So I have a wedding cake due in one week. At the time of the consultation they told me that they invited 200 people to their wedding, so they needed a cake to feed 200. I told them that they would NOT get 200 to COME to their wedding. In this area you will get about half of who you've invited. They insisted that THEY will have 100% attendance, and so they need a cake that large.

WHATEVER, I still get paid right?

SO, they order a 5 tier cake simple decoration, all bc with little swirls around the edges, fresh flowers (supplied by the florist) each tier a different flavor all with filling, like bavarian creme, butter scotch etc.

Okay, so I charge them $445, which is $2.14 a serving. (the sizes and teirs they chose make it 208 servings) My wedding cakes START at $3 a serving, but I know this couples family and they are very kind but also pretty poor. They said it was NO PROBLEM (since I pointed out that they were given a discount of $179. I have a contract that they signed and read, EVEN POINTED OUT A TYPO IN THE TERMS. I told them that they needed to pay 50% down, which is non refundable, and one week before the date they needed to pay 50%. NO PROBLEM, they were gifted some $$ from some grandma or something. They paid in FULL in CASH on two days after they booked.

SO YESTERDAY the bride calls me and tells me that they no longer need the bottom teir because it is 78 servings, and they didn't get the response that they thought that they would. (No kidding) She wanted to take it off, and to have me give them back the money that they paid for that teir. So I told them that since it was so close to the wedding, I have already purchased a lot of the things that cake needs, and the contract states that this close to the wedding, they can't make any changes. So she starts crying and telling me that they just got into their apartment, and they paid the deposit and first month rent but they were surprised to find out that there were hook up fees for utilities (WHAT!!) and their budget is really tight. They also have to go to the florist change the florist becuase they wont reduce the flower order. Turns out the florist had already ordered the flowers and has started working on some of the arrangements. They have a contract too, and they wont refund any money, so the bride is just going to have to go to another florist and eat the cost of the deposit to the florist. They are just being unreasonable. (the florist)

I told her that I completely understood that expenses can get out of control when you are starting a new life together, and then I reminded her that I told her she didn't need that much cake, but that they insisted. I also told her that the reason bakers and florists and photographers have contracts is becuase they have to get things ahead of time, and they NEVER just throw something together. A lot of time goes into making sure that the couple get exactly what they want on their day. I told her that I was already giving her a huge discount, and that the best I could do for her this late in the game was give her $70. This was after much begging and tears on her part. So when I tell her that, the tears INSTANTLY STOPPED and she said, GREAT. Can you mail that to me?

I feel like I was played for a fool. It is really not my problem that they didn't budget accordingly. I should have told her tough cookies. Oh well. Live and learn. I have a new policy. ONLY DISCOUNTS FOR IMMEDIATE FAMILY. PERIOD.

What would you have done??

I haven't had to deal with a problem like this so I would be intrested in reading what others have done.

In my line of work, I have learnd to bypass all the tears and listen for what the problem really is and then provide a solution. I guess I will have to apply the same logic to my cake business.

Wait, didn't the money come from the grandma? The grandma probably doesn't know that they are using her wedding money to pay debts for setting up their apartment. Who doesn't know that their are deposits to get an apartment or house set up? She is in big trouble if she can not budget in advance and stick to it. I think that if you are refunding money then you should simplify your design to cut your decorating time.

I think that bride is in for one RUDE awakening..

I am so sorry you had to go through that - what a headache! Live and learn...I agree. You are a good person for what you did, and you can live with just knowing that!!!!

These "brides"..... sighhhh.... she is no more ready to set up housekeeping than the man in the moon....... It was MORE than nice of you to give them a break, and DOUBLE that for giving them the second break on the $ 70.00..... We can only hope all 200 people show up, and they won't have enough cake.... It would serve her right !

Well the good news is you will now be making $2.88 a serving! Hope the rest of the drama is kept at a minimum!

Makes you wonder why in the world they invited 200 people if they are on such a tight budget. You were more than nice to her with that double discount.

There needs to be a "Go Kick Rocks" Club for these ridiculous brides.

In my world, that would be a "tough noogies!!!".

You already gave them a discount and told them not to order that much cake.

This is why we have contracts!!!!

I'm sorry but she played you. It happened to me....ONCE! Live and learn for the next time.

If you undersell yourself or give money back because she raised a fuss, don't you think she's going to tell all of her friends to come see you for their wedding cake because you can be manipulated???

I've had problems a couple times....one didn't want to pay the balance by the due date two weeks before the wedding. Her mother said...."I don't see why our final payment can't be a few days late." I told her in a nice way, "well I have to get supplies and if your daughter doesn't mind her cake being a few days late, it's ok with me if you pay me a few days late." The woman drove 1 hour and 20 minutes to make sure I had her payment. I now have a stip. in my contract that says if it's not paid in full 2 weeks before the wedding, I have the option of either canceling the order and keeping the deposit (half the cost of the cake) or doing the cake but the balance plus 15% of total cost of cake added on.

