To make a LONG story short i have to have major back surgery in 5 days ( i injured my back ) and i have 3 weddings coming up.  I have one this weekend which i am planning on finishing (its an easy cake).  the other 2 are the following 2 weekends.  Now I know if i could get the cakes done i can freeze them (ive done this before no problem).  My issue is, right now i can only stand for 30 min max before im in excruciating pain and i have to lay down for AT LEAST an hour to make it stop and really i am suppose to be resting until my surgery day (per the neurosurgeons orders).  However, i have NEVER cancelled on a bride and im not sure what to do.  I thought about trying to show my mom or husband how to do the cakes in the few days i have left however the 2 cakes are pretty complicated designs and id hate for them to be low quality as im VERY particular about details and final product, esp for someones wedding.

Now i thought about contacting other cake people around here (there are only 3 good ones i know of), which i already did and they are all booked up.  if i cancel on these brides their only optino is to use the local grocery store....im seriously in a bind here!

Yesteryday I had a shot of morphin in my back which made me think OK, i will just get al 3 cakes done before my surgery (in 5 days) and freeze them, then my husband can deliver....no prob!  Well i woke up today and im back to horrible pain.

Im really at a loss here!  If i cancel ill probably get a bad review on my business (which ive worked so hard to open and do right!) but i also dont want to kill myself in the process.  My injury is to the point that i cant bend, twist, lift, sit, stand...the only remotely comfortable position is laying down.... which makes it hard to bake, decorate, stack and deliver a wedding cake.

Any advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!??!?!??!  

If i cancelled on the 2 brides today, one would have 2.5 weeks to find a replacement the other would have 3.5 weeks.  I know if this happened to me id probably be pissed but i would hope id understand that if someones seriously injured its not their fault and be sympathetic...UGH!

help!

If you can refund their deposits, I would cancel first thing in the morning.  You cannot have your husband or mom try to finish these cakes for you.  Explain you are having emergency surgery, and offer names of other bakers with phone numbers.  You may need to call some bakers a little further away, and try to find someone to fill in for you.

Best of luck to you.

Liz

AExcellent advice from Liz!

Don't wait a single day more!!!

im trying to imagine if this happened to me as a bride and if i would be furious or understanding.  i just HATE cancelling on someone....

lol i agree that i wouldnt let someone else do my work as its not something you can teach in just a couple of days.  that was just wishful thinking. i more or less and worried its going to hurt my business cancelling on them...but i guess accidents happen and there's not much else i can do.

my injury happened last week when i had another wedding cake (i basically always have at least one a week to do) and normally the cake would have taken me 8 hours from start to finish....instead it took me all week to do cuz i could only do tiny bits at a time and then lay down.
 

if only there was a way for me to decorate the cake laying down! lol ugh

AWhere are you located? Maybe someone here can help.

i'm really sorry you're not feeling well--i hope your surgery goes very well--

my one comment is since there's no way around the cancellations-- is to really steel yourself to not get stressed from the reactions of the bride's when you tell them--

hopefully they will be understanding but try to not let yourself get all tangled up in their drama if they go there--you need all your strength to not injure yourself further which stress is great for that right--and you need all your strength to heal--

nobody would ever want this to have to happen where you have to cancel on them this close to the deadline or cancel at all but if you have to do it protect yourself--

y'know how the newscasters can talk about these horrible events and just keep sounding like they are doing the weather--get that kind of 'separation' there so you stay focused--you need to get this behind you--

(((big very gentle hug)))

Hey guys...thanks so much!  I know you are right. i am definitely stressing over it because i feel like i made a large commitment to someone for an important day in their life and now im backing out last minute.....but hey, its not like i can help it. and if i had a choice i would def not choose back surgery over cakes lol

i am located in Lawrence KS (Near Kansas City)....anyone?

I hope you feel better soon, that is awful and painful and I wish you a fast recovery.

Definitely cancel.

If I were the brides, I'd be very disappointed but I would find a way on my own to be creative aside from the cake and provide pastries.  Things happen.  I was just at a wedding without a cake, in fact, and no one cared.   If the brides write bad reviews about a person who is sick then they are just plain mean.  Also, the brides know your business is just you, not a bakery with 2 or three decorators.  They might be initially upset with you, but they'll get over it.  Injuries happen and you must recover and listen to your doctor about resting.

