My first wedding cake and it was a total disaster. I wouldn't have even agreed to do this but they had originally said they were going to do somethig simple with fresh flowers. Well they ened up choosing a 4 tiered square cake with a bow topper and they wanted a bride/groom topper also oh and 4 different fillings. I only charged $175 because it was my first one. Had my time line and stuck to it, everything going well, then the first bump in the road, the 16" was too big for my fridge and all of the smoothed out icing scraped off the sides. DH checked CC for me and got the great idea to set up the swamp cooler in the garage.
Got the whole thing stacked, decorated on Friday night so Sat. was going to work on the crazy topper. Went to check on the cake and the whole thing was sinking like the Titanic into the bottom 16". I knew it was never going to make it so I took the top 3 tiers off and the 12" totally bit the dust. Luckily I had a 6" in the freezer. At this point it was 5 hours till delivery. So with using the 6" I had the change the decorations on the other tiers. DH, God love him, ran out to get fondant because I didn't have time to make tons more icing and redecorate.
Anyway I did what I could to save the thing and get something there for them to cut. It was still very crooked and the topper looks like crap. I don't even know what to say to them when they call to express their dissapointment. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I have an order for cupcakes next week, I think that's more up my alley until I get more experiance.
Sue
Sue
Awww..poor thing! Sounds like you went through the ringer with that one!
Time to take a breath and relax. It's over and all you can do is move forward.
Might not be a bad idea to do some damage control and save face. Call the bride before she calls you. Might not be as big of a deal to her as it was to you.
I think the most important thing for you to do is figure out HOW and WHY it happened so that you can avoid it in the future.
Don't be discouraged. 
Bless your heart... It probably didn't look as bad as what you thought. Most people don't notice the little flaws that look so HUGE to us.
I agree with Sugarplum! You'll feel a lot better if you call the bride before she can call you. It will make you look considerate and reputable too. Maybe you can post your assembly method here or the pictures if you have them so some of the helpful CCers can help you figure out what happened. Then you'll be ready to go for your next cake! 
Oh, I'm so sorry that this went so wrong for you. I would do what the others said and call the bride. At least you are done with it; now you can move forward like everyone else was saying. Big Hugs!
Oh Sue, I'm sorry you had such a hard time with this cake. I went through some troubles when I did my grand daughters birthday cake....but with heart warming words and advice from other CCer's I was able to pick myself up, dust off the PS and keep going. Thank Goodness for them and this site.
I also agree with the advice from the others post....call the bride before she can call you. to your DH for being so helpful to you in your time of need, and I think your cakes look great and I would have you do me a wedding cake any day (well if I wasn't all ready married 
), so doing cakes are still up your alley.
Big Hugs also and God Bless You.
Sharon
I had my 1st wedding cakek this weekend as well. I know how it feels. Lucky me, I only had part of a fondant swag broke during delivery/set-up. Your cake looks lovely for a first time. It could be worse. I have read a disaster here today and my heart sank for that girl. You are fine, don't worry. Practice will make perfect.
Big Hug!
Creole
i am right there with you sister. i posted last night but my cake totally fell. i know exactly where you are in your mind today, and i feel for you. i am sure you are totally questioning your abilities, i know i have been, but these people here are amazing. the support here will get you through it. i know it is helping me. my thoughts are totally with you, it may take a few days but this will pass, and if you are anything likeme you will work really hard to build the next cake so it will never move. it is all about the experiences, you had a bad one but don't give up yet.
happy thoughts for you!!!
Thanks to all of you for the support and kindness. I guess what I have learned is that the dowels on square cakes need to be exactly at the corners. I had almost bought the plastic ones but the guy at the cake store said he preferred the wooden. Looking back the plastic ones are bigger and may have given me extra support on the corners. I also should have used tripple thick boards between the 12 and 16. Anyway live and learn like you all said. My arms are still killing me today from rolling out all that fondant! I also learned I'm out of shape! The picture is in my gallery as I have no idea how to add an attachment. Thanks again to all of you.
Sue
Sorry you had such a rough time with this cake. But remember, you learned things that you will change for next time.
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