, or collapsing due to heat, ensuring your cake stays picture-perfect throughout your event.

• Flexibility in Design: Faux tiers allow for more elaborate and over-the-top designs without worrying about the weight or stability of the cake. This opens up endless possibilities for your dream cake.

• Easier Transport and Setup: Because faux cakes are lighter, they reduce the risk of accidents during transport, meaning fewer concerns about potential mishaps.

• While faux tiers don’t save significantly on overall costs (as they still require the same time, skills, and materials), they do help reduce delivery costs due to easier transport.

• Catering-Friendly: Faux cakes allow the kitchen to handle cake-cutting more efficiently by focusing on separate, easy-to-cut kitchen cakes for serving. This also reduces the stress of managing a multi-tiered cake.

• You will actually get the correct amount of servings you need by serving your guests kitchen cakes rather than slices cut from a real stacked cake

• Kitchen cakes taste better! This is because they can hold more fillings vs. stacked cakes that can only handle a tiny amount of filling to stay together

  * BONUS *
  It saves time! Don't you want to get out on the dance floor? The kitchen/ catering staff is able to pre-cut your kitchen cakes in the back and bring them out as soon as the faux cake is cut!

PROS - Benefits to Planners, Venues, and Vendors:

• Easier Coordination: Faux tiers eliminate concerns about temperature changes, making it easier to coordinate placement without worrying about refrigeration or melting issues.

• Less Setup Time: Faux cakes are easier to handle, allowing for smoother setup without the need for extensive preparation or handling restrictions.

• Ideal for Venues with Limited Cooling Space: Many venues have limited space for large, multi-tiered cakes. Faux tiers don’t require the same refrigeration needs as real cake, making them more practical for all venue types.

• Reduced Risk for Catering Staff: Faux cakes allow the catering staff to serve guests more efficiently without the fear of damaging the cake during cutting.

• Reduced Risk for Florists: If your florist is going to apply your cake flowers, this will happen on site at the venue, which means the cake must arrive when the florist is setting up. You will have to have CLEAR communication with the florist for arrival/ set up times. This also means your cake will be handled by the florist post delivery. Accidents happen, and the florist may damage your cake. If this happens once the cake has been delivered safely, I may not be able to come back and fix the cake.

Once again, CCSWEETS is NOT responsible for any damages that may occur once the cake has been safely transported!

Why It’s the Better Option

Overall, choosing faux cakes or tiers offers peace of mind for everyone involved. It ensures that your cake looks flawless from start to finish, helps with smoother event coordination, and accommodates Florida’s heat. Our approach guarantees that your celebration goes off without a hitch, while still delivering the show-stopping, luxury design you expect.

Additional Benefits | Fun Facts:

• Most of the cakes you find on Pinterest, Instagram, and Google are faux cakes

• Serving kitchen cakes allow for a better presentation for your guests vs. real stacked cakes that are cut

• Kitchen cakes taste and stay fresh for longer, since they are not on display for the entire event and can be kept refrigerated (if refrigeration is available)

• You still get the same experience slicing into your faux cake since there is a real slice hidden on the bottom tier. With faux cakes you can also do the dramatic "sword cut" (Cutting the cake from top to bottom).

  ALSO- All of my clients get a FREE "top tier" anniversary cake with the purchase of a CCSWEETS wedding cake! This can be delivered on your wedding day to be saved, or made fresh for pickup around your anniversary date. (Redeemable

• Long-Lasting Display: Faux tiers hold up much better in terms of time, allowing your cake to remain a centerpiece for the entire event, no matter how long the celebration lasts.

• Safer for Outdoor Events: For outdoor or tented weddings and events, faux cakes offer stability in unpredictable weather conditions, including wind, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures.

• More Photo Opportunities: Because faux cakes are more resilient to environmental factors, they can remain on display for a longer time, allowing photographers to capture the cake from various angles without the rush of cutting it early.

• Larger Cake Look Without Wasted Cake: Faux tiers provide a grand, luxurious appearance without producing more cake than needed, reducing food waste for events where a large serving isn’t required.

• Minimal-No Risk of Collapse: With the structural integrity of faux tiers, you eliminate the risk of internal supports failing or a tiered cake sinking into itself, a common issue with heavy multi-tiered cakes in heat or humidity.

• Greater Flexibility for Cake Preservation: Since faux tiers are durable, they can be preserved and repurposed for future events or even used as keepsakes for clients who want to retain a memory of their special day.

CONS???

Q: Why do I need a faux cake if I want my cake covered in fondant?

A: Fondant is EXTREMELY sensitive to temperature change even in an air-conditioned space. If the temperature of the room is not almost exact to the temperature of the refrigerator, then the fondant may separate from the icing and cause bubbles or tears. If your event is held outside, it's almost always recommended to be made into a faux cake. Because of these instances I now require tiered fondant cakes to be created into faux or semi faux cakes.

Q: What if I don't want fondant?

A: Some designs may require fondant and cannot be created from buttercream alone.

Q: What if I want to save my top tier?

A: CCSWEETS offers a FREE one-year anniversary cake with the purchase of a wedding cake. It will be made fresh and can be redeemed on the ordering page. (This offer is ONLY available for those who purchase their wedding cake with CCSWEETS. Cupcake orders and faux cakes that were ordered without kitchen cakes, are not qualified for this offer)

Q: How can this save me money

A: Faux cakes have a $0 delivery fee with the purchase of kitchen cakes (within 10 miles)
A: Depending on size and guest count, the faux option might save you money for larger guest counts

Q: What will my guests eat?
A: Your guests will be served kitchen cakes (sheet cakes)

Q: Can I cut into a faux cake for the cake-cutting ceremony?

A: If you’d like to participate in a traditional cake-cutting ceremony, we can include a small real tier or section of the cake that is edible specifically for this purpose. This allows you to keep the tradition without compromising the visual integrity of the larger faux cake.

Q: How does a faux cake benefit my event?

A: Faux cakes are more stable in extreme weather conditions, making them ideal for outdoor or summer weddings. They allow for more intricate and grand designs without compromising structural integrity, and they make transportation and setup easier and safer. (See the "Pros and Cons" section for more benefits!)

Q: Will my guests know the cake is fake?
A: Almost never happens! Most-all guests won’t be able to tell the difference between a faux cake and a real cake. The cake will be decorated to look exactly like a real cake. Guests will still enjoy real cake slices from kitchen cakes or a small real tier that is kept for serving. If this is a concern for you, make sure to follow "option 1" under the "how it works" section!

(From Experience: A few times that i've back to the venue for tear down- to pick up a faux cake, I have had lingering guests approach me asking for a slice to take home! Noone is really paying attention to the "real-ness" of your wedding cake!)