Is it just me or does anyone else still have anxiety after a cake is delivered??? What will they think, how will it taste, will the fondant covering turn them off, was the whipped cream filling runny or set and on and on and on. I can't seem to relax even after a delivery. I find myself waiting for a phone call or e-mail letting me know that everything was fine. Maybe it's time for a vacation 
I mean the anxiety in general, not today's specific anxiety - well that will too.... :sigh: 2 hours sleep 
i think most decorators in general are concerned with there work in the beginning but once you have confidence in yourself and your product it will ease up. I mostly am concerned when trying something new I'm not sure of. Don't stress to much it usually always turns out great!!!!! Take a hot bath and drink a marquarita LOL you'll feel better 
I do too. I think it's because we are our own worst critics most of the time. I always think I could have done something better, or they won't like it even if everyone raves about it. I'm hoping it will get better as I get better and do this longer.
I suffer with you. Cakes are an extension and expression of ourselves I feel, and therefore we want people to like them. I even worry before they pick it up that something will happen and then worry afterwards is it still standing, are there cracks, will it make people sick, etc. But I try to use that worry positively and llet it push me further in my skills and techniques. But I have found once they pick it up I am ready to start at another one. I guess I am a glutton for punishment. LOL!
I don't have near the anxiety I used to have but when I deliver it and I get in my car to come back home....that's what it all goes away! It's like my body just has this big sigh of relief....especially if some of the family is there hovering as I'm putting the cake together....that makes me a little nuts!!! One time there was a woman there trying to put the finishing touches around the edge of the cake table at the same time I'm trying to finish my borders on the cake. I had to finally "nicely" tell her she had to wait until I was finished with the cake before she finished the edges of the table....the woman had real flowers and pins and everything and expected me to be able to lean over them without messing them up. I pricked my finger on a pin and that's what made me finally say something to her. Oh well....can't get along with everyone!!!
I think the biggest thing for me is I see these perfectly smooth buttercream and fondant cakes online. I just covered an Elmo b-day cake today and the red fondant was completely wrinkled and cracked in so many places. I freaked. This is a new client and I was so worried at how unprofessional they would think I am. I quickly rolled out some polka dots to hide as many flaws as possible without looking so obvious. I guess I have the old perfectionist bug and assume all the cakes I've seen are flawless. I must say it feels good to vent and know I am not alone.
The true anxiety/panic for me is during delivery. Afterwards, I'm usually so elated that it arrived intact and looks great on the table that it's all over for me at that point. The stress is nearly overwhelming while driving though...I had a 4 tier wedding cake collapse on me once (on Oct. 4, 2005) and it is something I will never, ever forget while delivering cakes.
The very best feeling is when the cake is set up, the fountain or votives or whatever is lit, the tablescaping is done, and it just looks so beautiful. I get alot of "hey, I had your cake at so-and-so's wedding" orders so I don't worry about what goes on after delivery anymore.
Don't you just love the hustle and bustle of reception setups? The DJ/band is warming up/setting up, the servers are setting the tables, the wedding planner is making last-minute checks before hurrying off to the wedding, friends and family are scurrying around doing this and that, and we are setting up the second-most important thing at that event, second only to the bride herself. 
The true anxiety/panic for me is during delivery. Afterwards, I'm usually so elated that it arrived intact and looks great on the table that it's all over for me at that point. The stress is nearly overwhelming while driving though...I had a 4 tier wedding cake collapse on me once (on Oct. 4, 2005) and it is something I will never, ever forget while delivering cakes.
omg, what did you do? what did the bride do? I think I'd cry if that happened to me.
My stress point is prior to deadline. I'm hovering over the person cooking because they have one more pan of chicken to finish and I have to start loading the van and the rice is not quite done yet; getting the van loaded ahead of time with equipment but doing the "how close to the last minute can I wait before putting the food in there?" dance. Once I arrive, it's hustle hustle to unload the cake, the food, the chafers, the 150 (heavy!) glass plates, and the even heavier silverware (you won't believe how much 150 knives weigh!) and all of the equipment. Then it's hustle hustle to get the tablecovers on FIRST so I can get the chafers set up so I can get the flame lit so the water can start to heat so I can get the buffet up and running. Then it's hustle hustle to get food prepped and ready and directing my crew on what needs done next and then FINALLY relinquishing control so I can get the cake set up. I usually allow 60-90 minutes to set up the cake and buffet and I like it to be done before the guests start to arrive.
We always hit the deadlines, but it's the pre-stuff that gets to me. Once it's set up, the rest of the night is a no-stresser. My crews refer to the pre-stress as "It's her Melt-Down period .... phrase 2!" 
And I'm one who doesn't like it when the band or DJ is there setting up at the same time I am. I'm trying to get a staff of 3 or 5 organized and I've got music I don't usually like BLARING in the room so I can't hear myself think and can't talk to my crew. One considerate fellow set up these two HUGE speakers on poles on each side of the cake table, turned in toward the cake table! I had music blaring right into my ears the entire time I was setting up the cake and when I was cutting and serving the cake!
I luv it when I have the whole room to myself during setup. Nice and quiet! I had one wedding in which the family came running in to do some last minute decorating AFTER the conclusion of the wedding (it was over way sooner than what they told me!) .... I was putting the finishing touches on the cake. The family got so stressed on what they were doing, that it was getting on my nerves to the point of distracting me from the cake work. I finally said, in my 'mom' voice, "People! It's just a wedding! They take place every weekend! Everything will be fine! Relax!"
I just made a few cakes this week-end one for our friends son's 1st communion and the other with the same recipe for our son's 1st t-ball meeting.
I am so glad I made the basic cake. I got to taste the cake and it was so yummy. My DH is not a cake guy and he thought it was the best one, he asked, what did you do to this recipe. I used the extender recipe and it was great.
I delivered the 1st communion cake before our meeting. I called my friend tonight and let her know the combo was really good and a few things a forgot to tell her about the cake because I was so nervous during delivery, she was happy I called and said not to worry, she really wants to eat the cake, just does not want to cut it. That felt really good. I feel better now, but man was I nervous before. I think special life occasions other than birthdays make me nervous! Maybe with time....
Maybe nervousness makes us better at what we love to do.
Good Luck
My worst is in the drive when my husband is driving. You would think by now I would learn to drive myself, but I guess I like stressing myself out over it! Then, if a couple of days go by and I don't hear from the bride I start getting stressed out that the cake wasn't good. My husband constantly reminds me that most people are on their honeymoon, but I still stress out!
In time this too shall pass.
It ended up being okay, I guess, but I am at fault for that bride forever having a "wedding cake horror story," which makes me very sad.
www.buttercreamdreams.com/disaster.htm
How sad....but what a great save! Good thinking!
cakepro--so sorry that happened to you. and it sounds like your support sytem was great. and I thought my disaster was a disaster--nothing compared to yours because I was able to save the top three tiers of a 4 tier before they fell (but it was close!!)
I have to list my disaster, too, in case you didn't see it because of the lesson learned about the speakers you wrote about indydeb. I think I may have to invest in the support system that was written about so I won't be panicked now with every wedding cake delivery.
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-212771.html
midia, what an interesting story! omg, I had not even considered a vibration factor before.... I was whining about how loud it was in my ear!
I'm putting together a "wedding workshop" and one section is about placement of the cake table (like NOT in front of the men's room door! had one like that one time!). Ok if I include this story?
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!! If it helps anyone else avoid this possible disaster!
I'm sure that there have been many times the cakes have been set up in front of speakers before, but it only takes one time.....
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