Well, after 16 months into my own cake decorating business, I've experienced my first major disaster. I was to deliver a 3 tier, stacked wedding cake in Gatlinburg this evening by 5:30. Well normally, it’s a 20 – 30 minute drive from my house. I leave at 4:00 to give myself extra time. Well, thank goodness I did! This just so happens to be the first weekend folks from all over are coming into our neck of the woods to drive thru the Great Smoky Mountains to see the changing of the leaves. Being it’s Thursday, not a weekend, I figured traffic shouldn’t be all that bad – WRONG! I didn’t get there till 6:45, so I was 15 minutes late. Well, if that wasn’t bad enough – I get within 10 feet of where I’m to set the cake and SPLAT – Down I went!!! I fell with cake in hand. I tried my best to save the cake at all costs, but couldn’t. The cake was totaled. All I could do was cry. About 10 minutes later the bride came out with smile on her face and just said, “oh sweetie, don’t worry, just don’t worry about it, are you alright?” I told her I would go to the grocery store and try to get her another cake. She told me not to worry about it, it was fine. I felt so bad, I feel like I ruined her whole wedding. I told her again, I would go to the grocery store and buy her a cake and pay for it myself. So off I went. I knew I hurt my back, but was upset about ruining her wedding, I couldn’t even think about myself yet. I get to Food City, the only grocery store in town and all they have is 2 little 8”, single layer yellow cakes. I got them and heading back to the wedding party. It was all I could do, but came nowhere close to be able to serve the 50 people her ruined wedding cake was to serve. I was devastated, but what could I do? I told the bride I would provide her with a cake for her next event free of charge and I would also provide her with an anniversary cake free of charge for her first anniversary. I also plan on getting a gift certificate for dinner for two from one of the nicer restaurant’s there in Gatlinburg and just mailing it to her with an apology. I just don’t know how else to make it up to her. Hubby drove me and was out in the car when I fell, so he didn’t know anything about it till after the fact, but in his sweet, loving, supportive way of trying to cheer me up on the way home, he says, “Well honey, you can officially say you’ve provided your first BIG smash cake”. All I could do was laugh! In the meantime, I need to get to the doc in the morning, my back is killing me. But I just thought I’d come share my disaster with some understanding friends. I guess it’s not all as bad as it could be; it’s my first disaster in 16 months. I think, no I KNOW I felt worse than the bride. But my fellow sisters, if this happens to you, just hold your head high, and keep pressing on. Accidents happen, I’m just so very thankful I had a forgiving, gracious bride.
BigFatMamaKat Junior Member
Joined: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 79
Location: Mississippi
Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:38 pm
Bless your heart! I'm glad the bride was understanding, and not one of the Bridezillas we hear about!
KatieTaylor77 Frequent Member
Joined: Aug 04, 2006
Posts: 452
Location: Orange County, CA
Birthday: Sep 04 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:46 pm
Honestly, it could have been worse. At least your bride was understanding--lord knows you didn't plan for all your hard work and talent to end up on the floor! Dust yourself off, get your back taken care of and try not to dwell on it. You were probably more upset than your bride was! It sounds like sending them a gift card and offering free cakes is more than enough to make it up to them. Its a bummer that it happened, but you were lucky you had such a nice client to work with.
WOW, your not kidding! I just discovered that show - Bridezillas, and watched it last night, half the night. On cable, they just show one episode after another all night. I was shocked at how some of those brides really are and was thanking God I never ran across one of those bridezillas. Sure counting my blessings even more now that you mentioned that! Thank you!
patticakesnc Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 01, 2006
Posts: 758
Location: Foothills of NC
Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:49 pm
Definitly go to the dr tomorrow. I hope you are ok.
The bride apparently was adult enough to know that things happen and the important part of her day was the man she loves professing his commitment to her, not a cake. So many brides lose sight of the true meaning of the wedding and just gets focused on the material parts. The cake will go away, the flower will die, the gown will go out of style. It is the love and commitment that is important. You didn't ruin anything for her.
Kate714 Forum Fanatic
Joined: Aug 12, 2006
Posts: 1186
Location: Connecticut
oh my, that is awful...I think you are doing all you can do...that's great that she is understanding...
I hope your back is okay...hang in there!!
mkolmar Forum SuperStar!
Joined: May 19, 2006
Posts: 4808
Location: at the computer
Birthday: Jun 02
Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:56 pm
at least the bride was understanding and caring, it could have been a lot worse if she would have been upset. I hope your back feels better soon. Sorry this happened to you.
Thank you everyone for all the support. I really am feeling some better about things now. My back is still a mess, but it doesn't hurt near as bad as my feelings. Thanks again everyone, ya'll are just great!
Oh, you poor thing!
Newbie, so of course I've never done a cake, but I was a wedding photographer for years.
I understand.
Not only are there bridezillas but also groomzillas.
I have had a couple of times I was up all night crying because the pictures didn't come out for one reason or another.
Can't say much to help. Just so glad for you that you had a sweet bride.
Know the feeling of wishing you could turn back time.
Hugz, Doleta
Thank you. I told my hubby that if she was one of them brides, I would have probably been ruined. I think it would have probably scared me away from ever doing a wedding or any other special cake ever again. But maybe that's the lesson here, maybe I'm to understand first hand that there really isn't anything you can say to help the matter, there really isn't anything you can do. Accident's happen and that's all there is to it. All I can do that I know of at this point it to do as I have, offer her a free cake for her next event, provide her a freshly made anniversary cake next year and send her a gift card for dinner for two at one of the nicer restruants there in Gatlinburg. Hey, maybe at the restruant there where she was having her reception. Then at least it's a place I know she likes, and it's a pretty fancy, uptown place. May cost me $80.00 or more for dinner for two there, but it's worth it if she's pleased. Then I won't feel bad, I think at that point, I've gone overboard. What do ya'll think?
Think of it this way, if you do those things for her, you'll have a customer for life (and a nice one at that!). Plus, I bet she'll gladly recommend you to family and friends in spite of the disaster.
califdreamer_2000 Newbie
Joined: Oct 13, 2006
Posts: 3
Birthday: Sep 28
Posted:
Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:09 am
If I had been the bride and the person delivering my cake fell, I would have done the same thing as your bride. BUT if she gave me all the things you did, I would have been so pleased at you for showing me that you cared for me as a person and not just another paycheck. I would have been a client for life too! You are a good person for treating your clients with such respect.
Thank you SO MUCH Califdreamer. That was so sweet. I sure wish you were the bride. I'll know more this evening how she feels as I will be calling her this evening to talk to her again. She was drinking at the wedding and I'm not sure if she even knows what I told her, but I did tell her I would call her this week when she returned from their weekend honeymoon and talk to her. I'm praying she'll be as gracious and forgiving as she was Thursday night, and have the same feelings as you do. I will post this evening after speaking with her and let ya'll know how she feels about things now. Thank you again everyone for all the support you've been to me thru this. This was probably my worse nightmare come true.
frankandcathy Frequent Member
Joined: Jan 22, 2005
Posts: 243
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posted:
Mon Oct 16, 2006 12:20 pm
Please tell this bride, "Thank you" on behalf of ALL of us here on CC.
Honestly, I have 3 more wedding cakes to finish up and I am paranoid with each one that the bride will act like the last two brides did (a little "testy").
It's GOOD to hear that there are graceful, understanding people out there!
Bless your heart. It wasn't your fault that you slipped. It sounds like you did all the right things to make it up to her.
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