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Turned my back on the florist...

post #1 of 24
4/29/12 at 3:24pm
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just to take my boxes and set up kit back to my car while I waited for him to give me the flowers to do the top tier. I had even called him and had the conversation:

"Hi, this is cake designer X. Are you creating a composed cake topper for Bride Y's wedding tomorrow?"

"I have red roses. Is it fondant? I'll just stick them in." Smarmy Florist man says.

"Uh...I don't want a bunch of roses impaled into the top tier so" I say, then interrupted with

"Oh oh, yeah, I'll just lay them on top to arrange them. We can work it out tomorrow. Time? yadda yadda yadda."

I just go to the car for 4 minutes! and BAM! when i get back he is gone and there are 8 roses stuck right into the top tier. Bare stems and all. I was so pissed! I didn't even get a chance to photo it with out the impalement. I ended up taking leaves from his other centerpieces to fill in the bare stems. It didn't look bad with the flowers on it after i twirled the roses open a bit and filled in the gaps.

(photo of the cake in my gallery. the only one with red roses on top)

I really didn't think I had to guard my cake from the florist. Seriously? Is that how he works?
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post #2 of 24
4/29/12 at 3:30pm
icon_eek.gif
He had no right to mess with your cake!!
Especially sticking flowers into the top of the cake!
How would he feel if you just messed about with a expensive bouquet or something?

Some people. . . . icon_mad.gif
My cakes are never level. . . . .its because my damn cooker is wonky!!
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My cakes are never level. . . . .its because my damn cooker is wonky!!
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post #3 of 24
4/29/12 at 4:14pm
Yuck! I would not want to be the guest having to eat a slice of the top tier! Or better yet, I would not want to be the bride saving that top tier for my first anniversary.

This is why I do not deal with fresh flowers.
There are times when I think I can help. Other times I think, given an already shallow gene pool, I am doing more for humanity by just letting go...
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There are times when I think I can help. Other times I think, given an already shallow gene pool, I am doing more for humanity by just letting go...
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post #4 of 24
4/29/12 at 7:38pm
I swear to God I would write the bride a note:

Dear X,
I'm so sorry that the florist stuffed those roses into the top tier of your cake!

I had a long discussion with him shortly before the wedding about why he was NOT to do that.

I explained that it would ruin the cake, rendering it unservable and inedible, especially because the flowers weren't certified pesticide free (the pesticides concentrate in the stems and who knows what was in the water they were kept in).

I reiterated my concerns at the venue and thought he understood the appropriate options for handling the creation of a topper that would leave the cake intact and free of contaminants , but when I went to my car for just a few minutes, I returned to find that he had taken it upon himself to stab the thick stemmed roses into the cake, ruining the top tier.

I contained my anger at the time, but I just wanted you to know exactly what happened. I advised the venue NOT to serve the contaminated top tier and if, by chance, you saved it, PLEASE DISPOSE OF IT ASAP.

Cordially,
Me

No, I'm not kidding.

Gorgeous cake, by the way. Even more gorgeous without the roses, actually, because the piping is the real star.
Rae
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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post #5 of 24
4/29/12 at 9:55pm
I'd send the above note with one addition. The florist needs to buy the bride a new top tier. He ruined it against your direct orders not to touch it.

He's liable in my book.

Mommachris
wife to David for 23 years
mom to 13 blessings
Nine who are still living at home that range from 21 to 3 years old.
Holly, Amy, Aaron, Evelyn, Zebedee, Melody, William, Melissa and little Tobin
and four more sweet babies in heaven.
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wife to David for 23 years
mom to 13 blessings
Nine who are still living at home that range from 21 to 3 years old.
Holly, Amy, Aaron, Evelyn, Zebedee, Melody, William, Melissa and little Tobin
and four more sweet babies in heaven.
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post #6 of 24
4/29/12 at 11:04pm
I wish you could charge him with vandalism because that is exactly what he did. How dare you, little lady, tell him what to do. He is a big, strong florist man so he can do whatever he wants (sarcastic tone).
Tina
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Tina
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post #7 of 24
4/30/12 at 2:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommachris

I'd send the above note with one addition. The florist needs to buy the bride a new top tier. He ruined it against your direct orders not to touch it.

He's liable in my book.

