Monday
Aug082011
D'OH!
August 8, 2011
It took me forever to realize this wedding cake was supposed to have a Simpsons theme:
;)
Mmmmm. Paaaaaper.
And yes, you read that right: this was a WEDDING CAKE.
And yes, you read that right: this was a WEDDING CAKE.
I especially like the way the sides transition seamlessly from edible paper to airbrushed fondant:
;)
SEAMLESS.
Oh, and Bart's chalkboard reads, "I will not lick the wedding cake."
I guess there wasn't room for "...not if you paid me a million dollars."
Posted by a justifiably irate bride here, and spotted by Meredith, who thinks we should RELEASE THE HOUNDS!!
New site update from john: From about 6:30 to 7:00 tonight, we were trying to speed up the website a bit. This ended up making everything wonky. Sorry about that. It's back to normal. Isn't this fun? [banging head against wall]
Reader Comments (85)
I feel so sorry for the bride. I'm glad the bakery is now out of business. As an Austinite, I sure wish I knew which bakery they contracted the job out to because I would never want to use that bakery either. (I'm iffy as to whether or not I believe they actually shopped it out...they probably just didn't want to admit to having made that awful cake.)
I like the idea of releasing the hounds, but TechyDad has a good idea too about releasing the bees. Bees and hounds would make a good combo!
I feel sorry for the bride and groom!
You know...at least it was cake inside right? My wedding "cake" was actually whole wheat bread with chocolate butter cream in between the "layers" and some ugly buttercream on the top. I had a sad.... But Yeah I feel for the bride....having a cake not turn out the way you want, on a very special day that only happens once *hopefully* is a real kick to the netherregions. :( I should know.
I wonder why the baker didnt just leave the blue air brushed cake, then cut ot little 2D fondant clouds. Even if that might not have looked super good. it wouldnt have any ugly seems like this one.
They look like little round satin pillows.
There is no excuse for the level of incompetence and outright fraud perpetuated by this 'company.' This isn't a case of Bridezilla rage without logical reason it's a case of outright failure to deliver a promised product. Looking at the articles and reviews of this 'bakery' this bride was lucky to just get this mess. They could have ended up with nothing.
Wow, that's all I can say about this cake...WOW! Unfortunately every day there are so-called companies taking money for wedding cakes that they can't deliver on. The most common fraud being that they steal pictures of beautiful cakes from the internet and post as their own work. The unsuspecting bride doesn't do her homework and ends up with a cake that shows up here in CW. Great for our amusement, sad for her.
I actually talked with a bride who was ripped off by that company. The company posted pictures out of magazines & stolen off line as thier own. I asked them to send me pricing info & pictures of "their work" so I could see their skill level. (I was posing as a bride) they never responded. They quickly closed up their website.
Ask to see where your cakes are baked & pictures of original work. A company that says they can do those designs should have photos of the cakes they did not the ones that professonal designers have done.
I hate to see people get ripped off.
My children have all asked me to make their favorite cakes into their wedding cakes. I always feel so inadequate for the task. But thanks to pictures like these, I realize that I won't ever really screw up the cakes! And everyone likes having their most favorite cake as their wedding cake.
John H-O-J-
Have a lie down, a cuppa and apply a cold cloth to your banged up head- LOL
thanks for all the work,
mocking
When professional cakes go horribly hilariously wrong!
What were the small blue cakes with the bows supposed to be? Was it a Maggie cupcake? Can someone tell me?
So I googled "Totally Caked Up". I'm sad to see it's in Austin, TX. My hometown. That poor bride. O.O *goes to make sure her sister isn't using them for her wedding*
First off, I'd like to begin by saying until I read the first line of your post, I had no clue that was supposed to be the Simpsons.
Secondly, any fans of the Simpsons should be furious for the brutal blow the writers and anyone involved in the amazing cartoon recieved from this cake.
Thirdly, is this thing edible? I mean, I am sure you could eat it. But I honestly wouldn't unless I cut a piece from the middle of the cake. Thats just disgusting looking.
Forthly (I understand this isn't funny anymore. :P) I loved how mad the bride was about this (and justly so!) with her excessive quotations about the fine craftsman ship. I laughed, but it was also in empathy.. I can't imagine having a wedding cake like that! And the mini cakes were supposedly horrible also, and I can only imagine how that fueled the fire for the Bride.
And lastly, I would just love to tell Jen, you have done an excellent job with this site. I find it funny and just amazing period. I am constantly coming back to this site, just to see the updates. I know that there are many fans of it, but for someone who is 23 and gets weird looks from her friends for visiting a site about cakes, well its a heartfelt "You're just great!" (:
If you have a Simpson's wedding cake - how high are your standards, really?
(and I miss wv)
You should see how they promote themselves on LinkedIn -- it's a riot! http://www.linkedin.com/in/totallycakedupweddingcakes
I take particular issue with this claim:
Education
The University of Texas at Austin
PhD, Cake Design & Artistry
Don't besmirch my alma mater by claiming to have even attended it, much less obtained a PhD in a nonexistent field!
Horrible reviews on Project Bride, too. Turns out these people are con artists--they take the money and run or deliver a crap cake. Jen and John, if you hear from them with a request to take down the images, just know there are people looking for them in Texas wanting their money back. I'd post all their info on the site so those brides and families can get their money back! :D
Licensed/trademarked character cakes.
