What a weekend it has been! Saturday was a very intense day of weddings, and everything seemed to be going wrong. It was definitely a Murphy's Law type of day. My business partner and I finished our deliveries for the day and were getting a bite to eat. I noticed that there were several voicemail messages on my phone. So I went outside to check them thinking something happened to one of the cakes we delivered. Well, it was a venue and other vendors calling asking where Jane Doe wedding cake was as the wedding was starting, and we were listed as the cake vendor. What!? I have no idea what you're talking about? We didn't have a cake contracted at the venue today for Jane Doe. (As a side note, it is a venue that we work with that offers packages to the their clients that includes the cake. We send an invoice to the venue, and receive payment from them rather than the bride.)

So I try calling the venue back without success. I finally get ahold of the DJ. She said that we were supposed to do the wedding cake and that everyone was wanting to know why we weren't there. I had no idea what they were talking about and explained to her that we were not contracted to do the wedding cake. I went through the scenario, but I could tell she thought I was not being truthful and said that I needed to produce a cake.

I get my computer out to look up the client's name to try and figure out what could have happened. I had met with the MOB informally back on February 22. We discussed wedding cakes in general, and I provided her a ballpark estimate based on a simple design. She took the information with her, and I documented on the estimate that it was for reference only. She said she would discuss everything with her daughter and that she would be in touch. If her daughter was good with everything, they would contact me to schedule a consultation and tasting for the bride.

To this day, I never heard back from the MOB. Never received a phone call or email so I assumed they decided to go with another cake vendor. Again, they never selected a design or cake flavors, and the bride or her mom never signed a contract. We never received any money from the venue either for the wedding cake. Despite all of that, apparently the MOB thought that telling the venue we were doing the cake was notification and a contract for us to do the cake.

So now the venue, caterer, DJ, MOB, bride, and the 150 guests think that we failed to deliver the bride a wedding cake. I am so devastated. Although we did not do anything wrong and did not have a contract, it will have devastating results for our business.

So how do I handle thie sitation from here? I'm supposed to contact the venue on Monday to "explain" myself, and more than likely the relationsihp there is severed. I'm going to have to deal with an upset bride and MOB on Monday as well. I fully expect them to leave negative reviews for us on the wedding websites as well. I just have no idea how this woman could have walked away without any type of design, flavors, or signed contract and think that we were doing her daughter's cake.

Thanks for letting me VENT...

Wow...what an awful thing to happen to you! To be fair, I don't see how anyone could say this was your doing. You have the initial paperwork that shows where it was left off.

I tell you if it was me I would be the one going on the attack and not let them try and make you feel it was your fault. Demand to know why someone--either the MOB or the venue didn't at least contact you regarding this date. How are you supposed to know what size cake, what flavor, what design to do unless someone informs you! Who doesn't check with vendors for final confirmations? Why wouldn't the venue call you to inform you of the time of the reception? Someone dropped the ball but it sure wasn't you!

Hang in there and let us know what happens. You have nothing to be ashamed of...I just hope you're not made the scapegoat.

Thanks, and I hope we're not made the scapegoat either. The meeting with the MOB wasn't even what I would consider a consultation. It was very informal, and it was no different than her or someone calling and asking our pricing for wedding cakes. It was very general. With how this transpired, it would be like me assuming we were doing a cake for every person that called or came into our shop making a general pricing inquiry or asking if we are available for their wedding date. That is how ridiculous this is.

I doubt that the MOB thought the cake was all taken care of( I cannot see how) most likely she got caught up with other things perhaps and forgot all about the cake and at the last minute when she realized what she had done...blamed you for the whole thing. I would speak to the bride herself and let her know the conversation that took place with her mother. Good luck, hang in there!

You say the venue offers packages to the bride and that your cake can be part of that package? Well, they must have some paperwork regarding the cake. You take your paperwork, and ask to see theirs - let them prove that you knew about it.
It really sounds like everyone is trying to pass the buck to you.
Chin up, you have done nothing wrong - what an awful position for you to be put in.

Um, hello? They never PAID you for a cake. How exactly did they expect to be getting a cake without paying for one, aside from the fact that they never ordered one??? Unless maybe they paid the venue and the venue is the one that screwed it all up, in which case, the venue also never paid you. So in any case, not your fault. No money, no cake for you. Ah, I know, the name of your business must be "The Psychic Baker" so they just thought about ordering a cake and assumed you would know that obviously you were supposed to make and deliver the cake lol. Seriously, I think some people are just plain nuts. If they start posting negative comments I'd send them a nice letter defining slander and libel for them.

