Ok guys, here's the short version of the story. I am doing a wedding cake for a friend's son's wedding. The bride and groom came over a couple weeks ago to talk about design and we picked out something great! The bride's theme is "fairy garden" so we chose kind of a creeping cherry blossom style with blossoms and gelatin butterflies that match her colors. So, we figure out a design and they leave. A week later, I talk to my friend and she pulls out her camera and shows me the cake topper (which the bride's mother made) - I thought I was going to have a heart attack!!! I have them bring the topper over so I can see it and take pics as well. I am not joking when I say I have never seen such a horrible topper. I showed it to a friend of mine and her comment was "The 80s called and they want their topper back!!" I would attach the pic of the topper but thanks to my husband - I can't get it off the camera...

So, here is my problem... The topper is so bad that I don't think it would look good on any cake except one that has fallen on the floor and been stepped on. The design we decided on is kind of a busy design and with that topper - I think it is going to look horrible. I have been thinking about calling the bride and telling her that we need to change the design so the cake won't be so busy - but I don't think anything will look good with this topper.

So, should I call the bride and change things or leave it how it is and hope people realize the cake is beautiful and the topper is ugly? I am just really getting started with my decorating and I will know 90% of the people at the wedding - my reputation is really on the line here.

HELP!!!!!! Thanks

OMG! I feel your pain! On one hand, you want to honor the bride's wishes, afterall, this is her big day. On the other hand, our cakes to many of us, are very personal, very special. If you have to put hours of artistry and love into a cake, why would you want to let the "final touch" ruin the whole thing! I really want to see a pic of this thing! I keep getting a mental picture of a guy's hat I saw at work today that had some sort of dead animal sewn into the top of the hat...it was honestly disturbing. For some reason, I keep picturing a beautiful cake with this hat on top of it! Good luck!

She probably likes the topper if she picked it out. Just do your best to make it look nice.

Has the bride seen the topper? Does she know her mother made a topper?

IMO if they both know about the topper and they are ok with it, even though it's the most horrendous thing you've ever seen (man, a picture would really help now), if they still are happy with it, just let it be.

Just make sure that people at the wedding will know it's NOT your work. Let the MOB take the "glory".

JMHO

My parents-in-law gave us our wedding cake as a gift, and the decorator used huge gold tinsel on the top instead of the burgundy ribbon bow requested. Awful! I got in lots of trouble for replacing it with something slightly less hideous.

Maybe the bride would love you to tell her mother that the topper just won't work so it doesn't come from her. Find out if the bride is happy with it. She might be able to place it beside the cake instead.

My parents-in-law gave us our wedding cake as a gift, and the decorator used huge gold tinsel on the top instead of the burgundy ribbon bow requested. Awful! I got in lots of trouble for replacing it with something slightly less hideous.

Maybe the bride would love you to tell her mother that the topper just won't work so it doesn't come from her. Find out if the bride is happy with it. She might be able to place it beside the cake instead.

I am so sorry!!! I feel your pain! There are soooo many ugly toppers!! Here is what I do when I don't like the topper. I take a picture of the cake BEFORE I put the topper on. I do it after as well, if anyone is watching but of course delete it later,lol. One Bride... I kid you not.... actually bought a cake topper at walmart and PAINTED their hair to match her and her groom.... TACKY!!! Good luck with this one!!!

Just cover the topper with flowers. That way it will still be there but not visible.

oh, that is so icky! i can understand. i am doing my first wedding cake next month (with my mom's help) and the topper they have picked out is just too big for the cake they want. but, it is the one she has her heart set on, so i am going to make it work, somehow! i will make sure i have pre topper pics as well as post topper.

I would sit down with the bride and let her know your concerns about the cake being too busy with the addition of this topper. Make sure she understands that the final decision is hers, but you wanted to share your concerns.
Maybe she has a topper that she likes and a cake that she likes and hasn't really visualized the two together.

Thank you so much for your sympathy and thoughts. I think I am going to go with what we decided and let the topper speak for itself. There is no way I am talking with the MOB. The groom wanted his grandmother to play the piano at the wedding and the MOB said no because she didn't think the grandma was good enough. Crazy lady.

Here is a pic of the topper. Just so you know, it looks worse in real life - much worse.

Oh my gosh...you were right! Take a pic of the cake BEFORE you put the topper on.

OMG!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That is so dog gone awful, you'd be crazy to put that on a cake. lol That is unless it's for the mother-in-law. lol

I will take a picture of it before and after and post them both so everyone can see it... LOL... If I just have 5 minutes with it.... Thanks ladies

Grandma's not good enough to play the piano, but this topper is perfect for the cake? Ummm...I think I'd rather see grandma on top of the cake.

WOW THAT IS ONE UGLY TOPPER!
Geeze and the MOB is worried grandma is not good enough to play at the wedding I hope some one tells her that her topper is not good enough for anyones eye sight!

If you have the time, could you make a sample more appropriate topper for the cake and do what was recommended earlier: let her know you think the cake is too busy for the topper and that style cake usually works better with something like this and send her the pic of what you think looks best . If they want to use what mom made set it next to the cake or guest book or anywhere but on the cake. I don't envy you. I'm getting married in September and everyone wants to " help" which is rarely helpful. Good luck

Ladies - you have made my day!! I have been stressing about this! Thanks for the release!

Bunsen - I have a dear friend in Sydney - nice to have an Aussie in the bunch

alright, little white lie for you,

Call MIL say, oh my goodness, I just read an article that some of the silk flowers are containing a dye or film that is causing people to get sick, is there any way we can remove the flowers and I can make or decorate with sugar art.


Simple, could be true (probably will be true in 5 months or something) and you get out of the hidious topper and the bride gets an awesome cake!

Good luck - hope it works for you!

OMG are those angel wings on the bride & groom?? Ughhh I am so sorry you are going to have to put this on your beautiful cake. Definitely take before pics for yourself!

[quote="Bunsen"]

ROFLMAO

And the groom is carrying a bouquet of red flowers, in addition to his set of wings??? Don't think the groom is going to like it either!

LOL! tallgood, I totally had to go back and look at the pic again! I cannot believe the groom has a bouquet too! WTH?

WOW!!! lol...I almost fell off my chair laughing when I saw the wings...lol I wouldn't want to use that topper either. Can't wait to see the final product... Good Luck!

O.M.G. There are no words. Eek.

Don't forget the ruffles on the grooms sleeves, and the bright Hot Pink butterfly on the very top, it clashes wonderfully with the yellow greenish centers of the daises, and the bright white shiny pearls & leaves. Did she raid the clearance isle to put all this together??

I agree with K8 .. add a little lily of the valley to their ears & Voila perfection LOL