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My first cake disaster... please help my tears slow down..

post #1 of 30
6/18/10 at 7:06pm
Thread Starter 
The cake was simple. Two tiers, ganache drip and real roses... the problem - whipped cream filling on a hot day...

It was so pretty (although I put too much ganache icon_wink.gif ) They didn't have room in their frig (wedding at home) and didn't have A/C... I came back to collect the balance and she called to say the cake was cracked and the back was falling... icon_eek.gif I saw it was leaning before but I thought she was exageratting... sure enough I ruined a brides dream cake with my ambition of three layers of strawberries and whipped cream... Of course I'd mentioned before it needed to be cold and I would need space in the frig but I didn't ask when I got there as the kitchen was busy with food prep for the guests. Besides, I wasn't about to throw that in her face on her wedding day.

She was upset and I regretfully had to ask for at least half of my balance for my time and ingrediants... not to mention the roses I'd just paid for... needless to say I lost money...

To save it I went to the grocery store and purchased another similar but plain and had my husband drive like a maniac to my location with my ganache to recreate the drip on the bought cake... Her family was very critical and unforgiving... what's more it is the sister of a coworker....

I'm so glad I have a place to go where people will understand me... Thanks for listening. I feel better already..
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post #2 of 30
6/18/10 at 7:21pm
My deepest condolences, cake and fillings are fickle mistresses. Add humidity and uncooperative customers and it is really a miracle that we can force sugar and flour into impossible towers of artistry.

I know it's difficult but don't be too hard on yourself, at least you aren't spilling millions of gallons of oil into the gulf.

Perfect cake blessing for your future.
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post #3 of 30
6/18/10 at 7:22pm
I'm so-o sorry ((((hugs))))
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post #4 of 30
6/18/10 at 7:28pm
Ya know, I have been a bride. I am pretty spoiled. But I can tell you, big fat honking wedding or not, I could never ever be a part of making someone cry, knowing that someone put as much time and effort into something for me as you obviously did for that person. Things happen. It was a friggin' cake. I am so so so sorry for your pain and it makes me angry at people I don't even know for acting like that over CAKE!
He's still got the whole world in His hands.
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He's still got the whole world in His hands.
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post #5 of 30
6/18/10 at 7:33pm
I'm so sorry you had to deal with that! You did tell her it needed to be kept cold, and you did buy the replacement cake, and you bought the roses, (I have my customers order their own flowers)! You are out time and ingredients plus the cost of a grocery store cake and you and your husband's gas for transportation! The family should have been a bit more forgiving seeing as they failed to keep it cold as you requested. This is where a contract would come in handy... even if it is just a list of rules on set up, maintenance, transportation, etc. You told them the cake needed to be cold, they did not listen, seems like you handled it with as much grace as possible. I am sorry the sister is a co-worker! Best of Luck to you in the future and may you have understanding customers!

oh yes, make sure you have the customer read AND SIGN below all the rules, etc.!
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post #6 of 30
6/18/10 at 7:33pm
Hang in there!
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post #7 of 30
6/18/10 at 7:37pm
I'm so sorry. That must have been a terribly uncomfortable situation. My great aunt always says that "this too shall pass." Try to put it behind you. It's not your fault that the cake melted. They should have known better than to have a cake like that left out. Something about the laws of physics. Not even a wedding can keep things from melting in the heat.
AKA- Frostine on my blog
That Really Frosts Me.com
Cake decorating and other sweet adventures.
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AKA- Frostine on my blog
That Really Frosts Me.com
Cake decorating and other sweet adventures.
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post #8 of 30
6/18/10 at 7:51pm
sending huge cyber hugs your way... HUGS !!! for now...

later you will get the lecture on contracts and making the bride pay for the flowers.. but that is later..

right now you are getting more hugs.. and a tissue..your nose is dripping. icon_wink.gificon_smile.gif hugs dear.
laughter isn't the best medicine. It's the cure.
Grabbing my bowl of faux-'nache and running from the ganache police!!
link to Jello MMF recipe: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6934662-.html#6934662
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laughter isn't the best medicine. It's the cure.
Grabbing my bowl of faux-'nache and running from the ganache police!!
link to Jello MMF recipe: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6934662-.html#6934662
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post #9 of 30
6/18/10 at 8:04pm
I am sorry this happened to your cake. I have at the bottom of my contract "No refunds after delivery", I tell my customers, "you have to eat it"! Then I give them my evil smile!

