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What's a Wreck?

A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.

Now, don't you have a photo you want to send me? ;)

- Jen
Wednesday
Jul272011

Cake Wrecks: The People's Court Edition

Guys, I get a lot of wreck reactions via e-mail. I've seen multi-page rants IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS from bridezillas, blistering sarcasm from disappointed parents, and more "LOL"s than I can count. I've even known one or two brides who had to take their bakers to court to get a refund.

However.

I've never - ever - seen someone sue a baker for over $4,300 over a misspelled name on a $55 cake.

UNTIL NOW.

If you can't see the video because you're at work, count yourself lucky. Frankly, I was ready to bash my own head in after the first three minutes. That lady gives crazy a bad name.

Oh, and here's the wreck in question - or at least part of it:


The judge reads the baker the riot act over the cracks in the icing, but also points out to the mom that if you saddle your child with a ridiculously spelled name (it's pronounced "Kiesha" but spelled "Keshia") then you pretty much have to expect people to screw it up for her entire lifetime. And so stop sweating the small stuff already.

Good advice all 'round, wouldn't you say?

Oh, and if *I* were that baker, I think I'd have replaced the cake with something a little more appropriate:

:D

(Then I'd direct Ms. Crazy Pants to this blog for an eye-opening dose of perspective.)

Thanks to Kathy D. and David S., who are consulting their lawyers. So watch out, moms.

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Reader Comments (226)

~laugh~ ok this is too funny, and so sad. I actually have a weird name in that it is spelled and pronounced like another name. My name is Liza, but it is pronounced like Lisa with a z, not like Liza Minnelli. I have to correct people at least once a day on days I don't leave the house and way more on days that I do. What were my parents thinking? Who knows, but I just go with it, I quickly repeat my name back with the way it SHOULD be pronounced and give a little laugh. I figure if I got mad every time someone got my name wrong I would be one very angry girl and who wants to be like that all the time. BTW my kid has a short and sweet and no confusion possible name.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterVelvet Kitten

Dear Catherine @ 3:20,

Greetings from a Kathryn, who has always had to spell her name also.

Everyone always wants to put a C in my name, or add lots of unnecessary vowels. ;-)

And just TRY finding anything "personalized" with the right spelling on it.

The worst is upon being introduced to someone as "Kathryn" and extending my hand for a handshake, and they come out with "Nice to meet you Cathy!"

Um, no, sorry. We just met, you don't get to give me a nickname. You have to at least take me out to dinner and invite me over for Christmas before you start with the nicknames.

My name is even misspelled on a credit card I got through my bank. They have the proper name on the account, I filled out the application correctly, but no, wrong spelling on the actual card. Sigh.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterKittyKat

My mom wanted to name me "Hilaurie" when I was born. (Pronounced the same as "Hillary".) Because it was "so pretty and unique!" Thank god my dad stepped in and gave me a better name. I can only imagine going through life being called "Hi Laurie".

Dad's reasoning was the same as the judges: Don't name your kid something you don't want misspelled all over the damn place.

I named my daughter Amy because it's impossible to misspell. Common sense, people need to use it more.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterNoelle

I cannot believe how unprofessional the judge is! she is judgement, leading,over-dramatic, telling personal stories, winds them all up, interrupts, then the judge loses her cool "wigs out" and just start wild rambling. the judge is driving me nuts. I can't imagine that kind of behaviour being allowed in a legal system. what is this?

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterdownundersugarglider

What a nutball! I loved the judge's rant at the end though... priceless!

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLost Musician

What a nut case! To get that upset/crazy over a name being spelled wrong when it has a weird spelling in the first place?! Insanity!

My sister's name is spelled oddly, so she regularly gets it spelled incorrectly. Her middle name is also legally spelled incorrectly on her birth certificate/SS card (Katheirne instead of Katherine) Our last name is also frequently spelled wrong even though it's simple. We crack up over spellings which are way off.

I was just having a conversation with co-worker whose name is spelled Baylee about how annoying it is when people try to be cutesy and spell their kid's names in a ridiculous way. If you feel like it's necessary to do so, be prepared to have it spelled wrong their whole life.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterGaliAvsFan3954

My name is Suzanne and I've been correcting people my whole life. This woman really thinks anyone will get Keshia right? Ever?

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterCookiegoddess42

Nikki, Nike, Nicky...--I completely understand! I've been called Ricky, Vicki...and even Michelle, Heather, Amanda...all of my life. Sometimes I just look at the person and laugh. Especially when they've known me for years and can never get my name right. I answer to just about anything. Just don't call me stupid, sugar, hon, babe, and it's fine.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

I laughed so hard the first time I saw this on TV. I couldnt believe it. I was just telling someone about the show this week so thank you for posting the link.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLinda

Ok...I can't let this one pass. My name is Michele - with one L. And my middle name is Rene - with one E...and no A. As my ex-husband was fond of saying, "Vanna, I'd like to buy a vowel."