Mommachris



This!!!!!!! icon_mad.gificon_mad.gificon_mad.gif
A down-to-earth South African who has a growing interest in fondant cakes...I've been bitten by the cake bug!
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A down-to-earth South African who has a growing interest in fondant cakes...I've been bitten by the cake bug!
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post #8 of 24
4/30/12 at 11:26am
I am making a wedding cake where the bride wants to add real roses on the top tier along with the topper. What are some things I should communicate with the florist and/or bride to avoid this from happening to me?! And does anyone have any tips on how to best add fresh flowers to the top of a cake? Thanks for any feedback. icon_smile.gif
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post #9 of 24
4/30/12 at 11:35am
Yeah, don't use real flowers. They're covered with dirt, pesticides and fertilizers and unless you'd want to eat them yourself they shouldn't be on your food.

If the bride insists and doesn't care about contracting fungal diseases courtesy of South American fertilizers, then you should put the flowers on the cake yourself by using a big glob of buttercream to glue them on. Never insert stems into the cake, and the florist should never be the one to put flowers on a cake becasue they do stick the stems right into it. If they don't have a food handling license they need to stay away from the food.

If they get snotty tell them that while they decorate your cake you'll go rearrange their centerpieces.
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #10 of 24
4/30/12 at 11:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by costumeczar


If they get snotty tell them that while they decorate your cake you'll go rearrange their centerpieces.



I LOVE it icon_lol.gif

Fresh flowers on food is tricky business. First off, the flowers themselves must be considered "edible". Lists can be found on the internet of those, as well as lists of poisonous flowers

Secondly, the edible flowers that might come in direct contact with the food must be certified organic and pesticide-free. Hard to find and very pricey.

There needs to be a good barrier between the flowers/foliage and the food--saran wrap, wax paper, parchment paper, a cake board, a plastic flower pic, a straw, a dowel, etc.

No, these guidelines aren't followed every day---but they should be.

Rae
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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post #11 of 24
4/30/12 at 11:55am
I had the same blow up recently with a controlling florist. I typed up a page long waiver of responsibility that they were to chicken to sign.

I don't know what the deal is with florist but if they want somewhere else to stick flowers then they should get themselves some more vases otherwise they can stick their flowers up their a**.

Everything in the church and the reception venues already looks like a flower garden threw up on it. So why can't they leave our cakes alone. Let us put the flowers on the cake. Florist have tables, pews, doors, corsages, boutonnieres, bouquets etc... to showcase their talents. The cake is the only thing at that wedding/reception that is representative of our skills. If that cake gets screwed up by some florist, everybody will think the cake person screwed it up.
If you can't find time it do it right..how will you find time to do it over?
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If you can't find time it do it right..how will you find time to do it over?
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post #12 of 24
4/30/12 at 11:55am
I would be beyond livid with that florist!! I've done some real flowers on my cakes before, but I always use some little flower holder things that Wilton makes & the flower only goes in as far as that holder does.
I agree with other posters that you should warn the bride about what happened, and that the florist owes the bride a new anniversary tier because they ruined the original one. Like others have said, this would make me only want to deal with sugar flowers from now on.
I'm up to my elbows in powdered sugar....LIFE IS SWEET!!!!
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I'm up to my elbows in powdered sugar....LIFE IS SWEET!!!!
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post #13 of 24
4/30/12 at 12:08pm
If fresh flowers are used as a topper, I tell the bride that the florist needs to make an arrangement and place it on a clear saucer, and I will place it on the cake. I had one florist who offered to finish my cake with her flowers. I told her that I would do the flowers, thanks. She put them on the table and left. 'Bye!
Making life sweet!

Lindas Just Desserts

Inspected and licensed commercial kitchen
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Making life sweet!

Lindas Just Desserts

Inspected and licensed commercial kitchen
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post #14 of 24
4/30/12 at 12:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakelady2266

I don't know what the deal is with florist but if they want somewhere else to stick flowers then they should get themselves some more vases otherwise they can stick their flowers up their a**.


This is absolutely FANTASTIC!!! icon_lol.gifthumbs_up.gif

After looking at the cake in question, I'm even more upset for you. That cake definitely didn't need the added flowers as the piping work on the sides is amazing!

Please keep us updated on how this plays out.
I'm up to my elbows in powdered sugar....LIFE IS SWEET!!!!
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I'm up to my elbows in powdered sugar....LIFE IS SWEET!!!!
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post #15 of 24
4/30/12 at 12:16pm
I did think that cake was beautiful without the flowers.
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