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" Wedding cake fell apart!!! I'm sick!!!" - Page 2

post #16 of 63
6/15/08 at 4:27pm
I'm so sorry that happened to you! The cake was just absolutely gorgeous and the sheet cake was too! Thank goodness you had already decorated the sheet cake to match - wow - what a lifesaver then. It looks like they could have probably salvaged several pieces from the ruined tiers as well (or did you say they fell on the floor?) -- I'm just wondering about them having enough servings... and I always wonder what I would do if (when icon_rolleyes.gif ) that happened to me...

Hope all goes well with your bride and the refund.
"Cleaning the house while your children are growing is like shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing." -- Phyllis Dillar
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"Cleaning the house while your children are growing is like shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing." -- Phyllis Dillar
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post #17 of 63
6/15/08 at 6:12pm
The cake was beautiful, I can't believe you only charged $140 for the tiered cake!

I have to second the SPS system. I deliver 3 tier cakes stacked all the time. If it's larger than that it gets pretty heavy for my husband to carry for a distance and I put the other tiers on at the venue.
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post #18 of 63
6/15/08 at 6:37pm
I'm so sorry that happened to you!!! My stomach is in knots just looking at the pictures. That cake was absolutely beautiful!!!!

The SPS system is fantastic.

Go have a drink and maybe a valium (I'm only kidding)
Kathy
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Kathy
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post #19 of 63
6/15/08 at 6:56pm
Thread Starter 
I tried calling the bride today but she wasn't in they leave for their honeymoon on Friday and are tying up some things before going, I was told I could probably reach her back on Tuesday so I'll be trying to call again then I guess to personally apologize...they were still getting married when I left the venue and I wasn't dressed appropriately to be in attendance so I just left once I finished everything. I think they were probably able to serve most of the cake regardless of the damage, I even scored it for them since it was already demolished! They probably lost about 10 servings (lost meaning they weren't fully in tact, but definitely still servable, just not perfectlly clean edged cut pieces, some were irregularly shaped). Hopefully I haven't scarred this bride for life!! Or my business...man I'm not even FULLY in business yet and I may already be dead in the water!
God's Word will either keep you from sin;
or sin will keep you from God's Word.
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God's Word will either keep you from sin;
or sin will keep you from God's Word.
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post #20 of 63
6/15/08 at 7:40pm
I think I can speak for all cake decorators out there when I say I cringe everytime I read one of these stories. Sorry for your stress. Have you tried the Wilton dowels yet? I used to use wooden dowels, then I read Rose Levy Berenbaum's book "The Cake Bible" in which she describes the science behind using a hollow support system like a straw. That way, the cake doesn't get displaced as a dowel would. I started using Wilton's dowels which are white plastic tubes and they really work great. I cut them to size with a serrated knife. Then make sure they're all the same height for each cake. Next, I take a piece of heavy-duty sandpaper and sand down each end to make sure they're level. Finally I wash and dry them to remove any residue. I also use foamcore as seperators (which is very supportive) and finally after stacking everything...I drive a sharpened wooden dowel through everything with a hammer. Its super easy and I don't fear driving with it fully stacked. Never had a problem with this method.
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post #21 of 63
6/15/08 at 7:59pm
I feel for you. I bake for family and friends free. But I do have the Stress Free Support Sytem and have transported 3 heavy tiers with it up and down hills. Before I got the system I used RJB'S method with the straws and never ever had a problem. If you go the Stress Free site and see how it works it's hard to imagine anything displacing.They are expensive and you would have to get a hefty deposit for them.
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post #22 of 63
6/15/08 at 8:17pm
i am just curious.... i am seeing a 4 tier cake.... looks like the tiers are at least 6" high... so i might be confused...... did you drive a wooden dowel down through the center of these cakes to travel with it already stacked..... the WILTON dowels i know about are 12" long.... so what kind of wooden dowel did you use to drive down through the center of these 4 tiers... as all others have said... i am so sorry this happened.... your cakes are beautiful..... some people use 2 wooden dowels down center also... i do think you should have gotten paid something.... you worked so hard on this cake as it shows...
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post #23 of 63
6/15/08 at 8:52pm
icer101, you can purchase dowels that are about 2 feet in length @ micheals, home depot and Wal-mart. that's probably what stlcakelady used for her center dowel.
KHalstead, that cake was beautiful! I think it's great an very professional of you to offer a complete refund ( not 250.00). If the couple has the same amount of courtesy, thy'll offer to pay you something for your efforts and for being able to serve all the guests even though they did not have the showpiece they orded. I think you did a great job with what you had left to work with too, by the way.
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post #24 of 63
6/15/08 at 9:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by icer101

i am just curious.... i am seeing a 4 tier cake.... looks like the tiers are at least 6" high... so i might be confused...... did you drive a wooden dowel down through the center of these cakes to travel with it already stacked..... the WILTON dowels i know about are 12" long.... so what kind of wooden dowel did you use to drive down through the center of these 4 tiers... as all others have said... i am so sorry this happened.... your cakes are beautiful..... some people use 2 wooden dowels down center also... i do think you should have gotten paid something.... you worked so hard on this cake as it shows...



