I was at a wedding a few weeks ago and some adults and kids were sticking their fingers in and licking the icing. They're reasoning was the groom had done that to their cakes when he was a little boy and they were just paying him back. I have seen this before unfortunately.

Where do they come from, all these uncouth people?

that's the most stupid thing i've heard in a very long time.

I am really sorry this happened to you, but thank you for sharing your rant. I will definitely put some guards in place when set up at big events. As far as these disgusting people go...Heavy sigh... you can't fix stupid!!

As far as the Dr's wife goes, I likely would have let everyone in the room know what she did, nice a loud and then after she paid her measly $35 accidently drop it on the floor.

First, OP, you did a wonderful job. Unfortunately, people are idjits. You'd think after Ace of Cakes, KakeBoss, Cake Challenge and numerous other caking shows, they'd realize that cakes are no longer 9X13 slabs from Wallyworld.

I go to a fundraising event for my DH's work every year (he works with mentally handicapped adults). They always have a silent auction ... BUT every item has a minimum bid, for this very reason. So it doesn't go for far less than it's worth. Sure, you bid in the hopes of getting something nice for less than the actual amount (we got a B&B voucher for$75, worth $100), but that Drs wife needs a swift kick in the backside. I like the idea of dropping it after she 'won' ... better yet, 'accidentally' trip and drop it down her front. After she's handed over the money, of course.

TwistedSplinters: My 8 yr. old daughter loves babies. Whenever she spots one, she immediately goes over to see. I've taught her to never, ever kiss or touch a baby, just blow kisses from a few feet away. I tell her that it's because she doesn't know if the baby's got a cold, and she doesn't want the make the baby sick either. I've had more than one parent actually say "thank you" when she does this. Too many people take liberties.

Starkie: Like Bill Engvall says: Here's your sign.

Ooooh Jan... I love that!

I have always told my children "look with your eyes, not your hands". I think that would be a good sign for cakes on display.

I just wanted to say that your cake is amazing!

Lomikesa

I vote you have a guard stand there with a ruler. Each fool that tries to touch gets smacked. Bet they'd get the hint REALLY fast.

But then I am evil like that.

Yea, as already stated...you just can't change stupid.
I will NEVER understand why people touch food that has to be eaten by others such as this.

[quote="KitagrlI have four boys and the last still in the tail end of diapers but after that...done! [/quote]

I have 4 boys as well, two in diapers; youngest is 2 months old. But I make sure none of my kids touch anyone else's baby or cake.

Try doing a demo in a craft store. I can't tell you how many people reach out to pick up the gumpaste flowers and such before I can tell them not to touch. And adults are the worse! I once had a lady drag her finger though the icing on the top of my cake (I was away from the table still gathering things to set up) cause she didn't think it was real.

Believe me I have so wanted to have a hands off sign many of times. But I know it'd be a waste of time since they wouldn't stop to read it before touching.

Not defending cake touchers at all, but I *DO* understand.

I did the catering for CakeRN's daughter's wedding. She did the 5 tier wedding cake AND a great beer bucket groom's cake (and transported it about 100 miles to the reception, too!)

She had a sign in front the of beer bucket cake of "Yes, it's a cake!" There was a constant crowd of people around it before and after the wedding.

When she got it set up, I walked over to look at it. It was an incredible cake! My hand was halfway to the cake when I caught myself and jerked my hand back, laughing about "omg! I was almost one of those touchy people!"

I do cakes for a living. She had a sign in front of it. None of it stopped me from ALMOST touching the cake.

I think it's a chromosome in us that makes us want to touch beautiful things. Which is why museaums have lots of signs that say "DON'T TOUCH!"

Debi
It must be the same chromosome that makes us want to smack said stupid people.

I must link my hands behind my back to keep myself from not touching.

I don't think it right either, and I would be upset if they did that to one of my cakes. I can understand in a way. The cakes now days are so involved, almost like a craft profect. Fondant figures, gumpaste flowers that are so life life, it makes you want to touch.

I have the same probs over here with people who can't seem to keep their hands to themselves.
Whenever I get a cake finished and here comes DH to look at the cake, I have to "quickly" tell him "Don't Touch It!". Otherwise, he will touch it. I hate that!
One time I had done some roses with fondant, I went to show him the roses, and sure enough, he put his fingers into the roses and they looked crummy after that. He said, he thought they were fake flowers.

Then I had done a cake a long time ago for a silent auction, and I saw this lady after she touched and poked the cake, then she sneezed. I had to go and throw the entire thing out and when I was asked why did I throw the cake out, I told them to go ask the lady who sneezed on it.

Little signs don't work, people still touch and poke..

Not all of us are rude persons (dr's wives)