Weather And Lack Of Experience Disaster!
Decorating By sweetK Updated 16 Jul 2009 , 9:25pm by EvMarie
Well, Sat. I did a 3 tier wedding cake that was outside on a hilltop overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful sight, except for the fact that the wind was blowing so hard, the tablecloth wouldn't stay on the table no matter how many clips we put on it. We finally got both ends tied down (oblong table) and got the bottom tier set up. I had cut the ribbons previously by measuring around the cake pans and giving it another inch after that. Well, the ribbons were all too short! I couldn't even get them in place because the wind kept blowing them out of my hand. The tape wasn't strong enough, so all I had was yellow tipped pins. So here I am pinning the ribbons into the cake. The daisies that were suppose to be laid around the tiers had to be shoved in the cake so they wouldn't blow away. I cut off several leaves from the daisies and attempted to hide the yellow pin mess in the back. Thank God there was a back! One more thing, as soon as I got the 10" teir out of the box, the box blew into my cake and gouged the cream cheese frosting. It wouldn't have been so bad, but the cake was red velvet! I ended up hiding that spot with a daisy. Lessons learned: Don't cut the ribbon until you get there and make sure to have extra spools on hand. Have on hand small head pins of no color. Think carefully before you agree to do a wedding cake on a cliff overlooking the ocean! I told her I was an amateur and didn't charge hardly anything for this cake. I still feel bad. It ended up looking pretty good from the front and the mom of the bride and the photographer said it was beautiful. I think I am not going to do wedding cakes until I get more experience!
I'm sorry this was a bad experience for you....can I ask a question? Why didn't you already have the ribbon on before you set up? I usually deliver all my tiers already stacked (especially if only 3 tiers) and do 95% of the labor at home, so I don't have to mess with it on site. I know others do it differently (whatever works for you), but maybe if you had put the ribbons on at home, they would have been adhered better and not blown away? Please post a pic; it sounds lovely
Please don't let this stop you doing wedding cakes.
I think one of the most annoying truisms in life is that we learn so much more from things going wrong than things going right!
Most irritating at the time of problem but it really is true & seems to apply specially to cake decorating!
Your cake was obviously admired & I would also love to see a photo of it, please.
Good luck with your future cakes!
Thanks for the replies. I didn't put the ribbon on the top 2 cakes at home because the cakes were made of cream cheese buttercream. I needed to place them on there to make sure the frosting on the bottom of the cakes all blended evenly and I could smooth out the layers. Also, I like to protect the cakes in the boxes if they are buttercream to make sure no dirt or hair gets blown into them on route. I have tried the saran wrap thing but, I am not comfortable with it. Fondant is another story. Fondant cakes I set up the first 2 cakes at home and then just put the top on when I get there. I will post a picture as soon as my kids can help me with it! LOL!
I know that the conditions were very poor, but for future reference, pins and flowers should NEVER, EVER be stuck directly into cake.
Flowers can be grown using presticides that remain in the stems and a pin can be missed during hurried disassembling and cutting--both could result in a severe problem for someone eating the cake.
Hope things go better next time.
Rae
Hi Rae! thanks for your good advice regarding flowers and pins. Initially, the bride was suppose to get the real flowers to me and I mailed her the non-poisonous list and told her the ends had to be wrapped in floral tape before they went on the cake. She didn't want to mess with it so I bought fake flowers to match her bouquet and had them ready for the cake. As far as the pins, I used large head quilting pins in another color than the ribbon so they could see them and make sure they got out. I usually use tape, but it wouldn't stay as I mentioned. I never thought of the cake server missing any. What do you do to get the ribbons around the cake to stay in place? Thanks again for your help.
Glad that what I said was helpful.
For adhering ribbon to itself, a dab of colored royal icing can work, a piece of double sided tape, or a glue dot (found in the scrapbooking supplies).
As for flowers, or anything else that gets stuck in cakes (short of dowels or uncooked spaghetti), even if wrapped in tape, it really should be shielded from directly touching what people will eat. For thin "stemmed" things, I insert them in coffee stirrers. For larger stemmed things, I use straws, usually a color that will easily be seen once the item is removed.