Don't hold yourself responsible because they didn't have A/C or room to keep it cool. I have people who were told the cake needs shade and or air conditioning, put my cakes in the full sun on the beach. And I say, Good luck as I drive away!

You are blessed to have the talent to make something that makes other people happy. They just didn't happen to be happy people.

I know it is hard to let it go. You are not perfect. No one is!

Now take a nap, drink some tea or what ever relaxes you and dry up those tears. Some day you will look back on that cake and laugh about the strawberries trying to escape the whipped cream and the ganache! I am sure it was YUMMY!
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post #10 of 30
6/18/10 at 10:30pm
YOU didn't ruin a thing. THEY did.
This kind of stuff ticks me off. They were told, they decided (with all their vast experience-NOT!) that they knew more than you.
When it all goes to he**, YOU get crap for it?
It ain't right. It just ain't right.

I watched a fool place an unboxed sheet cake (too big for a box with all the decos on it) on his wife's lap last weekend. He didn't even get it all the way in the truck before he bashed the corner of it against the dash. I did a 20 second fix on it, wished them luck, and walked away. I told them, in writing, days before how to transport it.

It's not our doing, but it turns into our heartache, doesn't it?
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post #11 of 30
6/19/10 at 5:19am
Thread Starter 
icon_biggrin.gif Thank you all so much... It really means a lot <3 Love to all of you!!!

I tried to post a pic but it didn't send from my phone and I will try again tonight... I have to work a double at my job.. with the clients sister.. icon_redface.gif sigh..

On a good note... a margarita and watching 'The Hangover' helped...

Yes, this too shall pass thumbs_up.gif Its just for now that I will have to hide the lump in my throat.

Like I told my daughter to say when she gets a boo-boo... I'm OK!!! thumbs_up.gif
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post #12 of 30
6/19/10 at 5:44am
Am so sorry you had such a bad time..
I was going to say a bottle of wine helps :0) but you have that covered w/the margarita!
After the pain wears off look at it from different eyes & see where you can improve for the future... I have to look at it from the businesss stand point of what can I do differently. I had a similar thing happen once & was just lucky the Bride & Groom were too drunk to notice the icing falling off!!
From that point on I have a pre-printed lable that I make saying "this cake needs to be refrigerated" I put it on the corner of the board so that anyone can see it. I also developed a signature form that list all the instructions for the cake & it has to be signed before I leave. I give one copy to them & one is for me :0)
It will all be ok, you did the right things, & you will laugh about it in the years to come :0)
Big Hugs!!
Army Wife Serving Sweetly
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Army Wife Serving Sweetly
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post #13 of 30
6/19/10 at 6:17am
You can talk (or type) until you're blue in the face - and fingers - but there will always be people who don't heed what you're trying to tell them. Your fault? No. Sure, they'll try to blame you. That's when you smile because you know the truth! Stick to your guns and know you're supported in that decision.

And who the heck has a reception venue - private home or not - without A/C in June? Those poor guests! They were probably cranky because they were hot too!
Cake is life
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Cake is life
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post #14 of 30
6/19/10 at 10:21am
I always try to impress upon the clients that heat=disaster for a wedding cake. I have one coming up in July and I've reminded her 3 times SO FAR that since there is no AC that the cake will be worse for wear. I offered to stay and set it up later in the reception...basically out of the fridge in the back to the cake table for photos/cutting then cut it for them for only $25 but, nope, the MOB says that she thinks the MOH wants the honor of cutting the cake so I'm to set it up while the wedding ceremony is going on outside and then leave. This means the cake will be sitting out on the cake table in a room with no A/C at 3pm on a late July afternoon for at least an hour! YUP, fondant or not that is going to be one messy cake to cut. Poor MOH who has been volunteered up for this job...pregnant, hot and in a formal gown...to cut the cake that will have softened up. Oh well, apparently the MOB knows better than me! LOL! I will remind her at least one more time what the heat will mean to the cake and how it will be difficult to cut once it's been sitting out that long but there's nothing else I can do. My daughter, who is also a caker, will be there as a guest (and will refuse to help cut the cake) and will take photos of the debacle when it happens...LOL...I'm a HORRIBLE person! LOL! ((((HUGS))) sorry you had to take the fall for the clueless clients! Cat
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post #15 of 30
6/19/10 at 10:59pm
So sorry.. I has a bad day too. I had my first cake dissaster too..
Milly
Carinos Cakes
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Milly
Carinos Cakes
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