Yes, I am female...not a French male. I used to work in a grocery store in a college town and had a customer pay with a check. HIS name was Rene. I pointed to it and told him that was my middle name. The look on his face was priceless.

And yes, I WAS named after the Beatles' song. I had a customer tell me that when the song was originally released in Germany, this is how it was spelled. He might have just been trying to make me feel better... One of my fondest memories though is every time we went to some friends of my parents, the gentleman would sing, Michele my belle as his greeting to me. He's the only one who has ever done it.

I've been called MANY things including Mitchell, Michael and apparently I look like a Melissa because I've gotten that one frequently. In fact I had just started a new job and my boss couldn't remember my name for the life of him. One morning he'd been into the office and gone again before I got there, but he'd left me a note: Melissa,... I was showing it around the office and someone asked, "What IS your name?" I said, "I was named after a song..." at which point one of the ladies belts out "ROOOOOOXAAAAANNNE!!" Noooooo not that one! :D

Oh...and one more thing. My brother went and married a Michele...and yes, she's a 1 L Michele, too! (Her mom is Judy and used to work for my mom Judy, too!) Not a little bit confusing at family gatherings! And people ask me why I didn't take back my maiden name when I got divorced!!

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMichele

I think that dude needs to just back out of the engagement while he still can!

As for names, my last name is Craver. I frequently get Carver. We also see mail for Raver, Craugher, and Crapper. I laughed my butt off when we got the letter for Crapper. Really? REALLY?! Hahaha. It never occured to me to try and sue someone over that. I was too busy cracking up I guess.

And I have a very normally spelled, common first name and had someone ask me how to spell it recently. I must have had a look on my face because the guy quickly said, "Well, you know, people spell things so strangely these days, I wanted to make sure!"

wv: crumble ...well that's no fun, it's a real word!

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

I would watch that vid but seeing as I am a hormonal mess at the moment my computer would probably fly out the window for sheer stupidity at the crazy woman for such a stupid lawsuit. Man I can see where the cake doesn't look too great with cracks and all but to sue for nearly 4500 over a name? Wouldn't want to meet that lady she might sue me just for walking by her lol.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterArlene

My first name is Jessica. My co-worker (who can't spell even the simplest of words) spelled it 'Jessca' the other day. I couldn't believe it. She has to see my name every day because it's written on the schedule. How could she forget the i?! I'm going to sue her!!!

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJessIca

Sigh. Ke, with a long 'e'; shia = shya, the 'ia' is pronounced like the last syllable in California: Kal-i-forn-ya. "Keshia" is an African girl's name meaning *favorite*. Can't imagine why this family went for an African name for their little blonde baby, oh wait, mom's nuts, never mind.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

When my first daughter was born I made sure that I had her name down EXACTLY as I wanted it--Ethyln. Simple! As for my second child, I picked an uncommon name that's been around for years and no one can seem to pronounce it or spell it--Genevieve! Yeesh...

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Wouldn't you do the same (or close to it) if it was YOUR child?

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

I'm guessing none of you must be parents. then?

I mean by then it must be getting more than a little irritating to see your CHILD'S name misspelled.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

I know all about names being mis-spelled and mis-pronounced. Mine is Gerrie with a hard G, not a soft J sound. Until a couple of years ago I was regularly asked to spell or pronounce it, unfortunately a lady with the name of Geri (pronounced Jeri) became famous and all of a sudden everyone knew how my name was said and spelled. The really annoying thing is when a lady I have known for years (who has been getting my name right the whole time) starts getting it wrong because a Geri has started working in the same office - I just laugh and point out how much longer she has known me. I just slap my dad upside the head when he writes Gery on my birthday cards - I was named after his mum. :P
My sister also has dificulty she has a quite common name, but with the European spelling - her email address for years was "with-an-s" because that was how she told people her name - it is "Elisabeth with an s" The biggest laugh she had was when she saw someone writing Selizabeth.
And don't get me started on our surname :D
cheers
Gerrie T.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

"I'm so mad!!! You ruined the whole party with your terrible cake!!! I want all of my money back because of this tragedy!!!!"

[shaken under-paid waitstaff person wheels cake tragedy into kitchen]

"Ma'am, we're sorry we made a terrible mistake. Have some free drinks that cost more than the cake. Would you still like us to cut the cake and serve it to the guests?"

"What? Now we're not supposed to eat the cake? Where'd the cake go? Why wouldn't we eat the cake? Of course we want to eat the cake."

You can't win when you're up against that kind of crazy. Good thing there was a bar, I'm sure the staff needed it.

Word verification: brayf

You have to be brayf when you're in customer relations, there's a lot of crazy out there.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterDonna B.

