I agree with everything chas said. Chocolate sheet cake, decorated by hand with an outline of the world.... or have an edible print made!

Re logistics: You can rent a small bus for the out of towners. If you want to save money and they're not the type to quibble, you can get a schoolbus for not much outside of school hours if there's a private company. Corporate shuttles are the most comfortable. There are also party buses and stretches, but they tend to run the most. Chas is right that licensed drivers should be able to drive here, but providing transport is hospitable, and saves them from finding their way in the dark (though GPS helps), and having to worry about who can drink what when. You might be able to get a deal that would also shuttle them to other locations during their stay.

Re the cake, are you planning on having a groom's cake? If so, are the British traditions different there? I seem to remember something about fruitcake?

Since often there's a show cake to cut and a sheet cake to serve, why not let the baker choose? Give her all the information you've accumulated and ask her how she wants to proceed, since this is her gift.

Congratulations!

Stop.

Take a deep breath.

One decision at a time.

You will get through this.

Don't let yourself get so stressed that you don't take time to enjoy this most exciting time.

You've got a year.

Start with the venue...that is the longest lead-time item on the list.

Get a wedding planner checklist...free on line or look in etiquette books and make lists so you can add and subtract things as you go.

Re the cake, last wedding I went to, they had a small wedding cake for the bride and groom to cut and had a sundae bar for all the guests and handed out cake pops as part of the parting gifts.

Re ideas for global, the colors in the Olympic flag are there because you can make every flag of every country out of the colors in the rings. Perhaps that will spark some thought on a global cake.

Ugh! Where is my response? I typed one more than an hour ago. If I can't do this right, oh dear!

I will breathe deep and try to be organized.

We have been to a few venues, actually have skyped from some with the b&g, which is helpful, no decisions. As for the groom's family driving while here, chas, only his mom has a drivers license, and she says she will not drive in the US again …too terrifying! No one else, not even the groom or his dad, drives or has a license. Not necessary in London, I guess. Since all our other kids and their families are not local, either, maybe a big bus would be fun for all of us! I will look into that.

A Show Cake and sundaes. Yes! I don't know what a Groom's cake is, plllog, so don't know if we'll have one. Once venue and colors are chosen, things may fall into place.

I didn't know that about the Olympic flag, Annie. Thanks.

Partymusic. Hmmm. What kind of party music does your name suggest? Sounds very happy! BTW, husband wants to hire mariachis for an hour at the beginning of the reception!

I like centering Australia on the cake. Makes so much sense. They loved it there, but didn't meet each other until about a month before they each left for separate continents, so I guess it is a match made in …Australia!

Thank you, everyone. I'm breathing deep!

Sheesh

Mariachis were originally wedding bands, hence the name. :) Sounds appropriate, and fun whether they're part of your cultural background or not!

Groom's cakes are done differently in different places. In the U.S., especially in the South, they tend to be the "fun" cakes, whereas the bride's cake is the elegant one. The reason I asked is that chocolate with a story on it sounds like a typical American groom's cake, so if you were going with two cakes it would make sense to do it that way. Since you haven't heard of it and the couple didn't bring it up, however, there's no need to add it to your stress!

We rented a tourbus for our wedding party as many of them worked nights, were stressed out, were just known bad drivers. It cost us $1k for a full 8 hours of driving around, but it came iwth a professional driver who pre-checked the entire route before, and treated us like royalty.
Air conditioning, couches, table, microwave and fridge, sound system...it was perfect! Even my husband agreed it was money well spent.
You dont have to go as fancy as we did - but definitely consider the bus idea!

I agree about the bus. Here something called a "party bus" is very popular and can be rented by the hour. I think it's a very good idea.

As for the cake, I'd second the idea of asking the baker. I'm strictly amateur, but have baked several wedding cakes including my own, two for nephews, both of my daughters' cakes, my step-daughters' cake. I found that sometimes I was capable of more than they thought, sometimes less, but professional bakers also know about techniques and products, so your baker may have some very good ideas too.

Food? My husband and I have, on our own without the help of a caterer, done an appetizer reception for 600, all the Italian food for my youngest daughter's wedding with 350 guests, a pig roast and full meal for 300 for my oldest daughter. I'd get a guest list and hire a caterer!

Dress and colors are your daughter's choice, and invitations too, although you very well may be stuck with the guest list and addressing/assembling/mailing. If you are, I'm sorry. (grin)

Good luck, and congratulations!

Annie

Here in Texas, it is common to have a groom's cake and I'd bet 9 times out of 10 it is chocolate sheet or sometimes a sculpted cake reflecting a hobby, profession or such while the "bride's cake" is most commonly a traditional tiered white cake, updated tiered, cupcake tower -- sometimes a carrot, spice or fruit cake with white or pastel tinted icing. If white cake is used, it is common to use a lemon, strawberry or raspberry filling between the layers.

My first thought would be to do a tiered cake with piped icing designs that reflect Australia, England and, possibly, the US. Might depend on your friend's artistry and willingness to explore and play with some ideas, but it could be as simple as taking the Union Jack and piping the crossing lines and stars in different variations on the different tiers. The shape of the Sydney Opera House, boomerangs, Aboriginal designs, crowns, roses, tea cups -- whatever it was that had them both in Australia might be a theme, but playing with that inspirations in an understated way that creates an updated and personal, but still elegant and traditional cake.

You can also use fruits, nuts and flowers that are traditional in the different countries -- Let making things special be fun, not a burden. With a year, your venue is probably the only pressing matter, and even that will depend somewhat on how flexible you are on timing (I've had to book some banquet halls near popular wedding times. Focus on that and everything else will fall in line, I enjoyed planning my wedding with mom. Not being able to do the same with a daughter of my own is one of the things I will miss most in having only sons. Enjoy it.