Yes, the cake was 4 tiers high, each tier was probably a little over 4 inches tall. I used the wilton dowels, but what I did was stacked 3 of the cakes, drove in one dowel all the way down to the bottom cake board, it was maybe an inch shy of reaching the bottom when I was hammering it in, so I took another dowel and stuck it on top of the first dowel and continued to hammer down that extra inch or so til it hit bottom, then slowly pulled the dowel back up that I was using to set the first dowel (hope that makes sense), then I put the fourth and final cake on top which was only a 4 inch round and then put a second dowel, slightly off centered through that cake and all the way down til I couldn't see it anymore, I am sure it went at least down through the top 3 tiers. So I felt pretty confident that cake wasn't going anywhere. the photo was actually taken minutes before I delivered the cake (in the cardboard box I was delivering it in lol) I had every intention of getting a more "professional" looking photo once the cake was in the wedding environment, too bad that never happened. I am offering a FULL refund $203.50 to be exact, plus I am remaking the top tier so they can save it for their anniversary and also offering a 20% off coupon on their next order! Hopefully that will help alleviate some of the heartache of not having a wedding cake on their special day. I feel just awefull!!
God's Word will either keep you from sin;
or sin will keep you from God's Word.
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God's Word will either keep you from sin;
or sin will keep you from God's Word.
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post #25 of 63
6/15/08 at 9:20pm
Oh wow, what a disaster icon_sad.gif I feel so bad for you! DH just walked by and asked me what was wrong 'cause I was grimacing and saying 'oh no!' as I was reading your post!
I've always assembled wedding cakes on site, I'm not that experienced and am way too freaked out to even attempt to deliver them already stacked.
The cake was sooo beautiful too, I'm so sorry this happened! I looked at your website also and you do beautiful work!
www.freewebs.com/melissascakes
http://www.shopteacher.org/
http://www.mycoolschool.ca/
http://tcarsondesigns.com/
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www.freewebs.com/melissascakes
http://www.shopteacher.org/
http://www.mycoolschool.ca/
http://tcarsondesigns.com/
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post #26 of 63
6/16/08 at 12:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KHalstead

can you deliver them fully stacked???? with the sps?? I really am considering it now! Where do I get it??? They're cheap?? I thought they were really pricey!! I need it.....oh how I need it!!



I order mine from www.caljavaonline.com and they are very cheap and they ship fast.
FTP!
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FTP!
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post #27 of 63
6/16/08 at 5:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by roxxxy_luvs_duff

Quote:
Originally Posted by KHalstead

can you deliver them fully stacked???? with the sps?? I really am considering it now! Where do I get it??? They're cheap?? I thought they were really pricey!! I need it.....oh how I need it!!



I order mine from www.caljavaonline.com and they are very cheap and they ship fast.



Maybe I'm missing something....all I saw was Coast products,not SPS? Similiar concept, but different product. Coast doesn't appear to have the peg in the middle of the plate to hold the tier in place, and I didn't see the 4" legs that SPS has so the legs would still have to be cut.
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post #28 of 63
6/16/08 at 5:39am
I use the SFS and I REQUIRE it on all wedding cakes. Thee pay a $130 deposit and get a full refund when they return all pieces. I call it our insurance policy. I LOVE< LOVE< LOVE the SFS.

And still, I only stack2 tiers and assemble the rest there. i do know someone in GA, Jenn something I think stacks hers all the way with it and then delivers.

Sorry this happened, I know the feeling and it stinks>

jULIA
www.sweetjulias.com
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www.sweetjulias.com
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post #29 of 63
6/16/08 at 5:58am
First off AWESOME CAKE. I just love your design.


We have to make mistakes to learn sometimes. Now you know what not to do.
Happy Baking,

Twin Dees

"Good cakes aren't cheap,
Cheap cakes aren't good" (TM)

I am a very proud Mom of Nia , Jada, & D.J.
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Happy Baking,

Twin Dees

"Good cakes aren't cheap,
Cheap cakes aren't good" (TM)

I am a very proud Mom of Nia , Jada, & D.J.
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post #30 of 63
6/16/08 at 6:14am
Your cake was beautiful! I wish my piping looked like yours! You made a sheet cake look classy!

Last year (actually their anniversary is this weekend), I delivered a huge, very detailed cake to the largest venue in our town. A very well known florist was also there finishing up the decorating at the same time. I also was using wooden dowels. I had the whole cake put together, the borders finished, and everything (all set up at the venue) when I noticed a small crack on the side of the next-to-the-bottom layer. I too filled it in with some icing thinking it was no big deal. I went to speak with the caterer, came back, and the crack was huge and the tiers were getting ready to slide off! Luckily DH was with me and helped take the cake apart, remove the tier, and put it all back together. It was devastating.

The bride was one of my sister's best friends and was super cool about it, but I still feel horrible to this day.

That night I went home and ordered the SPS system and have sworn by it ever since!! Do you have a sales tax ##? If so, you can just order directly from Bakery Crafts.
Chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side!!!
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Chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side!!!
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