I ALWAYS spell my last name before I pronounce it because it is so unusual. (Sometimes I don't even pronounce it - because the person usually repeats it back to me INCORRECTLY?!?) When I get a funny look or the comment "well, THAT'S an unusual name" - I just reply with "it's my husband's name - my maiden name was Jones" - that usually gets a laugh.

Also, my first name is Marilyn - how many times do you think it's been spelled incorrectly?? And, how many times have I been asked if I was named after Marilyn Monroe??? (I was actually named after the doctor who delivered me!)

As a side note - my husband's name on his Birth Certificate is Anthony, but he has been Tony all his life. Not difficult, right? His pet peeve is having someone spell his name TONI!

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

My name's been misspelled and mispronounced for years. Married last name is apparently incredibly difficult for people too. We just roll our eyes and go with it. My daughet got a certificate from her dance class made out to "Enma" (Emma). It happens, but it's certainly not worth suing over it. Although I thought the cake was hideous, even without the misspelling and the cracks. $55 for that?? Get a Costco cake for $19!

WV: Cospe (pronounced Koy)

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

One other thing that struck me while listening/watching this video - over $4k for an Engagement Party? And then you order a $50 SHEET cake?? And that SHEET cake is the HIGHLIGHT of the event??? Can you say NO CLASS? I hope this Bride at LEAST got a round cake for her wedding - even if it was only one-tier! Poor girl.

Oh - and the mother-of-the-bride-zilla says she only went to court so that everyone would know NOT to have their event at this venue. Hmm, I'll bet what she did was get her name posted to every baker's "Do NOT accept an order from this woman" list. I know I wouldn't accept her as a client.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Loving the comments even though I can't watch the video! Also love that "Rob" has come on board to give his side of things.

I guess I am fortunate to have a fairly straightforward name - can't recall anyone butchering it. Yet.

@SuBee - I am not sure if you ever looked it up after your discussion with your student, but *sadly* the student was right and that particular athlete does spell his name "Anfernee."

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterWendy

My name is constantly spelled wrong (Kaylee, Kay Lee, Kalie, blah blah blah), and was once spelled wrong on a birthday cake. It upset me--for about five minutes. (The actual taste of the cake was worse than the misspelling, to be honest.)

When you go through life having your name misspelled and mispronounced by everyone, you usually learn to have a sense of humor about it... NOT to sue everyone who spells it wrong.

WV: Ceparic, pronounced "Smith."

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterKayleigh

If I got $4300 every time my last name was spelled wrong, I'd probably have an opinion about the capital gains tax right now.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

My first name has a silent "H" in it (Johanna) - my father was a German professor, he should have known better, but there it is. I never get wound up when people spell or pronounce my name incorrectly.

And when my wedding cake ended up with a cascade of magenta flowers instead of "very, very pale pink almost white" I thought, "WOW! That's gorgeous!

Life is too short - just eat the cake!

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJKS

There's a chance that the order form said "Keshia" as the mom specified, but the decorator corrected it to "Keisha." S/he probably thought s/h was saving the day, poor soul.

Incidentally, my maiden name starts with a Y and is unusual, so I laways have to spell it. For some reason, people hear Y as starting with a "wh" shound and write down a W. Aggravating.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterkayk

Actually the bakery spelled the name right. It's the mom who can't spell that got it wrong in the first place. If you want to name your kid KEY-sha then don't spell it so it looks like Kesh-EE-a.

If you spell your kid's name in a stupid way you lose the right to get pissed off when other people don't get it right.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Run Rob run! You really want to have a woman like that for a mother-in-law??

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterSomebody

Wow. Just WOW. My name is constantly messed up, but it doesn't bother me in the least. Perhaps if this mother had simply, "asked" instead of, "axed", this entire situation could have been averted. Side note - I wish I had a daughter, so I could name her Magrat instead of Margaret (in true Discworld fashion).

WV: "puzzy". Seriously? I'm not even going to touch that one.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterRebekah

"I yelled and I screamed and said 'This is absolutely unheard of'".....haha....clearly this woman has never heard of Cake Wrecks!

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLauren

My name is Maureen. Not Morine, not Merriam, Mary, Moreen, Morin, Merine, Marine (yes like a sea creature) or any other crazy spelling I have seen. But every misspelling is cause for yet another laugh, not a lawsuit. Things happen. I mean she KNEW her daughter's name got spelled incorrectly all the time, its not like this is a new thing. Yes, an engagement party is a big deal but not this big of a deal. I honestly thought my brother's engagement was a bit silly with plastic rings flotsam but the evening was fun the cake was good and my kids got mementos form the night to wear until they broke.

wv: urawtchi- nuff said :)

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMaureen

Just saw this pic and it made me think of this post!
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lohlu5FtWz1qctkcl.jpg

Yes, her name is "spontaniouse", apparently no upper case S. How often do you think that gets "misspelled"?

