Cake Decorating Community - Cakes We Bake

So I had my first colossal cake-tastrophy yesterday.  I worked on a three tiered Citadel graduation cake for the son of one of my pilot co-workers for 2 weeks.  Make molds of uniform buttons and a large bulldog topper.  The cake also had a gum paste barrack that lined the front of the cake.  It was beautiful and extremely labor intensive.  It has either been in the fridge or my airconditioned kitchen the past few days.  Well, needless to say it is a thousand degrees outside so it went directly into my SUV which had been running for 15 minutes with the ac on full blast for the trek an hour away to the party.  We arrived and opened the back to find the cake completely toppled over.  it was dowed and supported but I guess not good enough.  Thank God it was for a friend because I had a mini meltdown in their driveway, cried like a small child then sucked it up, tried my best to scrape up my dignity and the cake and took it inside for repair.  I only had bagged royal icing and black buttercream.  We did our best to repair but the checked floor, the draped sash around the middle, the back side brick walls, the tassels, and the back of the top dress uniform jacket were unrepairable....needless to say, lesson learned about buttercream icing, Texas heat, and transporting a kinda top heavy cake.  I will now do a little more research about tranporting tiered cakes....I wish I would have put the top on once we arrived. I am still a little sick about it.  :(

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I posted earlier about how "anal" I am about delivering a cake. I hope after a few days, and some encouraging posts, you are not feeling quite so bad.
One tip I did not mention in my post that ALWAYS works for me. I go to the grocery store & get a large, heavy, flat box. I cut the ends so I can slide out the cake, re-tape sides after cake us placed in box. Most important, I line the bottom if the box with a non -stick rubber mat. They sell rolls of this stuff everywhere. You line your kitchen shelves so your cups, mugs, etc., stay "put". I buy it at my Dollar store. Cheap, and let me tell you, my cakes Never move, shift. I also use several old soft, towels I roll up and place between the cake & the box. That rubber mat, as I said, keeps the cake from moving, shifting, which prevents the cake from beginning to crack, or heave. Once that starts, it is the beginning of the end. I also use royal icing to attach anything to my cakes. That stuff is like the cake world's "super glue"
When I read your post, I could feel the tears. But we all learn from mistakes, and I have had plenty. And I expect more.
Like someone else said, not now, but much later, you will smile about this. AND, you can share your invaluable experience with others.
so sorry! did u by chance take any pix before the dreadful ride? If u did plzzzz post. It sounds like it was super. I'm in FL & we get the TX heat here and have been tempted to assemble before leaving, but am glad I haven't and you have made me thankful. I appreciate your tale of woe.
Thanks for all of the supportive and kind words!  Definitely makes a girl feel better but I learned some definite lessons about building, support, and transport.  There are two pics pre assesmbly/toppled over in my photos.  They don't do the finished product justice so eventually I will download the post repair photos.  It did still turn out kinda neat and even though I am still sort of pouting about it, I am super proud to have finished it.  The Citadel grad loved it and the family said it really did represent his Knob (freshman) to senior year because he started out as sort of a disaster and progressed to a good finish.   :) 
Oh how sad. I never transport tiered cakes that are very large. I always take them separately and put them together when I get there. Takes a lot of stress off for sure. I hate to hear all of your hard work got messed up.
that stinks, hope you're feeling better. stuff happens

OMG!!!!what a nightmare poor you ,i put fondant on my top tier sponge  wedding cake and then put a display of flowers that only was only 6ozs in weight, so i thought i don't need any support SO WRONG!!!! it was a very hot day, went out for the morning, as the lady was comin to pick up at 2pm came back at 12.30 to find two big cracks gaping down the sides ,after hyperventilating!!! i stripped it recovered it decorated it put dowels IN!! put the flowers back on and then pretended i was completely chilled when she picked it up so i can understand ,cakes are terrible in heat it has knocked my confidence i will probably have so many dowels there will be no cake lol!!!

 

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