I did a cake for a couple that got married on Saturday and they requested a cake similar to the Martha Stewart grapevine cake but using their colors (browns, greens, and a hint of burgundy). I realize the cake might not be everyones taste but I didn't think it was UGLY! One of my good friends who I took some of the Wilton courses with told me it was ugly. Tell me honestly what you think... this is only my second real wedding cake. I just don't think it's that bad! The grapes with the maple leaves is a little odd (the bride insisted on using the caramel grapes even though I offered to make some burgundy gumpaste berries) but I don't think it looks bad... it's just a little odd.
What could I have done to make it look better?
Here is the link to the Martha Stewart cake...
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=485cc137bf22f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=grapevine%20cake&rsc=ns2006_m1

She's crazier than a loon!! I'm betting, since you took the class together, that there might be a touch of jealousy. It could honestly just not her style or taste, but that doesnt' make it "ugly".

Proudly put this one in your Portfolio!!

Please tell her I said to shut up.

That is beautiful & It's outstanding!!!

The cake is beautiful. I agree that it must be jealousy. The people I took the classes with were the most jealous women in the world. Again, it's really beautiful.

No kidding! I mean it's not MY style.. but it's not ugly.. The only thing I could suggest is to allow your leaves to dry with some movement to them.. not just flat.. other than that the cake is great!

(edited to fix spelling)

I agree with Indydebi, your so called friend is probably jealous. I think your cake is absolute beautiful. You should be proud.

I think it's very nice!

She's not a very nice friend! I agree with Debi, I bet there's a bit of jealousy going on there. I'm sorry that she said that - you should be VERY proud of yourself! A lot of Martha's cakes are not necessarily my style, including this one, but you did what the bride asked for, and it's lovely. Just because it's not something you'd want, doesn't make it ugly. There's a lot of things out there I don't like, but it doesn't mean they are ugly! Hold your head up high knowing that you did a great job, gave the bride exactly what she wanted, and are talented!

Looks just as good as Martha's if you ask me! Maybe she just didn't like the color combinations, but since she is not the bride that picked the cake, the colors are irrelevant. The cake looks fantastic! I don't think you could have done a thing different. You did what your customer asked you too, and as long as she is happy and you made a cake that you can be proud of, take what she said with a grain of salt. Like another said, maybe she is just jealous.

Wow! I've never seen anything like that! Very beautiful! I think she's nuts...and jealous! Definitely!

The most important question is did the Bride and Groom like it!? She doesn't matter!

Great job! Don't let her bring you down!

I think your cake is wonderful !! I am personally a great fan of "natural" themed cakes and love anything with leave, berries and vines on it. Tell your friend to go pound sand. Indydeb is right, sounds like sour grapes to me....she's just jealous.

I saw this cake before and took a look at it. I thought it was very original and unique. I"m sure that's what the bride was going for. You are right on. It looks just like Martha's. Sorry she hurt your feelings.

That cake is just fine. Better than fine -- it's wonderful! You did a great job on it. I'm very impressed with your talents. I'll share a little secret with you -- once upon a time there was another cake decorator who told me I have no talent, and I was so depressed at the time I believed her! Then my friends ran interference and knocked some sense into me, pointing out that she was just jealous and one actually did a cake by cake comparison of our work to prove the point! Don't let the weanies get you down -- life is too short!

OH yeah! She is NOT your friend if she is telling you something is ugly...forget about her!

Your cake is gorgeous! It's not my choice for a wedding cake, but that's beside the point. Good job!!! I think your friend is jealous too.

Oh my God, I can't believe she told you that cake is ugly. You did a wonderful job; it's metitulously executed and while it's not the cake I would have picked out for myself, you're cake is beautiful! Sounds like your friend is jealous. It's so sad how some people feel so threatened by others that they can't give a compliment when it's deserved. I have sat in several different classes and trip over myself to compliment others. I have an appreciation and admiration for talent and skill and when I see good work, I LOVE admiring it and giving praise the creator. Doing that doesn't take anything away from me. There's room in this world for all of us. I have personally seen other students that rather shoot themselves in the head than compliment someone else. How sad to live your life like that.

yours looks so much like the original design just with the change of color- the couple should have been thrilled with your skill in recreating the design for them! You did an excellent job!

wow this is really nice.....even though it may not be everyones taste....the cake is well done......your friend should be encouraging you....not discouraging you.....don't listen to her....she sounds very much threatened by you!!!!!! great job!!

double post.

I have to throw my 2 cents in as well. You're friend is blinded by jealousy! You did a fabulous job. Chin up.

Thanks for the encouragment everyone... I was beginning to think I had just embarrased myself in front of a reception room full of people with that cake. I haven't heard back from the bride and groom yet which adds to my worries... i'm guessing they are on their honeymoon though.

There is definately some jelousy there though... I'm glad you all could confirm that. Whenever I could do something we were learning in class right away I definately got some attitude from her... she stopped taking the classes with me after the third one. I've also had 5... maybe six (hopefully!) wedding cake orders since the classes and a few of our mutual friends have asked me to do cakes for them not her. I think she's only done one cake since classes... I'm sure that the jelousy is part of it. I just couldn't believe she said it was ugly. I should be clear in that she said I did a pretty good job considering it was such an ugly cake... but to hear that someone thinks your work is ugly is still not very nice.
Thanks for your opinions... I really appreciate it.

I just looked at the Martha cake and yours looks EXACTLY like it. Her leaves have no movement and thus neither do yours. Your friend was crazy when she told you it was ugly. I agree she probably was just envious. You did a great job.

Well I'm very impressed with the cake. I think you delivered exactly what the bride requested. The style is exactly the same as the Martha Stewart cake with the colors the bride wanted. I was just in awe when I compared the side views of the cakes...yours is right on! You did a great job!

Sounds like the green-eyed monster of jealousy to me. I'm betting that no one has asked your "friend" *and I use that term very loosely* to make a wedding cake yet? Hmmm... It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about the cake, as long as the bride and groom are pleased, you have done your job. Everyone's taste and "vision" for their weddings are their own. Some may like it, some may not. I, personally, am all for new and unique designs and you have certainly cornered the market on those two venues! Fantastic job on your cake!!! I would be pleased as punch if it were delivered for my wedding!

Congratulations on a job well done!
Amy

We all have friends like this. Who think its their job to let you know their opinion even when its not asked. I truly believe she is talking about the style and not your work. Your work is fabulous.

Hi Neighbour....I agree with every body else, definately jealousy....
I am doing a wedding cake soon with colors, that aren't really my "cup of tea", but who cares, as long as you do your best and your clients are happy....and my although very little experience tells me that people are just thrilled with most cakes....

I think a little green monster told you it was ugly. It looks like Martha's cake to me. The colours are different but they are what the bride wanted.

You did a lovely job!

Let me just say, I really like your cake! I think the colors are nice, the leaves are well done and the whole thing looks really professional. For the sake of argument, though, maybe you misunderstood your friend. When you clarified and said her words were that you "did a pretty good job considering what an ugly cake it was", it sounded like maybe she meant you did a good job with a design that she thinks is ugly. Meaning that she was really insulting the original Martha Stewart cake. Granted it was still an uncouth, thoughtless thing to say, but maybe she didn't mean it the way you thought. Just an idea to maybe make you feel better!