| Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #799650] |
Tue, 01 January 2008 20:34  |
mockingbird296
Messages: 151
Registered: June 2007
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I can't find an affordable wedding cake in Phoenix. The bakeries are so expensive. I just can't justify spending $4/slice. I'm thinking of maybe using Safeway. I saw photos of some of the cakes online, and they actually look pretty good.
http://www.wednet.com/wedding-cakes/safeway/cake-viewer/Defa ult.aspx
I was also thinking of Sam's Club, but they don't do tiered cakes. I just want a small three tiered cake, and then we will also serve sheet cakes. Has anyone had any experiences with grocery store bakery cakes?
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #799655] |
Tue, 01 January 2008 20:48  |
mockingbird296
Messages: 151
Registered: June 2007
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Eek!! Guess I will continue to shop around.
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #799658] |
Tue, 01 January 2008 21:09 |
 sellthesedownfalls
Messages: 910
Registered: March 2007
Location: SF Bay Area - Peninsula |
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You might as well go taste them!
*******************
You will never make everyone happy, it is an impossibility. The first person to do so will rip a hole in the space-time continuum.
-Vexy
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #799669] |
Tue, 01 January 2008 21:42 |
Portia
Messages: 2312
Registered: August 2007
Location: New York |
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I've ordered tiered birthday cakes from the bakery at the Stop 'N' Shop in Harwich, Massachusetts (Cape Cod) and consider them to be a good value, wouldn't be embarrassed to serve them to wedding guests.
I've never had Stop 'N' Shop use the "buttercream" frosting, however; I always opt for whipped cream icing because it's lighter & less sweet (and at grocery store prices, you know they can't possibly afford to use any real butter).
And I ask for the simplest fillings (e.g., mocha or lemon) because the fruity-fillings such as strawberry or pineapple -- even those of more upscale bakeries -- usually taste "off" to me... either akin to gloppy bad preserves or "fresh" fruit that tastes like it's past its prime & should be used for making jam.
BUT, many retail bakeries make their "buttercream" frosting with just vegetable fat & butter flavoring. So I wouldn't rule out grocery store cakes... at least not until after doing taste tests like Mimsy just did.
Do you have your heart set on a traditional wedding cake? The reason I ask is because I recently attended a wedding where a local ice cream purveyor provided ice cream cake that was both attractive and tasty; a small tier "real" cake was the one the bride & groom cut. And since this wedding was of a couple on a modest budget, I'm thinking that price may very well have factored into their decision to serve the ice cream cake.
[Updated on: Tue, 01 January 2008 21:43]
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #799941] |
Wed, 02 January 2008 16:01 |
peggy_j
Messages: 1128
Registered: September 2007
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mockingbird296 I wonder if it's possible to see the cakes made by the store you'll get it from. Like you, I was impressed with the photos on the website. But, I'm wondering if that's the person who will do your cake (or just their top person in the corporate office?)
FWIW, I heard that one reason wedding cakes are expensive at bakeries is that a lot of the decorations are time-consuming (getting that perfectly smooth frosting). I heard that putting flowers on is cheaper than other decorating techniques. I wonder if you can ask the bakery if there are ways to create a slightly less expensive cake. I also wonder if they over-sell the number of slices you need. Whenever I buy cakes from our local bakery (for a b-day or whatever) we end up having a lot left over. I wonder if you can buy cake for say, 2/3 of the guests and ask to cut smaller more normal size pieces.
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800008] |
Wed, 02 January 2008 17:51 |
Mesmerize Maggie
Messages: 269
Registered: October 2007
Location: Chicago |
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My mom used to work in the bakery of a Kroger...she and one or two of her co-workers were the people who decorated the wedding cakes whenever they were ordered through that store. I know that they all did a fantastic job making them look beautiful...usually just like the picture of what you would pick from. Now, I don't know if that store was a fluke to have such great decorators or not though. I do know that they only allowed their people who had been there and decorating cakes for quite a while do the big wedding cakes...oh and if you are worried about how they taste, most are willing to give you a sample.
The Website
The (mostly) wedding blog
Marriage is a promise. A potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill. --Edmund O'Neill
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800025] |
Wed, 02 January 2008 18:16 |
MrsBook
Messages: 171
Registered: December 2007
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Let's be fair, a lot of grocery stores are putting more effort into their bakeries to keep up with demand. Even our local A&Ps and Pathmarks are coming up with innovative flavors for wedding cakes such as chocolate mint, and you can select from a few options of icing to avoid Crisco-cream. BabyBook loves to watch them decorate the cakes in our grocery store's bakery if they happen to be working on one when we do our shopping. I've found them to be very accomodating, they practice good hygeine, do it out where anyone can see what they're up to, and actually make a pretty cake.
On the flipside, you'll want to go through the same process as you would with an independent baker and you may be expected to pay for a tasting. And do a price comparison, the grocery store might not be the cheapest option for the quality you want.
MrsBook
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800029] |
Wed, 02 January 2008 18:20 |
mockingbird296
Messages: 151
Registered: June 2007
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Thanks so much for the replies everyone! I will definitely still check out Safeway. And I also found someone that does beautiful cakes here for $2.75/slice! Yippee!
