I got asked to make a cake for an upcoming wedding and we had the whole thing planned out, the only thing I had left to get from the bride was a pic of the cake topper. She finally sent me the picture and I was SHOCKED! Every thing she has picked out for her cake is very pretty and modern and this topper is the ugliest thing I have ever seen! It is super old, I have no idea how I can giver her everything she asked for as well as incorporate this horrific topper, help!

What does it look like? Does it have a lot of sentimental value?

Can you post a pic?

I can't from here, can you?

I see a lot of threads where the baker hates the look of the topper and my intial thought is always "So what?" I've never known any guest at a wedding to make a comment about "Nice cake but the baker sure slapped an ugly topper on there!" or "The baker sure ruined that cake with that topper!" I just dont' think anyone judges a cake decorating job based on the topper, as most people are aware the topper is the choice of the bride.

And that's the big thing: It's the choice of the bride. Her wedding, her cake. I would tell a bride if something she wanted was not possible in an engineering sense, but would never tell or imply to a bride that something should be changed because *I* thought it was not up to *MY* taste. Who am I to decide if something is pretty or not for someone else's cake?

We dont' know the significance of this topper. Examples of things we dont' consider: It could be the topper from her mother's cake and even more significant, what if her mother has passed away? It could be a family heirloom. It could be a private joke between the couple. It could be a gift from a relative or friend who means the world to the bride. It may represent part of the cost-cutting of the wedding and its the topper she could afford. (have you SEEN the cost of toppers these days? wow! )

I'm sure I"m a minority but in 30 years, I've never been embarrassed or appalled by the topper a bride picked out in terms of not wanting to put it on the cake I made. I made have not liked it, personally, but that's only areflection that our tastes differed.

I was not thinking of changing the topper or even telling her I disliked it, I was simply hoping for some suggestions:0) I know it's not my choice and that it is up to her, my problem is that it doesn't even remotely match any of the design of the cake. Should I tell her we need to change the design?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62904134@N05/5723965163/

She wants the cake to be black and white and full of rhinestones, right? In my opinion the topper will look out of place. I wonder if she realizes the topper will look dated on such an extravagant cake.

To me it looks like it may have belonged to her parents. That style was in 42 years ago when I got married. Mine is that exact topper but different bride & groom.I would be honored if one of my kids wanted to use it. But in our family we use my cake knife and have names & dates engraved on it.

It does look like a vintage topper....I know if I saw it on a cake, I would think it was her parents topper. I wouldn't change it....maybe add a bit of sparkle around the base.....??? If the topper has darkened any with age...you could do a slightly off white fondant to softed the difference in color and do your black accents, etc. Just a thought.....

That is absolutely a vintage cake topper. I don't think it matters one way or another to the bride if it matches what she wants in a cake or not. There is sentiment somewhere behind this topper.

You can take your pic before you put the topper on it!

I agree with indydebi, this cake topper is her choice and could have a sentimental value to them. I would not suggest a different design on the cake, again, it is her choice. Now, if she is just thinking it will all fit together and see's it on the cake it can always be taken off if she chooses, but that is up to her.
I would just smile and give her what she is asking for.

If you are worried about photos for your portfolio, take your pictures before you put the topper on, I've done this with cakes where I think the topper doesn't match the cake well. That way I get a pic that represents my cake decorating style regardless of the brides taste in toppers.

I think that topper is very cute! I was be offended if I was the bride and you said anything about it.

Like I said in a previous post I was not going to mention this to the bride and I am assuming that it belonged to someone previously, my delima is that she wants a blinged out cake covered in rhinestones and black magic roses. I just was hoping that it would at least semi match seeing as this is for a family friend and I will know almost everyone in attendance....

I don't think that's the ugliest topper ever...not by a long shot! I'm not sure what you had planned for the cake, but how about bringing elements of the topper down to the cake board and reproducing them there?

If it is sentimental, then it's possible the bride realizes her cake design won't match, but maybe that doesn't matter. She wants the cake design of her dreams, and also have the sentimental topper. I really think it's going to be ok.

If you are concerned enough about it, and it's for a family friend, you can ask if there is any element from the topper they may want you to incorporate into the cake design. Kinda go in the reverse, so to speak.

Maybe you could ask her if you could incorporate some elements from the topper into the design to kind of blend the 2 looks a little? I definitely agree that if the cake is white and the topper is faded you should ask her if you can make the fondant an off white shade so it will match HTH!

Ok i have to agree, that topper is pretty ugly. I am sure it is meaningful to the bride though. I am making my sisters wedding cake in june. i was lucky to be given my grandparents wedding cake topper (65+years old)! My sisters and i all agreed that it would be super special to all use it on our cakes when we get married. of course it looks very dated, but is much smaller than the one you were given to work with. Maybe you could suggest to the bride just using the figures if you could take it appart carefully? Good luck!!!

Maybe you could say that its lovely but unless it has sentimental value & she doesn't want it altered, then maybe you could keep it in keeping a bit more with the rest of the by removing the flowery arch bit and just having the wee people???

I would think professionally, it would be OK to suggest design elements to mesh the topper to the cake. Make a good looking overall cake for the wedding is your professional "duty" so making a well placed suggestion (without the comment of "ugliest topper") (NOT that you would, I know), is in order.

My sister had that exact same topper when she got married in 1990, so it must something that was handed down in the family.......

You have said the cake design is black and white. Don't know the exact design but if you bring some the of the black under or around the bottom edge of the topper that should help make the fact that the topper is a bit faded less noticeable.