Ok so I just delivered another wedding cake and even pulling up I begin to shake and sweat. The whole process I am second guessing what I did to construct this cake and a nervous wreck. After I get it set up I am looking to see if it's ok and then when I get home it is like I sit here waiting for the phone to ring. This is like my 100th wedding cake and it never gets better- is this normal or am I a nut.
How does one handle the stress?
Thanks Marci
This is the cake- tell me if you think I could improve- the bride requested the scoll work all in the same direction and the c scroll around the monogram.

Looks great!
I don't have anxiety like that I just get nervous that someone will bump the cake but that goes away by the time I get home.

Great job! After I leave teh venue, I really can put it outof my mind. It simply doesn't belong to me any longer.

I am just using dowels and clipping them with cutters- what do you suggest to be the best stacking method?

Maybe you should go shopping or do something fun afterwards--go out to eat. I mean one does tend to run all that through your brain, all the what if's but your job is done when you drop it off.

It's a high stress job though for sure. That's why we should be getting the big bucks for it. Don't try this at home type of thing huh. Except in my case I'd love to work from my home but I digress...that's between me and the freaking zoning commision.

It totally is a high stress level type of job. I think you just need to let it go sooner. It's all in the timing huh.

(((hug)))

I haven't done a wedding cake for anyone but fam yet. But you can't have anxiety when you deliver cakes. You do your best and once you deliver it you are free of the cake. Your cakes are great and you don't need to worry about the look or stucture becuase you have done it so often that it is second nature.
What helps I was told is to practice relaxation techniques. Relax your body completely then say the word relax to yourself several times. Do this everyday if you can. After a few months every time you here the word relax a few times over you will automatically relax. I have a CD that I use to help me relax. Now everytime I say the word relax about 4 times I can feel my body relaxing. It took me about 4-5 months of doing it twice a week to achive this. If you do it more often then it works faster.
Jen...

Your cake is gorgeous! You have absolutely nothing to be nervous about. If anyone would be shaking it would be the bride due to excitement because of your obvious expertise and artistry!

Wonderful job! You're not alone, I get nervous too, and angry when things aren't going according to plan! LOL

Have a great day!

check out leah's thread about the sps. I haven't needed one yet. But evidently it's pretty inexpensive and could help alleviate the anxiety about stability.

HTH

JUDI

Thanks I did read it and it seems like a great idea. Leahs is one of my favorites to read here on CC. Always so positive and helpful but still professional.
One question do you just include the cost of this into every cake? Or do you try to get the money back?
Thanks Marci

Oh boy can I relate to this!! My business partner (and Mom) ended up in the hospital every August like clockwork...overworked and over stressed from trying to do so much and have it all perfect too. I on the other hand then sucked it up (even I was on meds for anxiety for a while) and get the cakes set up and delivered....with kids in the van to boot! I loved this part of the process, but it was one of the most stressful; I think it keeps you on your toes for sure!! But dont let it over rule your life, or like my Mama, you too will end up with ulcers and having to quit cakes all together because of it. I now knowing all this, and at the start of a new endevor will not be taking on large orders because of this; less money but NO MORE STRESS!!!! Good Luck!

Your cake is lovely I like it. And it gets easier. I don't allow it to stress me.

I too used to wait for the phone to ring--I'm glad I'm not the only paranoid one I finally switched to the SPS system, and it has done wonders on my nerves! If the customer is local I ask them to return it as a courtesy, but it is inexpensive enough I don't feel the need to track anyone down.

I stress all the time, I took a 3 tier today and freaked the entire time. I make myself sick over it actually, I would love to be able to pay someone to transport for me , but I don't know if I could give up control . I may be sicker wondering what they are doing with the cake. Anal I know . I thought I was the only one that sat her waiting for the dreaded phone call that I've yet to receive, but in the back of my brain I keep saying one day it's gonna happen, See I told you I'm sick about it.

***CAN RELATE!!!****

I have some cakes where the cake is exactly as I wanted it to be and I don't expect any calls, but I am still nervous driving there, nervous setting it up, nervous nervous nervous. I have some cakes where I wasn't sure it was what the bride wanted and I am more afraid of the phone call the week later, where she is pissed and wants her money back. I have had a couple of cakes where the florist put too many flowers on it or they brought ugly flowers and I was afraid the bride would blame me or the florist would blame me. I am just a nervous person by nature and a perfectionist and I see all the mistakes in every single cake I have done and still haven't learned that the brides don't see the mistakes. So I have no advice! hahaha! Just that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! hahahahaha!

lorimoms..............I'm there too, IT's bad when I can see flaws in a Wilton picture or another one that's been aorbrushed and made to look PERFECT. Sad thing is there is NOT a perfect cake regardless. Mine are far from it, anyway wish there was a pill for it.

This is why I did my last wedding cake yesterday. I get physically ill during the process, can't eat for 2 days, takes a couple days to quit obsessing. I am not enjoying it, my family does not enjoy it, it's over. Showers, birthday,whatever, no more weddings.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, kimkait don't quit your work is beautiful. Take a nerve pill J/K

Your cake is gorgeous. Definitely a "10"! Don't worry so much! You rock!

Once I deliver it, I'm done worrying about it.

I will repeat the warning about dowels though....if you don't already know, check out my post in the disaster forum. I even included photos! Dowels are BAD, BAD, BAD.

I don't stress anymore and the worst thing that can happen to a baker has already happened to me, and recently, too. I had to slam on my brakes while delivering a wedding cake and the four tier cake fell over in the van. Luckily, I always deliver ahead of schedule and had time to take it back and redo it. The bride never knew, and I arrived just in time. It was a fondant covered cake, but I was lucky that it was a very simple design and I had extra cake in the freezer that I substituted for one tier that was completely damaged (I always bake leftover batter and it saved me that time!)

After that experience, I keep a watchful eye on my cakes while I am driving, but I don't stress anymore. I deliver my cakes fully assembled up to five tiers stacked. I get more nervous during the stacking process than I do during the delivery. After awhile, you just don't worry about it anymore and it becomes routine. Once I set up and leave, I am relieved but don't think about it anymore. My work, and worries, are over - and done with - and then I start focusing on the next one!

Oh yes, so can relate! My worst anxiety is in different places though- like with the initial contact (what will I do? can I do it well?) And then again somewhere 1/2 through every cake I want to smash it on the floor and jump on it. It's not good enough. However, I continue on and am usually satisfied to a certain degree when it's finished. I definitely obsess and don't even do wedding cakes. I think maybe one day since that's where the money is, but the stress does make me think twice.
Beautiful cake, btw