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800227] |
Thu, 03 January 2008 09:08 |
MrsBook
Messages: 171
Registered: December 2007
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Mia, Those are lovely! Why isn't there a SuperTarget anywhere in my area?  Do you mind telling us the flavors?
MrsBook
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800241] |
Thu, 03 January 2008 09:45 |
mockingbird296
Messages: 151
Registered: June 2007
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Those cupcakes are super cute!!
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800309] |
Thu, 03 January 2008 12:19 |
Mia M
Messages: 988
Registered: February 2007
Location: Denver |
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MrsBook- they're just plain old chocolate with buttercream icing... The some of pink frosted cupcakes have a little coconut sprinkled on them just 'cause I liked the way that looked...
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800315] |
Thu, 03 January 2008 12:27 |
this librarian is marryin
Messages: 298
Registered: June 2007
Location: Pittsburgh |
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I really wanted a cheap, plain cake because I knew our awesome florist could transform it...and she did. This three-tier grocery store cake came out to less than $2 a slice:
[Updated on: Thu, 03 January 2008 12:30]
Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. ~ Chinese proverb
*9/16/07*
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800336] |
Thu, 03 January 2008 12:54 |
MrsBook
Messages: 171
Registered: December 2007
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It looks good, this librarian is marryin', how did it taste? What's underneath the icing? Your florist did a lovely job!
MrsBook
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800564] |
Thu, 03 January 2008 20:38 |
this librarian is marryin
Messages: 298
Registered: June 2007
Location: Pittsburgh |
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Thanks ladies! My cake was yummy, albeit unoriginal in flavor. The bottom one was white, the middle was chocolate and the top was yellow. There's really not that much of a selection with grocery store cakes, but then again who really likes rosemary kumquat cake with pumpernickel chiffon icing, ya know?
Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. ~ Chinese proverb
*9/16/07*
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #800584] |
Thu, 03 January 2008 21:23 |
mockingbird296
Messages: 151
Registered: June 2007
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Pretty cake!!
peggy_j - I did an internet search for affordable wedding cakes in Phoenix and came up with the name of the person. We are meeting her on Monday for a tasting! She runs her business out of her home, and rents a kitchen to do her backing.
Here is a link for any Phoenix area Indies!
http://christiescakery.com/
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #804022] |
Fri, 11 January 2008 20:56 |
Mia M
Messages: 988
Registered: February 2007
Location: Denver |
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^^^ I swear to god, getting married in Colorado is frickin' expensive! After doing some venue shopping and attending a bridal show, I pretty much gave traditional wedding vendors a big middle finger and found less expensive alternatives. Cakes were no exception. Luckily, I've always loved the idea of a cupcake wedding cake so it wasn't a compromise for me... still, most bakeries want to charge brides $2+ per cupcake.
Glad you found a bakery you love and that is affordable! Out of curiosity, was it Child's Bakery you decided to use?
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #804136] |
Sat, 12 January 2008 07:11 |
bookworm81
Messages: 320
Registered: February 2007
Location: Maryland |
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My sister's wedding cake was from Safeway (as were her DIY flowers). In fact, she had two cakes because they got married on our SIL's b-day so they had a sheet birthday cake for her. The cakes looked good, tasted good and didn't cost a fortune.
I didn't read the whole thread carefully but I did notice the use of flowers on a cake. You can DIY flowers on a cake but they need to be either organically grown or kept from touching the actual cake (usually done by placing a circle of plastic or cardboard on top of the cake and placing the flowers on that). If you use regular grocery store flowers with no barrier the pesticides can and will transfer from the flowers to the cake.
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #804363] |
Sun, 13 January 2008 08:51 |
BealFeirste
Messages: 885
Registered: March 2007
Location: Glasgow, Scotland |
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We checked out our local grocery story (Giant Eagle here in Pittsburgh) for cakes. My cousin got married in the summer, and she and her husband had a GE cake, and it was tasty, just like normal bakery cake. Unfortunately, we found our local store to be hard to work with, as in they didn't return phone calls and never had the info for me to price it.
So we went to Jenny Lee bakery, which is a little local bakery with a couple stores in the city, and it is headquartered less than a mile from my house. Every birthday cake I've ever had has been from there. I love their cake to pieces. And when we went to meet w/ the cake lady (had to make an appointment), she was super nice, very upfront about the cost and policies. She showed us a book of designs, we found one we liked, and sealed the deal. Total cost? a little less than $200, including delivery, for cake for 150 people. Hells. Yeah. And they said that if we ordered cookies for our cookie table (it wouldn't be a Pittsburgh wedding without it!), they'd just include them in the delivery so we wouldn't have to go and pick them up.
and she gave us 2 dozen cookies to take home to apologize for not having cake samples ready. not that we needed them, FH and I aren't exactly filling type of people.
But I was looking at those safeway cakes, they're pretty darn snazzy!
