Cake Cutting Disaster?

Na, more like; A Cake-Cutting Story to Remember

I recently had the pleasure of photographing Ken and Amanda’s wedding at Tiffanys Maleny. It was a beautiful day, though not without its surprises. What some might call a “cake-cutting disaster,” I’d call an unexpected moment for Amanda and Ken to show how cool and collected they really are.

This was a cake-cutting photo no one could’ve predicted. I’ve already seen a few comments online from people in disbelief that something like this could happen on a wedding day. So, let me be clear; this did happen, and it’s not a staged photo!

Earlier in the day, Amanda’s bouquet went missing. It had been created by the talented team at Tiffany’s Flowers and was stunningly planned, but Amanda was more concerned about her Great Grandmother’s antique brooch, which had been attached to the ribbon around the stems.

During the reception, while meals were being served, Michael from Deluxe Kombi Service and I retraced our steps from the post-ceremony portrait session to search for it. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, it was dark, and we had no luck. When I returned, I had the difficult task of letting Amanda know we couldn’t find the bouquet or the brooch. I braced myself, expecting her to break down, but she held herself together with incredible grace.

Then it was time for Ken and Amanda to cut their amazing wedding cake, created by Eden Cakes and Cupcakes. That’s when the unthinkable happened. As the cake toppled, there was a collective gasp loud enough to be heard down the street, followed by stunned silence. All eyes were on Ken and Amanda, waiting to see how they’d react. To everyone’s relief, they responded with calm and laughter, showing their resilience and grace.

When they saw the image on the back of my camera, they chuckled, helping to ease the tension in the room. I’ve seen couples become stressed over far less, but their humor and lightheartedness set a positive tone for the rest of the evening.

Despite a missing bouquet, an antique brooch, and a fallen cake, Ken and Amanda never lost sight of what mattered. Their love for each other and joy in the moment overcame every challenge. As I was leaving, I glanced back to see Amanda still smiling ear to ear, and I couldn’t help but be moved. What a lady. Ken even went out of his way to stop me and thank me for being part of their day. An absolute gentleman.

Now, I bet you’re wondering, did they find the bouquet? Well, the next day, Michael returned to Maleny to search again. After some dedicated detective work, he found it, with the brooch still intact! What a legend.

I’d like to think the big guy upstairs rewarded Ken and Amanda for their graciousness in the face of all those obstacles. I’ll never forget their wedding, not just because of the challenges, but because of the way they handled them.

Congratulations, Ken and Amanda, for being so classy.

P.S. If you’re wondering why Amanda’s engagement ring is on her right hand in the bouquet photo, it’s because that shot was taken before the ceremony. The wedding band is placed on the left hand during the ceremony, closest to the heart, and then the engagement ring is moved to sit alongside it.

Here’s a guest photo by Ian Ronalds that gives another perspective. As you can see, this was the real deal. People online have claimed it was staged, but for Ken and Amanda’s sake, I wish it was. This truly happened.