This afternoon I was setting up a cupcake tower for a wedding. I knew the bride wanted a few flowers placed between the cupcakes. The florist was sitting there waiting for me to finish putting the cupcakes on the stand and I just assumed she'd give me the flowers & I'd put them on. WRONG!!!!

She literally started shoving giant roses and other random flowers, that didn't match anything at the reception site, into the stand and into the cupcakes! She was smashing cupcakes left and right! When she finished it looked like a train wreck.

The catering manager is someone I work with a lot and he was aware of the situation, so I'm not worried about anyone thinking it was something I did. I feel terrible for the bride and groom though, I don't know if I should say anything to them or just wait for them to bring it up.

That stinks! At least you have a good relationship with the caterer, and they were aware of this situation. I always inform the brides that no one but me is allowed to touch the cakes for decoration etc...so they can inform MOB, MIL and the florist. I have had to tell someone to step away from the cake! lol. A tip form the CCer's is to always take a photo when you're done.

agree....

I would tell the bride for sure... u don't want them thinking it was you...

your cupcakes=your design (it's assumed)

so I would send an FYI note...

JUSTIN! = just in case lol

that would bug me so bad...
i always make sure to tell the bride that im the only one that touches the cake..
I would love to see what it looked like...
Jodi

Hopefully you got a photo of the tower with the cupcakes BEFORE the train wreck happened??

If so, I would email the bride a photo w/ a note saying something like

"hope you had an amazing day, here is a photo of your cupcake tower after I set up (I realize it was before the flowers, hopefully you'll get some great photos with the flowers on as well).....I hope you enjoyed them. (t was both a pleasure, and an honor to have been a part of your special day!"

You stood there and watched her ruin the cupcakes?

I kind of have something like this coming up soon. the bride ordered the cake from me, however, the florist (someone I have never worked with before) charged the girl $100 to put the flowers on the cake (around the base and diagonally placed on the tiers and on the top). I don't want her to touch my cake. I work with a florist in town and am very familiar with flowers and arranging them) (i've done many weddings on my own, and I am very capable of placing my flowers. I even offered to pick up the flowers for the cake and save her the time, and even to have her leave me the flowers at the venue and I would return the buckets, but she wouldn't have it. the cake is PERFECTLY smoothed BUTTERCREAM and any little blemish will show.

How should I handle this? I have NEVER had anyone so determined to do the flowers on a cake.

I tell all of my brides if any flowers or toppers will be added to give them to me. I personally don't want anyone touching the cake but me. I've never had a bride disagree to my terms. It's stated in my contract and they have no issue signing it. I definitely would have said something when she started shoving the flowers in!

WOW.... I would have been really PO'd. I have a clause in my contract that says any fresh florals must be set up by me, if they dont like it, they have to find someone else. If a florist were to try that they wouldnt get far. You need to stand up for your self. This is a liability and food safety issue. The simple answer is... Step away from the cake or lose your arm....*LOL*

You have a cute website. Your cupcakes sound delicious!

I would have been upset with the florist.

KHalstead, your note would be a nice one to send out.

-Debbie B.

no one touches my cake or puts flowers on it except me. PERIOD. stand your ground. It's even in my contract, and it's listed that I only use MY florist. (had some bad experiences with flower quality with others)

with that said,

send the bride a nice pic and use the great note that was provided from another post. Then make an ammendment to your contract that will stop this from happening to you again. So sorry that she ruined your cupcakes. (they would never have found the body.. if they'd been mine)

I allow florists to put flowers on my cakes (afterall I stink at arranging flowers anyhow).........with that said, I do a couple things.

1. The bride signs a waiver along with her contract stating that I am not responsible for any damage to the contact, any contaminants that may be present on the flowers, or the final "look" of the cake once the flowers are put on, if I'm NOT the one doing them. I cannot be held responsible for any of these factors.


2. I make them initial that they are waiving my offer of arranging up to 25 stems of flowers for FREE

3. I photograph the cake once it's complete (on my end!) and someone at the reception site has to sign off on it, stating that it looks to be what was ordered and looks structurally sound.



Most brides will have me put flowers on once they realize there is no extra charge..........however, for the once that don't want to do that.......I wash my hands of them once they sign the agreement!

OK not to be mean,
but why did you just stand there and let the florist go nuts on the cake??
The moment I saw him ruining the cake I would have yelled him to back away from the cake.

Agreed. I would have watched the first few flowers being shoved in there and then demanded that they stop. Did you feel you couldn't say anything? It's one thing to not like the flowers, but it's a totally different thing if they are actually damaging the product you've contracted with this couple!

I was wondering the same thing...Did you watch them do this and not say anything? You need to stand up for yourself. Women are way too eager to not offend people by speaking up, but if some eejit is ruining your display it's your responsibility to stop them if you're watching it happen. If you left and they did it that's one thing, but were you there when this happened?

I've had people tell me to put wedding cakes on a sloping table, I've had florists say they'll just "stick the flowers into the cake" when I'm done setting it up, I've had people tell me to leave the cake inside and they'll move it down steep stairs in the rain when they're ready to, and my answer to all of them is "no you won't." I then tell them what I need to have them do so that I can set the cake up the right way, and if I think something fishy is going to happen I'll hang around and watch what they're up to. I don't care if I offend anyone, because I have a contract to make the bride happy, not to make them happy. You don't need to be nasty about it, but there's no reason why you should let someone steamroll you.