So, I've been making cakes since I was 18 years old. I started working in a grocery store bakery and from there I just became completely obsessed with baking and decorating. This year has been the greatest year every because I have had the opportunity to make all of my friends' 21st birthday cakes.

When my birthday came around, I only wanted 2 things: 1) for BARACK OBAMA to win the election (got it!) and 2) to have a 3 tier birthday cake. I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like, a three tier cake decorated black and white (to match my dress!) with 3 different colored layers. It took me 12 hours to finish the entire thing and when it was done, I was extremely happy with it! I finished the cake around 8am in the morning and left it on my kitchen table until 8pm that night when I was supposed to bring it to dinner. I had dowled it fairly well so I figured that It would be able to stand the 2 mile car ride to the restaurant. In my rush (I was already an hour late to my own dinner!) I decided to assemble the three layers so that when i got to the restaurant I wouldn't have to put it together in front of everyone...this was probably my main mistake! I placed the entire cake in a box and CAREFULLY brought it downstairs to my car, placed it on the lap of one of my friends and drove about 10 miles an hour to the restaurant. To make a long story short, I placed the box on the dinner table, said a quick prayer that it wasn't knocked over and opened the box to see that my prayer was about 20 minutes too late. THE WHOLE CAKE WAS LEANING TO THE SIDE OF THE BOX! I was absolutely horrified! All my friends stood there and watched me break down into tears...I have done all of their birthday cakes and never once have I dropped or messed one up. Everyone tried to make me feel better but looking at my beautiful cake smushed up against the side of the cardboard box just broke my heart. I went to the bathroom to collect myself and came back out to dinner.

My friends were wonderful and they ate the cake anyway (it tasted great!!!) but I was really upset about it. Reading the stories on this website has made me feel so much better since then...but I will probably shed a few more tears before I'm completely over it lol!! Thanks for letting me vent everyone!

I'm sorry about your cake, but I hope the rest of your birthday was great.
Did you take a pic of the cake before hand? Would love to see it if you did

I bet it was still beautiful.

It is never a good idea for anyone to hold a cake on their lap *Especially* a tiered one.
I'm wondering where you got a box big/tall enough to hold a 3 tier cake!?

so sorry about your day having a glitch. sounds like a good reason to make a whole new one, another pic for portfolio. have everyone over to your house to share it and have a good reason for another party.

That's AWFUL about your cake! I hate it for you. I would have been devastated too! But maybe you can make up for it by having a 21 1/2 birthday party and making another cake!!
I hope your next birthday is much better.
Just a side note, my 21st birthday got ruined. My party had to be cancelled and I ended up just having a very small dinner with 3 of my friends. But my 22nd birthday was much more fun. Maybe it'll be that way for you.

Oh boy, I feel for you! So glad to read that you were able to collect yourself and that your friends got to enjoy your yummy cake. I know this may not mean much to you now, but as you get some time between you and this "cake mistake", I think you'll come to appreciate the fact that this wasn't a cake for someone's wedding or some other event that they paid you big bucks to make.
As a side note (since I believe every disaster is a chance to learn something new), I deliver fully assembled cakes all the time -- next time, try a center dowel driven through all of the layers of the cake (you'll need to tap it in with a hammer). I've never [knocks wood] had a cake layer shift on me using this method.
I'm sure your cake was both yummy and beautiful - and now you have a story to tell when people ask you if you've ever dropped a cake or something
...hope you still had a Happy Birthday!!

Thanks everyone!!! I come on here like all the time and this is making me feel so much better!

**Kakeladi**- I got the box from a UPS store..., It was a 10-8-6 tier cake so it fit perfectly in this 14X14X14 box.