PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell us you are going to take her to court?!?!?!!? She really needs to learn a lesson. I would scan a copy of that Stop Payment letter and post it on my website(petty yes) but it sure would make me feel better for a little while.

People like that just suck!

some people are really bad!
way to stand up for yourself dsevans!!!

Been following your thread. Congrats and thanks for sticking to your guns!!

I couldn't let things go from here... I would want to call the venue to find out what they did... did they run to Walmart and get some of those lovely , tasty sheet cakes they have in their freezers or did they opt for the twinkies......

I would be dying to know what they ended up doing... I would go just to watch.. lurking in the background.... sometimes I just can't let things go...

Ain't it great to have a thread that keeps all of us glued to our computers on a beautiful Friday...

All I can say is "Way to go"... You defended yourself very well. If she couldn't afford the cake, she should have talked to you for a way to cut the cost down on it (eliminate the GP flowers, just rough ice it, etc.). Chances are if she had WORKED with you, even if it was at the last second, you'd have worked with her instead of having a bigger situation like this to deal with. But, it's still an issue of intent and as a business you need to defend your position. Great idea to take the big layer into the people at the reception site for helping you out on this one. I'm sure they'll enjoy it. You could call ahead and ask "is anyone's birthday coming up in the next few days" and give it a little personalization. You really did what you can, and that's make lemonade out of this one. Just consider yourself blessed that this happened BEFORE the wedding instead of after and wash your hands of things. Lack of planning on their part does not constitute an emergency on your part or somehow call you heartless... People like that are ones who are used to getting whatever they want for nothing as an entitlement. We had 400 guests at our wedding, two meat buffet, table cakes, and centerpiece cake, NONE of our vendors had to wait for their money, matter of fact, some of them wanted US to wait to give them the money.

And... I would still take this to the D.A. for check fraud and intent to commit theft of services. Even though the cake was not delivered because this cancellation happened because of the stop payment on the check and the terms of the contract are solid, it's still intent. She won't likely get convicted (or will get deferment program), but she'll have a good headache to deal with during that time to learn "that stuff isn't o.k.!" Take your documentation of everything in. Had you not been contacted by your bank, she would have gotten the cake for half price and been in far worse circumstances than just intention to commit. It's one thing if she calls you and says "OMG, I don't know how it happened, but we just checked our account balance and there is $250 unaccounted for so the check might not go through, OMG OMG OMG, (bawling) I don't know what to do and what can we work out???" type situation where this has happened (in one case the reception site did a EFT for double her reception cost... yea, how do you come up with $2200 on the spot to make sure vendors are kept happy..). I had that happen with a bride for her Groom's cake. I knew the bride as a friend first, so it wasn't like I was too worried about it (was a guest to the wedding), so I waited until things got through, but it also changed my way of doing business so I get paid weeks in advance of when the caterer needs their final check LOL...

I think we can all thank reality TV for glorifying bad behavior. We make celebrities out of brats, and they become rich as a result. It's sickening. And sets such a good example for others.
This bride deserves a kick in the pants, and her mother needs a beating.
DON'T SPEND MONEY YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND.
Praise to the baker for sticking to her contract! I wish I belonged to her church so I could have a piece of the infamous cake on Sunday!

WOWSER! I have been on "cake hiatus" for a while, but I am doing one this weekend... Boy I missed this place! Better than a soap opera any day!

OP, I am SO sorry this happened to you! You were totally right, and should not feel the least bit guilty for sticking to your guns!

Please post pics of the cake!

Good Luck in the future! I bet this will not happen to you again!

Sadly, you know this bratty bride and her piece of work MOB will be whining and crying at the wedding about the horrible cake lady who stiffed them or dropped their cake or whatever story they make up. But I'm sure the venue manager will set the record straight at every opportunity. And I'm sure you'll make up for this frustrating loss in the referrals from the venue after handling yourself so well. Truly unbelievable, though.

I, too, wouldn't be surprised either if they miraculously scrounge together the money at the last second. I just hope they don't stiff the florist to do it!!

So not fair - the whole thing. Sorry that all your talent and effort has been treated that way, dsevans. Wonder if Duff etal has such problems?

BTW - speaking of "stopping payment" - I once had USPS Money orders stopped. CASH only should be the rule methinks!

OMG, I don't think this particular forum has ever had so many members browsing it at once.

Could we set a new record for most members online at the same time?

Wow, i've just read all through this post and am amazed at the nerve of some people

I'm not sure of the time difference and it may be too late, but I know it it was me (i'm sure the OP said the dummy cake was hers) I would collect the dummy cake from venue to do alterations on
No payment....no cake or dummy cake of mine

See you in court

IF they really thought 1100 was too much for a cake, then why did they have 350 guests? Those two women have no shame whatsoever! And to try and bully you into giving the cake to them? I'm very proud of you for standing up to them.

BRAVA!

Now go and have yourself a Tequila or two or three.

Ya just have to wonder how much princess' gown was. I bet she spent a pretty penny and didn't ask the shop to knock off HALF the amount after they had done custom alterations just because she thought it was too expensive.
Other than the fact what she did was rude as hell, it's also illegal. I would definately see what I could do. She needs something if not just a slap on the wrist and some headache to deal with. Lord knows you have dealt with enough!

Being so new in this business......I am absolutely amazed at the amount of support for eachother. I think all of you posters need a thumbs up . What a great group of people to have as support and to give great advice to us newer people!

To the OP: you have class!

I am DYING to know if the bride or MOB called at the last second. JUST DYING!!!!

This is such a crappy thing to do. I just CANNOT believe it!!! I work for lawyers.....my boss would probably be calling them right now!

If I were you, I would tell the venue person to go ahead and collect the $250. Then take them the 1 big tier tomorrow. And then serve them with papers on Monday. You still delivered your end of the deal, and that way you at least get 3/4 of your money, instead of just half. I am SO sorry this has happened to you...try to keep your head up(like it seems like what you are doing). I commend you for sticking up for yourself, in a professional manner. I know I couldn't do that!

cakerer and MB...I'm in SC too!!

I'm behind two pages here but this is what I gotta say--all the little cake chickies who go <in a whiney voice> "Oh it's just little ole' me and I don't affect anything~~ it's nobody's business what I charge ~~I'd hate it if someone thought I was over charging so I'll give my work away bladeeblabla

Those chicklettes plus the ones who write those stupid articles on how to save money on a wedding --the combination of you two groups of people are partially responsible for this fiasco.

I personally hold you partially responsible. You do make a difference. You do undercut. You are wrong for that. Your finger is baked in this pie.

Now I'm three pages behind but --I would SO go park my vehicle in that parking lot and display that cake. Girl, you have a contract to be there. She defaulted on you.

I would time it to be there when the party starts.
I'd expect them to call the cops too. And I'd have my contract and the stop payment check and the confirmation email from her last night.

If you think this is unprofessional that's ok with me.

Ooooooh, I'm mad.

PLEASE tell me you ARE NOT going to take her any part of the cake like you said. She thought she could cheat yu, she didn't get away with it. Then her mother has the nerve to curse you out, cause they got caught trying to cheat you!!! They do not deserve any of that cake, not even a 6". I am so BEGGING you on HANDS & KNEES, don't take them any cake.

Someone PLEASE go get the dummy cake from the venue! Bride deserves nothing from baker.
My head is spinning with evil thoughts. I'm so angry!
IF bride comes up with cash, she should be charged a rush delivery fee.

I would tell the venue not to let the bride/mob have the dummy cake either, as another poster said...no cake means no cake from OP.

Thanks for explaining that to me K8, cause I was so having a heart attack.