I can't imagine my husband doing a cake for me...LOL  I'm in hysterics thinking about it right now... 

fwiw and to identify a bit  with your predicament--i was doing a wedding for a beloved friend who is in her late 40's and her first marriage--such a special event, so happy for her--and out of nowhere i hit the wall hard--rheumatoid arthritis flare--last minute freak out a coupla days before delivery--i was able to get my daughter over to help me make butterflies -- and then i had to regroup and move like father time on december 31st (old and stupid slow ;) and i got it going--thought i'd be ok but i called again for her to help me deliver--it was a petite cake--my daughter really stood in the gap for me--i was/am most chagrined that i couldn't do it by myself--i did most of it--but...i do understand your predicament even though i didn't have to fully cancel--it certainly was on the short list--

it sure happens and it will be ok

try to keep yourself calmed down

brides and their families have so much on them at this time--let any and all their reaction slip on by -- don't take it in--don't re-live it as much as possible--it's just another weather forecast--let it blow over--you have bigger fish to fry at this time

♥

AHave you tried a local ICES chapter? Someone there may be able to help.

AIf you don't hear from any other CC members in your area today, then just bite the bullet and call your brides. The sooner you let them know, the sooner they can work on finding a replacement.

Praying that these brides will find compassion for you. Look ahead any other event cakes that you may need to cancel. This could take awhile to recover from. Will keep you in our prayers. Be at peace now

Call today and explain you are having absolutely unavoidable major surgery.  Explain you are not able to physically do anything except lie down and you are not able to make their cake.  Give them a FULL CASH refund of all their money (including anything normally non-refundable like the deposit).  At this late date another decorator may not take a check and they will need the cash to pay for the cake.  Refer them to someone else if at all possible.

I've never had this happen, but I agree with most others. I might actually do some of the legwork first - meaning I'd call around to every bakery in a reasonable radius and see if they can take the orders. If you find one, then call the bride and let her know the situation and that you found someone else to do the cake. Like someone else said, I would offer to pay the difference if there is one. It's an unforeseen act of God, they might freak out, but you can't control that. It's not like you have the sniffles and just don't feel up to it - you actually can't stand!

Good luck with the surgery!

Try and quick put a call out on the cake decorating page for help. Give it a few hours- you just never know. I'm about 14 hours away, otherwise I'd totally make the drive to help you. 

I feel terrible for you and your painful situation, but I also hate to see a bride go without cake if it can be avoided!!!

where are you located.  There has to be a CC member out there near you

THanks for all your kind words everyone.  I am located near Kansas City...on the Kansas side.

I am getting ready to contact the brides right now...I just think it will be easier on me and my health has to come first (for me).  I hate to cancel on someone but i would hate to injure myself worse/permanently all for a cake. Not worth it.

I have called every reputable cake vendor around and got a list of ones who are available for their date, which i will be giving to them.  I will of course be offering a refund of all their payments.....desposit included.

I actually kind of lucked out with the timing as normally we are super booked up with cake orders for the fall, however I just had a baby 7 weeks ago so I wasnt sure how i would be feeling (my first baby) after so i only took a few orders to ease into it.  Im just glad i dont have 20+ cakes to cancel on.... that would be very bad.

My next big order isnt until January and the dr says i should be able to go back to work (with lifting resctrictions) in 6 weeks.... fingers crossed!

ABest of luck with your surgery, that's tough with an infant too.

I know how upsetting it is to cancel an order - and the one I cancelled was just a 10 inch birthday cake.  I had consulted with a new client for weeks over the details of their cake, but called to cancel her cake 6 days before the event as my brother in law was in hospital dying and I was in no condition to make it.  He actually passed away the next day and the funeral was the day before the birthday so I definately couldn't have done it.  I was able to get a cake decorating friend to do it and she honoured my price for the client.

I too have had back surgery (twice) and know that you are absolutely not going to be able to do the cakes.  You will need all of the rest you can get in the next few weeks and you need to look after yourself first and foremost.  Be careful when you do get back into cakes, especially rolling out fondant, because that will put a lot of strain on your back - ask hubby to do it for you.

anyway, all the best.

hey, I was wondering how your op went and how you are feeling now?