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #804377] |
Sun, 13 January 2008 10:25 |
this librarian is marryin
Messages: 298
Registered: June 2007
Location: Pittsburgh |
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| BealFeirste wrote on Sun, 13 January 2008 09:51 |
We checked out our local grocery story (Giant Eagle here in Pittsburgh) for cakes. My cousin got married in the summer, and she and her husband had a GE cake, and it was tasty, just like normal bakery cake. Unfortunately, we found our local store to be hard to work with, as in they didn't return phone calls and never had the info for me to price it.
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Hey BealFierste--I'm from Pittsburgh too. Our cake (pictured above) was from Giant Eagle! I've heard good things about Jenny Lee...also, have you ever tried anything from Bethel Bakery in Bethel Park? Their cakes are YUMMY!
Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. ~ Chinese proverb
*9/16/07*
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #804514] |
Sun, 13 January 2008 19:21 |
jet2west
Messages: 167
Registered: January 2008
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No Message Body
[Updated on: Mon, 07 December 2009 19:22]
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #804552] |
Sun, 13 January 2008 20:47 |
NicoleSezHi
Messages: 211
Registered: November 2007
Location: Hudson Valley, NY |
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Wow, jet2west. That's awesome. Do you know anyone in Rockland County, NY that you reccomend? I know there's an A&P in Valley Cottage and a Pathmark in Nanuet, but I'm happy to entertain suggestions. There are also various Shoprites & Stop & Shops around here too.
I'm putting you on my Go-To Girl list along with vegasbride.
"I just want you to know that I was about to call you out for being a complete bitch and saying that Nicole is not cool. And then I realized you are Nicole." - BigSpoon
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #804575] |
Sun, 13 January 2008 21:56 |
jet2west
Messages: 167
Registered: January 2008
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No Message Body
[Updated on: Mon, 07 December 2009 19:21]
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #859203] |
Tue, 20 May 2008 19:35 |
northerncharm
Messages: 108
Registered: September 2007
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Hoping to reinvigorate the grocery store cakes discussion.
Has anyone had any experience with higher-end grocery store cakes, like Whole Foods or Wild Oats or Harris Teeter?
We were considering fancy cupcakes or cake from Whole Foods at one point, but during a taste-test day, realized the bakery at our local store likes to freeze their stock which leads to (ugh!)
freezer burn frosting.
Costco has great sheet cake, but nothing stackable aside from death-by-chocolate cake.
Also, has anyone tried to simply do the order a couple of plain cakes from your local grocery and then stack them yourself? If so, how did it work out?
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #859238] |
Tue, 20 May 2008 21:05 |
Mia M
Messages: 988
Registered: February 2007
Location: Denver |
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| BoulderIzzy wrote on Tue, 20 May 2008 19:44 |
WashingtonDCgirl, have you tried the chantilly creme cake at Whole Foods? It is to DIE for- yellow cake with fresh fruit and chantilly creme (whipped cream, cheese, sugar- it's amazing). I wanted to go with a really traditional wedding cake, but if I were to pick something else, it would most likely be a WF Chantilly Creme cake. I want a slice now...
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It is effin' fabulous! We served our guests cupcakes but our cutting cake was the Chantilly from Whole Foods. It is beautifully presented, the yellow cake is fluffy & moist, and the frosting is absolutely amazing!
ETA: as far as stacking, talk to thier cake decorator... our original cutting cake was a 6" round topped with a cupcake decorated to look like a tiny mini tier. Alas, there was a miscommunication with my caterer and it melted the day before my wedding  One of my friends was kind enough to run out and get an 8" Chantilly the day of, which was awesome, but that little tiered one was adorable!
[Updated on: Tue, 20 May 2008 21:09]
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #859671] |
Wed, 21 May 2008 19:49 |
arconaut
Messages: 7
Registered: May 2008
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The cakes at my local Safeway look beautiful. I have been thinking of asking who the decorator(s) are and if they do side work... their cake prices are still $2-300 though which is more than I can afford for cake.
My sister recommended Super Target but there are none nearby (>100 miles from here!).
I'm thinking about DIY cupcakes- how hard can they be?? Not sure if I want to deal with the stress of that so close to the wedding day, though. I'm currently looking for inexpensive options around San Francisco...
I think we would like to have a small 3-layer cake and then supplement it with a couple of cheesecakes and a sheet cake from Costco (they have many flavor options, and for $18 you get ~45 servings!) (We are having $120-150 people in our wedding...)
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| Re: Grocery store wedding cakes? [message #861075] |
Mon, 26 May 2008 21:37 |
soyyo
Messages: 15
Registered: May 2008
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I took a look at the Wilton floating tiers that a previous poster mentioned. I have seen similar things at retail stores, as well. Sam's also sells tiers, although I believe they are supported with styrofoam, so probably they're not too secure. However,if you're doing, say, one or two round cakes and some cupcakes, they're probably fine.
As far as other lower-cost options for cakes or cupcakes, if you have a junior college or other school that has a culinary program nearby, they may be able to have the student chefs in training make & decorate cakes and cupcakes at a lower cost. Worth looking into!
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