Saturday I was setting up a cupcake wedding and got a phone call from a venue where I have a wedding in 2 weeks, and I thought it was a confirmation of delivery times, or something, but it was the catering manager asking about a cake for that day. Specifically, could I whip one up for that night at 7? Seeing as it was 2:10, there was NO WAY, and told her so. She said that the "cake decorator" dropped off the cake, and that she hadn't seen it, but the bride was in literal tears, and said it was ugly and crooked and you could see cake through the icing, was there anything at all I could do, since I am local?

I was so torn, since I am so dang nice, and a people pleaser, but I wanted to just say no, but I told her I would swing by on the way home, and "see what I could do, if anything". So when I get there, the original decorator is there, with a cup of water and a butter knife, trying to "smooth" the icing  It looked like unholy hell. It was leaning, wobbly, and short and squatty, the technique was monkey iced with scrolls, and really looked horrible!! I was about to just say sorry Charlie, go hit Sam's Club for Cupcakes and get a stand at Micheal's, and the florist comes in with these giant roses to see if I can hide the mess somehow, and the MOB comes in with red eyes, and mascara smeared on her shoulder, in a big wet spot, and my heart melted.

So, I pulled the cake apart, the hotel gave me some trays to put it on, and I went back to my shop, scraped all the icing off, pulled the layers apart, put icing in the middles (it was just a smear to stick them together) of the layers, leveled them with my Agbay, re-iced, stacked and decorated and sprayed it like the original inspiration the florist emailed me, and brought it back to put the roses on it. I charged $150 for it, and it took about 2 1/2 hours from pic-up to delivery, and about a half a batch of icing. It was an 6. 8, and 10.

I kept thinking, "I have no idea if this cake is good, and I don't want to be associated with this!! WHAT AM I DOING???" But the catering manager called me today with payment and told me she put me at the top of her preferred vendor list.

I'll add pictures once my husband puts them on my computer!

AWell you sound like a good samaratin to me. You saved the wedding and maybe the decorator from getting sued. But I have to know what you said to the cake lady about her sad cake?

Great save! That was very kind of you,  and it got you some well deserved recognition from that venue :)

I would have done it too ( as long as they didn't price me first and then went with the other designer/decorator )

I think your price was very fair for saving the day.

HAHA! "I said, hmm, well that is pretty bad. Let me give you a tip, never, never, never use water to smooth a crusting buttercream...... Yes, I can see it is leaning. Did you cut your supports level with each other, or with the icing?" I was very clinical, as if I was a Dr. looking at a bad STD rash or something kinky gone horribly wrong, lol."Hmmm...Let's see if we can lure the gerbil out." 

SIDE NOTE: I invited the baker back to the shop to show her how it was done. She accepted, and was amazed by my turn tables, bench scraper and Viva paper towel, :-) She said she has done hundreds of cakes, and has never been so embarrassed. But after she saw what I did in so little time, after being up until 3 am trying to smooth, she said she may quit cakes, but probably won't. I am going to sell her supplies, since she gets everything at Micheal's. She said she is raising her grandchildren after her daughter passed away 6 years ago. She is about my mother's age, about 55-60. She hugged me twice before she left. If was nice to visit with her for a couple hours. lol

OMG what a story! You are a Saint! I can't wait to see your cake make over.

AWow! You should change your name to "the altruist baker"

Anna , you are a lovely woman. I wish I could give you a hug too. Sometimes it is not about the money. 

What a lucky bride!  

Poor ladies, all of them. I bet that poor decorator was also completely undercharging for her cakes too (although they were possibly only worth what she was charging). 

Anna saves the day!

You are so kind!  I love to hear about cakers out there who are willing to help others the way you did.

This business can be so competitive but there are enough weddings & events out there for everyone to be working.

Sharing the wealth when it comes to your talent and time, especially with your competitors says so much about you.

Kudos!

I truly think what goes around comes around. So I think you are going to get a blessing. The lady sounded like she was having a hard time. Not only with her cake, but with raising her grandchildren also. How wonderful of you to put your day aside to help her out!

So very nice of you!  That good karma will bless you soon. :)

Liz
 

AWow... Not only did you save a cake that wasn't yours (which so many people wouldnt have touched with a barge pole!!) but to invite the cake maker back and advise her - really was above and beyond the call of duty.

It takes a big person to do that!

that's the way people need to do business. you will be rewarded.
 

But seriously, wow. Above and beyond man, above and beyond.

Wow Anna - I'm smiling and crying a little bit - what a beautiful thing to do.

C.

i can see it is not just a business for you..... it is your calling! well done and it's nice to see you saved the bride's day! God bless your heart more :-)

Wow, I am seriously touched that you guys thought it was great. I seriously thought I was going to get bawled out by the legalities involved in transporting an unlicensed wreck back to my licensed facility and such, haha. I just couldn't leave it there. All blessings and good feelings and such are heartily accepted! Hopefully we can get more business out of the deal, and be booked as often as we can handle ;-)

I must not have pushed the button down hard enough while it was stacked, because I don't have a picture of it, but imagine these cakes stacked, and leaning HARD to the right, like the Tower of Pisa.

After!

Great save! 

I applaud your actions.  An act of kindness, even with a nominal fee, is still a wonderful action.  Thank you.

AGreat job Anna! That bride is so lucky that you showed up to help. What goes around comes around - and boy, do you have something good coming your way!

AThat cake turned out Beautiful. So nice of you to make the brides day and save the cake for the original baker.

AAnna, I knew under all that crusty meanness there's a heart of gold. That was so nice of you. God bless you for being such a blessing. Please hand in your badge and e-gun. You're officially off the meanie task force. LOL.

Good for you! You must feel great. I have always dreamed about saving the day for someone. One day, I hope I get that same opportunity.

You are Wonder Woman!! So very sweet of you to jump in and help not just the bride and her family, but the original baker. It just shows your good heart, to not only agree to help, but to invite the woman back to your shop and show her how to ice and stack. I bet you'll get many, MANY referrals after this!! :)

I think your cake looks awesome, I bet the bride was thrilled!!

I'm just so proud that you used my term "monkey-iced" in your description of the original cake. Bwuahahahaha! I'd have charged more than $150 for all that effort, too, so you're nicer than I am.

AI knew I liked you.

I'd have thrown caution to the wind & jumped right in. Seriously, who would sue after "fixing" that disaster?!