Wedding Cakes

Kishalee · 04-15-2008, 09:09 PM

SO, as some of you know, both my FI and I are dual citizen jamaicans living in the states and getting married in Ochy in Oct. Both families are insisting on a traditional jamaican wedding cake (rum cake) for the wedding. Everyone seems to say that thecake served with the packages is NOT the traditional cake, based on most weddings not being traditional jamaicans.
We have many aunts and uncles who can make a GREAT jamaican cake here in the states, unfortunately we cant figure out how to transport it. We got a quote from a family friend who does traditional cakes professionally. At first her cost was really cheap until she heard that it was "foreigners" having a wedding at the RIU. Her price immediately shot up to J35,000 (US $550). I think this price is crazy. It's more than the price of my dress for goodness sakes. Anybody know if the RIU does traditional rum/fruit cake as an option for the free cake? Do you know if they would charge if an aunt went into the kitchen to MAKE a traditional cake there? Any ideas?
I chose to get married in Jamaica to celebrate our jamaican roots, bring together the 2 families who go back to the island together and just have a fab true Yardie wedding. It looses some flavor by having an americanized cake. I am at a loss. Fresh eyes?

Myda77 · 04-15-2008, 09:38 PM

My dad is from Jamaica and my mom is from Trinidad, so I can relate to having a traditional rum cake at the wedding. I am getting married in Montego bay, and I was thinking of having one layer of rum and one layer yellow cake, but that rum cake has to make it in there somewhere. Can your relatives in Jamaica recommend someone else? I can't believe the previous baker had the nerve to raise the price to $500! What the heck!

Are you cool with the WC, maybe they can give you a recommendation? If you are using vendors from Jamaica, maybe they can recommend someone? I am not sure about flying a cake down to Jamaica, you would probably have to carry it on the plane yourself, and then how big is it? You may have to have it sent down there, very risky. I haven't even asked about a cake yet because I figured how hard can it be to get a rum cake made in Jamaica. I guess I was wrong. Let me know what the outcome is and if I get any info from the hotel I will be booking, I will pass it on to you.

chicklet · 04-15-2008, 11:14 PM

Maybe there is somewhere in Ochy that sells cakes. Chandyln could go get it for you

Not sure, ask her ..she seems to be pretty accomodating so she may be able to help.

I would love to have chocolate cake..*lol* sounds funny in jamaica but I love chocolate cake :)

JamaicaBride08 · 04-16-2008, 07:29 AM

You can actually have rum in the cake that RIU makes... I asked to confirm that we didn't have rum and Chandlyn said that having rum is definitely an option. This is an option even with the free cake.

JamaicaBride08 · 04-16-2008, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicklet

Maybe there is somewhere in Ochy that sells cakes. Chandyln could go get it for you

Not sure, ask her ..she seems to be pretty accomodating so she may be able to help.

I would love to have chocolate cake..*lol* sounds funny in jamaica but I love chocolate cake :)

Our cake was chocolate with like a whipped cream frosting.... Honestly, the cake wasn't even important to us, and it ended up being one of the best desserts that we had when we were there! Just ask Chandlyn in your meeting!

Kishalee · 04-16-2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myda77

My dad is from Jamaica and my mom is from Trinidad, so I can relate to having a traditional rum cake at the wedding. I am getting married in Montego bay, and I was thinking of having one layer of rum and one layer yellow cake, but that rum cake has to make it in there somewhere. Can your relatives in Jamaica recommend someone else? I can't believe the previous baker had the nerve to raise the price to $500! What the heck!

Are you cool with the WC, maybe they can give you a recommendation? If you are using vendors from Jamaica, maybe they can recommend someone? I am not sure about flying a cake down to Jamaica, you would probably have to carry it on the plane yourself, and then how big is it? You may have to have it sent down there, very risky. I haven't even asked about a cake yet because I figured how hard can it be to get a rum cake made in Jamaica. I guess I was wrong. Let me know what the outcome is and if I get any info from the hotel I will be booking, I will pass it on to you.

I am glad to know that I am not the only one having the same problem.
Who knew that getting rum cake in jamaica would be so hard. It is wierd how folks assume because you "live a 'fareign" you "nuh mus rich". Yeesh.
I think that I am gonna have to email Chandlyn to ask her questions. i was trying to wait until closer to the wedding to start harrassing her, but I guess it is now time to begin to make her nuts.

chicklet · 04-16-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamaicaBride08

Our cake was chocolate with like a whipped cream frosting.... Honestly, the cake wasn't even important to us, and it ended up being one of the best desserts that we had when we were there! Just ask Chandlyn in your meeting!

did you have to ask for that or was it an option you could pick?? Thanks...I didn't think that would even be a consideration.

Kishalee · 04-16-2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamaicaBride08

You can actually have rum in the cake that RIU makes... I asked to confirm that we didn't have rum and Chandlyn said that having rum is definitely an option. This is an option even with the free cake.

hmmm. Really? That would make a lot of sense. I will check into it. Thanks.

JamaicaBride08 · 04-16-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicklet

did you have to ask for that or was it an option you could pick?? Thanks...I didn't think that would even be a consideration.

I would make sure that you specify that you do want rum in your meeting. When I was in planning stages like 6 mths ago, a lot of the brides said to make sure that you specify if you DON'T want rum because otherwise they automatically put it in there. Chandyln asked me if I wanted rum. I prefer to drink my rum :) so I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't in the cake. Good luck!

Becky N · 04-16-2008, 08:23 AM

I know lots of people commenting that Riu adds rum unless you specifically ask for the cake without it.

But I think I also remember a Riu bride (from a while a while ago) saying they talked to Chandlyn to upgrade the cake and she "outsourced" it. So maybe you will have more options if you want more than just the basic. I didn't htink it was too expensive either. I will try to track down the post... but maybe shoot Chandyln an email?