I just don't ever want someone to say that they didn't "see" something that isn't to be eaten. I also never use toothpicks, for the very same reasons.
Rae
all i can say is , Your brave for even trying the Cream cheese icing at the beach, i just turned one down cause of all the crap that was going on any ways, you learn by mistakes , Chin up keep on caking
all i can say is , Your brave for even trying the Cream cheese icing at the beach, i just turned one down cause of all the crap that was going on any ways, you learn by mistakes , Chin up keep on caking
all i can say is , Your brave for even trying the Cream cheese icing at the beach, i just turned one down cause of all the crap that was going on any ways, you learn by mistakes , Chin up keep on caking
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Hello everybody and thank you for your replies and advice. Here I am trying to get the leaves to hide the mess in back. Enjoy the view of Southern California. The cake is under a tree because it was the only shady spot at the reception. The bride didn't want to pay for a canopy. At least the cream cheese was crusting, so the tree needles and dirt only had to be brushed away. I did this cake and two half sheets filled with chocolate fudge filling for $250. Do you think the bride got a bargain?
Glad that what I said was helpful.
As for flowers, or anything else that gets stuck in cakes (short of dowels or uncooked spaghetti), even if wrapped in tape, it really should be shielded from directly touching what people will eat. For thin "stemmed" things, I insert them in coffee stirrers. For larger stemmed things, I use straws, usually a color that will easily be seen once the item is removed.
I just don't ever want someone to say that they didn't "see" something that isn't to be eaten. I also never use toothpicks, for the very same reasons.
Rae
Great information. I'll be trying that. As for this cake...it's beautiful and along with two sheetcakes, yes, the bride did get a steal. great job.
Glad that what I said was helpful.
As for flowers, or anything else that gets stuck in cakes (short of dowels or uncooked spaghetti), even if wrapped in tape, it really should be shielded from directly touching what people will eat. For thin "stemmed" things, I insert them in coffee stirrers. For larger stemmed things, I use straws, usually a color that will easily be seen once the item is removed.
I just don't ever want someone to say that they didn't "see" something that isn't to be eaten. I also never use toothpicks, for the very same reasons.
Rae
Great information. I'll be trying that. As for this cake...it's beautiful and along with two sheetcakes, yes, the bride did get a steal. great job.
Glad that what I said was helpful.
As for flowers, or anything else that gets stuck in cakes (short of dowels or uncooked spaghetti), even if wrapped in tape, it really should be shielded from directly touching what people will eat. For thin "stemmed" things, I insert them in coffee stirrers. For larger stemmed things, I use straws, usually a color that will easily be seen once the item is removed.
I just don't ever want someone to say that they didn't "see" something that isn't to be eaten. I also never use toothpicks, for the very same reasons.
Rae
Great information. I'll be trying that. As for this cake...it's beautiful and along with two sheetcakes, yes, the bride did get a steal. great job.
Glad that what I said was helpful.
As for flowers, or anything else that gets stuck in cakes (short of dowels or uncooked spaghetti), even if wrapped in tape, it really should be shielded from directly touching what people will eat. For thin "stemmed" things, I insert them in coffee stirrers. For larger stemmed things, I use straws, usually a color that will easily be seen once the item is removed.
I just don't ever want someone to say that they didn't "see" something that isn't to be eaten. I also never use toothpicks, for the very same reasons.
Rae
Great information. I'll be trying that. As for this cake...it's beautiful and along with two sheetcakes, yes, the bride did get a steal. great job.
No worries my friend! We definitely learn more by doing! You can only plan so long and think things out so much. I have been sampling my booty off to get some of my ideas on my website. I'm moving onto wedding cakes.
I'm going to make a few. Take a pic, disassemble and take to places who will enjoy sampling. Oh...and I will be sure to include a pic of the end result and of course business cards. That way, I get some confidence and hopefully run into some issues so I can get better at working through the problems.
I think the cake looked great!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%