We have several people who ask us to make trademarked character cakes and we explain to them why we generally don't.
A couple of years back, Disney went after and sued small mom & pop stores in L.A. that were selling homemade pinatas with the likeness of several Disney trademarked characters.
Granted, if you only do it every great once in a while and don't really talk about it or post pictures then they probably won't bother with you but better to be safe than be sued.
It's just not worth it and if you do get a licensing agreement, usually you have to use their premade decorations & designs which, as Cake Wrecks,has so frequently demonstrated, are not necessarily a good thing.
There are several things you can do as a decorator to find a happy middle ground that can at least be in the spirit of the character if not the actual depiction but it's always something you have to keep in mind.
I saw on one of the links provided that the justifiably irate customers were trying to get a class action law-suit going, or criminal charges for fraud/theft/whatever. That was back in '09. Does anybody know what happened in the end? Were the thieves punished, or have they skittered off to another city to fleece more unsuspecting innocents?
Also, I appreciate the advice about asking for actual photos. Any other suggestions about how to ensure your wedding cake doesn't end up on CW (on Mon-Fri at least! Sunday's… may be out of my price range).
wow what a wreck this is lol.
I'm not a wedding coordinator, but I am a professional meeting planner. Aliza asked for suggestions to protect yourself from criminal wreckerators... A couple of things occurred to me based on my experience; Read the contract carefully. If there is no language stating that the product will be made exclusively by the baker you are hiring - then insert language that they may not 'sub-contract' any part of your order without prior written approval.
Also - all terms should be in writing. If there is something you want the baker to do - get them to write it down. If they are pushing you to do something (like pay), but are being slow themselves (providing a contract, answering calls/e-mails, etc.) - consider that a red flag. Also - ask for references of at least 5 satisfied clients. A bad baker can always find a 'friend' to pose as a client, for a reference check - but there is a limit.
Don't sign a contract on-site - take it home, read it a couple of times, let someone else read it & make sure that it covers your needs. Remember the person writing the contract is doing so to cover 'themselves' not to protect you.
Finally, just remember caveat emptor - let the buyer beware. If something seems sketchy or weird, be suspicious, ask questions. Don't worry about 'what they'll think of me' you are hiring this person to be a part of a special occasion in your life, protect yourself from disappointment.
Oh, dear heaven's... my heart breaks for the bride and groom and my sense of artistry and good taste is DEEPLY offended!!!
Seriously, as someone who LOVES to bake and has made many a tasty, beautiful cake, I would have GLADLY made such a cake for this bride. Granted I haven't gotten to gum paste or made things like sugar flowers yet, but no question it would have been superior in BOTH appearance and taste!
I REALLY HOPE they find these people, cover them in cake and frosting and put them out for the birds to peck off!
I see three cushions stacked on top of each other. At least they look comfortable :)
I do have to wonder, though...do these brides not ask to see real cakes made by the baker ahead of time? I know that doesn't mean some awful cake might not slip in there, but when I got married, I chose a baker who had made cakes for other events I'd attended, and when I went in to talk with them about my wedding, there were other samples of their work available. I would never, ever, just choose a bakery based on photos of cakes they claimed to have made.
they should've gone to Buddy in Hoboken.
Definitely thought it was stuffed and not a cake! What a mess!!
@Douglas, I was actually thinking of Buddy when I saw this and read more about the 'company' and I think Buddy would rip the 'faker bakers' a new one for defiling his craft!
But this was in Austin, so Buddy wasn't available... sad :( From what I've seen, Buddy and his family at Carlo's Bakery take their job very seriously when it comes to making delicious, beautiful cakes and pastries. They take clear pride and put real love and care in what they do because their goal is to make people happy with their creations and they've been commissioned by from brides to music and dance groups to major players and names in entertainment such as Oprah Winfrey.
Hey, Jen. I hope you post up some pics from Carlo's at some point.
What a shame, at least the little cupcakes are cute
@ TechyDad and Kae, kudos for your Simpsons mastery! :D
Oh and I sure won't be missing wv at all.
The company could have actually made a huge profit even if they took the orders to a grocery store or something. Hell, I work in an Albertsons and I can decorate a good cake (and for a lot cheaper than I'd do one from home). Of course, not all grocery stores have great decorators, but I'd still think they could have put some effort into finding a cheap decorator to do the work. I can understand scamming soon-to-be-brides for money (I wouldn't, but I see how this COULD have been a good plan. lol) but what they did to people is just sad and pathetic. I don't understand how some people can be so heartless.
Can these people be sued?
I'm so glad I've never ordered anything from here. You have to check out all the reviews on Project Wedding : http://www.projectwedding.com/vendor/show/totally-caked-up
Oh dear. That is truly hideous. A great idea, like someone else said, but umm...how about some craftsmanship?
now that's just sad as hell. i'd'a freaked out all over those people. and then thrown the cake at them. HARD.
YES! RELEASE THEM! RELEASE THE HOUNDS!
SHAME, SHAME!
They paid real money for that?? It wasn't by some distant cousin who swore up and down that they could make a three tiered Simpson cake? This was a professional cake???? Seriously?!?!?! Ok, just because you have the money to buy and airbrush and a printer that are food safe, doesn't make you a professional!! That's assuming they used food safe materials...... Well, that would explain the glue taste!!!