I delivered a wedding cake late this afternoon with tapered sides. The bride had brought me a topper that sits on the edge of the tier, and wanted it on the middle tier (3-tiered cake). Well, I told her I wasn't sure how secure it would be on the tapered sides and since it was heavy, but would test it on a different cake and see. I tried it last week on a different cake and it didn't move. Well, I delivered the cake and about 1/2 hour later called to check my messages. The FOB called to say the topper had fallen and taken a chunk with it. Apparently the caterers tried to smooth out the icing, then place the topper on the top tier. Then they decided to move the cake table, so the topper fell off again, taking another chunk out. I smoothed out the best I could, but we had to use the back of the cake which drove me crazy (the quilt didn't match up in the back, etc)!! The FOB was really nice and understanding, but really wanted the topper back on the cake. I got it on top of the bottom tier and waited abut 30 minutes, but had to leave right before the reception started. The caterers were nice and asked for extra icing in case it fell again, but I'm a wreck. The back of the cake is not as pretty as the front, and what if the music gets going and it falls off again??? I think I'm going to call the FOB tomorrow afternoon and see how everything went.
I tried to attach the photos but it says its too big....ugh

First of all let me tell you this disaster was NOT YOUR fault.

The cake was set up and doing fine until the caterers decided to move it and the table. That's what caused the disaster.

Don't you dare do any type of refund!! I'd explain the cause to the FOB or whomever paid for the cake and let them collect from the caterers!

You could always photobucket the pictures. Cause now I want to see the cake. lol.

I have to agree with the first responder in that it was not your fault, it was the caterers fault. There was probably NO REASON to move the cake in the first place.

I agree no where near your fault....but I would like to see the pics too!

I don't have MS Paint, but here is the link for photobucket:
http://s641.photobucket.com/albums/uu132/steadmanjpjb/?action=view¤t=029.jpg

The topper on the middle tier is before, on the bottom tier is after. According to the caterers it fell before they moved the table, then they stuck it on top, then moved the table and it fell again. The DJ seemed to have the same story. I just notice the cake is broken off the topper in the after picture.....ugh.....apparently the bride was really attached to this topper!

I posted this for someone else a little while ago, so I'll lift it word for word...(your cake was beautiful by the way).



If your photos are too large they won't go through...I just had that happen when I posted a pic on the Helmet Tips thread.

Go to http://www.shrinkpictures.com/ ...and right on their first page (scroll down a little), you'll see where you have to 1. choose a photo from your computer...2. choose a pixel size (I chose 600 to be safe, 800 is the size for CC)...leave 3 & 4 as they are, and click 5. RESIZE

When your new photo appears...right-click and save it to your computer, then you'll be able to use it in a post.

Whatever happened, your cake still looked lovely.NO REFUNDS--It wasn't your fault!!!

Don't feel too bad. Your only fault was not telling them that the topper was a horrible idea and explaining to them what could happen. Those toppers are ridiculous and whoever came up with the idea of creating something heavy to sit on the weakest (and completely unsupported) part of the cake is an idiot. Sometimes the people that design cake toppers amaze me with their ignorance!

In all likelihood, the majority of bakers that use a softer cake would have experienced the exact same problem. If I put that topper on one of our cakes, it would have fallen off and screwed up the cake too.

It's tough to tell a bride that something they have selected isn't going to work but sometimes it is completely necessary.

I know it sucks to have it happen to you, but the best thing to do is chalk it up to a learning experience and know that you will never let an incidence like this happen to you again!

Best of luck!

I agree with everyone else. This was not your fault, no refund. Just want to add that it was a very nice design.

Microsoft has an EXCELLENT free program that is super easy to use and you just download it from the website for resizing images. Once you install it, you just right click on your image and select resize picture. It gives you 3 screen resolution sizes and then makes a duplicate copy of the image at the lower resolution. It has made my life so much easier!
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/learnmore/tips/eschelman2.mspx

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

Not your fault at all

Thanks so much for the encouragement, my stomach was in knots all night! All I can see is how the quilt design doesn't match up in the after picture I'm going to call the FOB this afternoon to see how everything went, and will update!

Oh but what I wanted to say is the quilt part is actually genius--it's right in the middle like you wanted it random-y there~no worries~beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that's a gorgeous cake.

I spoke with the FOB, and the topper stayed put the rest of the evening He said everything went fine, thanked me for returning to fix the cake, and said everyone commented on how delicious the cake was. As the baker I of course am not completely happy about the final appearance of the cake, but am glad everyone thought it tasted good!! Thanks so much for all of your compliments and support, I love CC

I think the cake is beautiful and am sorry that happened, it doesnt spound like he's asking for any refund, so no worries. If you feel really guilty you could always send them a "coupon" for a free 6" cake for a future event or something of that nature...just a thought.

Agree w/everyone - but....... especially piceofcakeaz. She is so right on w/her comments.

so sorry this happend to you but your cake is absolutely beautiful!!

Just a note to let you know your cake turned out beautiful. I'm glad the family loved the cake.

-Debbie B.

Beautiful cake! Disasters or not!

However... am I the only one who is surprised you didn't put a little support under that topper? Obviously no need to major doweling or anything, but I would have put something under it for sure! Actually I keep a box of "milkshake" straws (red, slightly bigger/stronger than regular straws, but much smaller than bubble tea straws) on had just for supporting toppers and mini tiered cakes. I probably would have used two for that topper.

I'm not trying to make you feel bad!!! We all have our "oops" moments! I wouldn't even call this a disaster considering how amazing the final "messed-up" cake still looks! I too think the quilting line could be seen as "intentional."

Again... Gorgeous cake! But next time... support the topper. I forgot on a cake I did for a contest a few weeks ago... cold SMBC tricked me into forgetting that the cake would be soft a few hours, and the topper was heavy... top tier crack. Doh!

I would love to know how to support the topper set on the tapered side as the OP's cake.
Can we put the support on an angle?
Anybody has done this?

Because similar accident happened to me as well, luckly it was a birthday cake for 2 year old.

Actually the topper had a support about 2 1/2 inches long under it. I thought about adding another support under it, but there was no room with the support already attached (the actual base of the topper was very small. I would have rather had no support attached to it, then would have doweled it like I have other heavy toppers. I even thought about about snapping the piece off, but didn't want to take the change of cracking the whole thing!