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnnette

God, and people wonder why our judicial system is messed up. I blame it on cases like this, aka: stupid people :-p

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAshlee

Ok..there are no words to describe the crazy lady.....none.

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterOur Crazy Family

My name is Joan. You wouldn't believe how that's mispelled and mispronounced. JoAn, Jone(even my own nephew, dagnabit!!), Jo, and beyond belief - John. Go figure.

My husband, on the other hand, has a very unique name and spelling. We have fun seeing people try pronouncing his name, especially doctors' offices. I've called a couple "whimp" when they opted to call him by his last name instead.

wv: munivers - you should have seen all the mu-ni-vers they made thinking through how to say it!

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Here! Here! to a new generation of normal names. I've spent entirely too much time reading comments on this post.
I also made it to the 3:14 mark before I had to shut her down. Curiosity killed and I watched the conclusion.
"I knew I wasn't going to get my money, I just wanted to let them know how pissed I was."

I can't...
just there's a....
you see....
how could....

{sigh}

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterrilojane

oh... and I don't know that it's been addressed: it was for an *engagement party*.
Does anyone else see the lack of importance here?

July 28, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterrilojane

I don't really mind when people don't spell my name (Abigail) right. I get Abbygale, Abbiegal, etc. A lot of people, though, just switch it to something else and call me Amanda or Gabrielle or something like that.

I was babysitting a three-year-old who apparently hadn't encountered my name before and decided it was "Alligator." She called me that all evening.

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAA

Oh! Oh! Yes! Let's hope the clerk spells the bride's name wrong on the marriage license and momma throws that away too!!!

w.v. marce, pronounced marsh-ee-ah

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

If you had to do that all the time you'd be pissed too... more so if it was your child, people.

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Can I sue them (not you, I love you guys!) for the 15 minutes I just spent watching that ridiculousness? Talk about a 1st World problem!

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterKaren

@Anony 545am, I do have to spell my daughter's name all the time. It's no big deal. There are things that are worth getting pissed about over and over, but spelling isn't one of them.

Wrecked cake might be worth getting pissed over, but then you get a refund ($100 of free drinks works nicely, too), take a pic and send it to Cake Wrecks so we can all laugh about it.

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterDonna B.

Wait, so the mother spent 5 grand ont he party and 55$ on her daughter's engagement cake?! ROFL...cheeaaap a**!

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Best bizarre spelling I have ever seen on a name:

Ph'antayzia

Sound it out, you'll get it.

WV: kiwde--alternate spelling for "cutie"

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJulie

I work for an Infants & Toddlers program and I take referrals for children who may be eligible to receive speech and physical therapy. Considering the number of bizarro names parents like to bestow on their kids these days, even a name like Catherine or Michael I get the spelling for because you never know if it's going to be Kath'rynn or Mykkl.

Many of the names I get are easy to pronounce and spell, but the other day I got one for a baby girl named K'Lei. I have no idea if it's supposed to sound like Kay-Lee, Kay-Ligh, Kay-Lay or if it's Kuh-Lee, Kuh-Ligh, or Kuh-Lay.

So parents, it's one thing to be unique, but it's another to be yoo-neek and your child will have some issues.

---Bree "just like the cheese but spelled differently, and no, it's not short for Breanna or Gabrielle."

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterBree

I have a Polish surname. When asked, "Can you spell that?" I always answer, "Yes!" The dead silence after that always cracks me up!

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

My first name is Leslie, pronounced with a z, so of course it's mispronounced daily. However what drives me nuts is when they get my name completely wrong: Lisa or Lacey usually. I work in customer service and I am often "Rosalie" to customers , or even more bizarre, "Barbara". I never have figured that one out. my last name is Monroe, which is more often than not spelled and/or pronounced Monreo or Moore. My least favorite response of all time, "Monroe? Any relation to Marilyn?" Why yes, I am related to the actress...and just decided to use her stage name to pass to my children instead of her given name. Drives me nuts!!

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterHippie2MARS

It would have been awesome if the judge had been all, "This should be on Cake Wrecks!"!!

July 29, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJen

I think I can beat pretty much any misspelling story, although mine wasn't on a cake. One day I called my local Pizza Hut to place a carry out order and gave them my last name--Thomas--to label my order. Twenty minutes later I go to pick up my pizza and the cashier says 'Thomas? We don't have a Thomas.' I asked if maybe they had a Thompson (one of their workers made that error fairly frequently) but they didn't.

Eventually I just told the cashier my order and my total. She found my order and died laughing. The name on the tag? Phrpon. P-H-R-P-O-N. How does that even happen?

July 30, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterNat :)

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