I don't know what to say... I guess you can say, I'm speechless!

um... this is re-dicky-donkulous!! she has no contract, therefor she has no cake. the end. what a mess. i can't imagine her thinking she was getting a cake when she never picked flavor, colors, design nothing??

No contract + No money = No Cake

I've been really trying to be a bit more Zen in my life...peace, love and understanding ..but I must say your situation brings to mind a saying my dear mum was fond of saying: "They bite the hand that feeds them, and lick the boot that kicks them". I'm not suggesting you give them all a swift kick but I concur that you should not feel defensive.

WOW!!! what a day!!
I feel your pain just reading this, hope everything gets straightened out soon..
Jodi

let us know how your meeting goes.......

Oh I'm going to keep an eye on this one - that is ridiculous!! the levels people will go to, to get the monkey off their back. That MOB should be ashamed of herself and as for the bride!!!! what bride doesn't ask questions like 'what design is it mum, what flavour is it mum, how many tiers is it mum, who's freaking making it mum?'

Whoa I'm glad it's not me, I'd have raged by now! lol

No contract, no cake. Simple. The MOB failed to do her part and you are not responsible. You have your documentation and the MOB does not have a copy of a signed contract. No one would do a cake without a contract.

wow. I too would be charging into that venue and demanding to know why you were HARASSED all evening on a cake that wasn't ordered or paid for. Does the venue require an invoice from you? Do they pay you in advance? How are things usually handled?
Do NOT apologize, you are the one who was wronged here- your reputation, your day off, your piece of mind.
I would be MAD!!!

Well, it's a mess for sure. But I think the venue and the MOB have some explaining to do.

As for the negative impact on your biz...remember the rest of the work you did that day...all well done and on time. The results remain to be seen and yes...let us know how it all comes out!

Good grief! Its stories like this that make me wonder if I REALLY want to start a cake business!

As everyone has said, you should have nothing to be worried about as you have done NOTHING wrong- you shouldnt have to chase up the MOB or bride based on a quick discussion, so as far as you're concerned it came to nothing! I don't know many brides who wouldn't at least speak to their cake decorator to give an idea of a design- clearly a severe lack of communication between MOB and Bride, who by the sounds of it both assumed the other was dealing with it!

I know I wouldn't have wanted my mother deciding on my cake!!

Fingers crossed the right person gets it in the ear for this, and not the one innocent party caught up in the whole sorry mess.

It is simple, ask either the MOB or the venue to produce either a signed contract for the cake or a receipt of payment for the desired cake. If they have no paper trail then you can not be held responsible. As far as a negative review, you will need to respond with a similar response that no payment was ever made, no contract signed, no designed approved, so no cake was made.

MOB just left a voicemail, and I will be calling her back this morning. I'm trying to prepare myself so that I keep the emotion out of it. I will let you know how it goes. I did speak to the venue, and they understand that there wasn't a contract. Apparently at the wedding, the MOB was trying to blame the venue saying that they were supposed to place the cake order with us. As someone said, the mom is not accepting responsibility and is putting it off on the venue and us.

As for the process, we don't have a contract with the venue. We are one of their preferred vendors. If a bride orders their full service package which includes cake, photographer, DJ, food, etc., the venue pays us rather than the client. The client orders the cake as usual, signs a contract, and I forward an invoice to the venue. Once the venue receives it, they pay me in full. Both the venue and I explained the process to the MOB in detail.

Thanks to everyone for your support![/quote]

Oh wow. What a crock!
Had a similar experience once: had one of those informal meetings in early Spring for a New Year's eve wedding. Never heard from them, so naturally I took them out of my file.

Just before Christmas I get a call from this Bride to confirm the order and delivery time.... what? Um....I don't think so honey! She was upset, but understood-apparently she thought he mom was taking care of ordering the cake.

Anywho- turns out no other bakery would take her order (duh.) So being the schmuck that I am, I finally agreed to do the cake for her. ugh.

So I hope the conversation goes ok with the MOB. Good luck! Sorry this had to happen to you. Hang in there!

I'm rather curious to see how this turns out as well. I'm guessing someone at the venue dropped the ball.

Sounds like this MOB needs a swift kick in the A$$...What a loser...I would apologize for nothing...Period...Produce your paperwork and say Too bad so sad....I wouldn't worry about people like this leaving bad reviews...most of the time you can delete it...

We all make mistakes. I don't know why poeple cannot take account for when they make a mistake. It is just so ridiculous this "pass the buck attitude". Good luck and stand strong. Your only emotion should be anoid!

Oh My! So curious to see what happens next!