The only thing I've had lately was a guy that contacted me to do a cake. He needed more servings that a quarter sheet cake and less than a half sheet. He didn't want leftovers so he wanted me to bake a half sheet cake and cut it down so there were less servings, and decorate that. WHAT???????? I told him that I could certainly do that for him but the cost would be the same as a half sheet, since I had to make the same amount of cake as a half sheet and take the time to cut it down and then still decorate it. I told him that was my only solution since he definitely only wanted a sheet type cake. Never heard from him again. Would have loved to be a fly on the wall when he went to Walmart or Costco and ask them to do that. hehehe

We live and we learn, the hard way. I too had a bride who broke our contract and paid 3 weeks late for the cake. Cake was to be paid for 1 month in advance. Then she tried to pay me only 2/3 of the amt due. I told her I needed all the money before I start on the cake. She did come back the same day and pay the rest. She thought I was going to take part of the $ and call it a day. When that cake was not paid for on June 30, I should have told her I couldn't do her cake because she broke the contract.

Promise us you will not give this couple more than the $70 back! That was more than generous of you. You couldn't have made it more clear that they were going to have too much cake when you wrote out the contract. Who in the world thinks they're going to have 100% attendance at their wedding?

Ditto TexasSugar!

I think this bride is crazy. Here it is she wants this big elobrate wedding and have no money to afford. Shame on her. You should have called grandma and tell her what grand daughter is doing with the money. Of course we know, when moving in an apartment we need deposit for all utilities.

You get swing (like the Bahamian people does say)

Ok so give her the $70.00 back and take away the bottom tier no biggie she wins and gets both requests lol. You're still getting paid for the rest of the cake... $2.89 per serving basically.... any more changes or crying I'd tell her to find another baker and as a result you're keeping her money lol. That'll be enough to make her stop her whining and grow up And yes she is in for a rude awakening, most utility companies DO charge a start up deposit if you have bad credit, bad history with ANY utility company, or have bad history with said company. I was going to be charged a $1700.00 deposit for my gas, and electric because the lady that lived in the house before me (a rental house) didn't pay her bills on time and ran up $500 and $600 bills... funny how my electric and gas bills each month don't go over $180.00... each month lmao...

But yes give her the $70.00 and stand firm from here on out.

I don't know. I totally see your side of the issue because you do have things you have to pay for and she did sign a contract. That said, I think you did a really nice thing for her. I've totally been in the situation where you have bills come up you didn't know about and have no money to pay them. Just because she stopped crying right when you said you'd give her some money back doesn't mean she 'took' you. At least I don't think it did. Sometimes that much money is such a big relief that when you realize you're getting a break, it makes a huge difference in your outlook. I guess I can just see both sides of this.

But in the end, I think you did a really nice thing that you didn't have to do.

For those that comment on grandma's money, how do any of us know what the deal with that money was. Maybe grandma told her to use it for what ever she wants?

I guess I think since we don't know the whole deal with that, it really shouldn't be a concearn that she isn't just spending it on the cake.

And we have to give this bride credit. Yes maybe she was thinking too big, but it isn't just the cake decorator she is trying to get to reduce the price for, she also had to talk to the florist. And I'd rather her try to get things reduced before hand than to not pay for them in the end. Plus she was trying to get a smaller cake, not asking for a cheaper price on the cake she had.

How many of us have fallen on hard times and had more bills than we had money? I know I don't make alot of money and live pay check to pay check, and since I have never had to rent a house (from someone other than family) or an apartment, I wouldn't have thought of all the deposits either. Not everyone has had to deal with those things, and she may be a young woman that is going from living at home to moving out. Bills add up then, for a single person, let alone people trying to pay for a wedding and a new life together.

I have to say one thing in defence of the client with regards to knowing hook up fees etc - when my husband and I moved into our first townhouse, after living in basement suites for several years (where everything was already hooked up or included), we didn't know that there were so many fees for hooking things up either. Our hydro charged us to hook up and because we were a new client they also charged another $200 because we were unknown to them. They give it back to you after a year, but it was definitely an unexpected cost!

So I can understand how they might be a little unprepared for at least some of those costs!

This is a great discussion! I am really new in the cake decorating business although I have been catering for years.

As I take on larger and larger projects (weddings) I have realized the need for a good contract for the cakes. I already have a contract for the catering company, but since cakes are an artform, I feel like I need a more tailored contract for that.

Does anyone have a contract that they would be willing to post so that us newbies can be sure to have our bases covered and somewhat avoid this kind of problem/reduce the problem?

Perhaps I should start a new thread? (Forum newbie as well!)
Thanks for any insights....I look forward to hearing from the veterans!

no, I wouldn't have given her anything back

Thanks for the info...I just checked the business forum and there is a recent posting for contracts!

I appreciate the help

I don't think you should have given a discount. When you go to your supplier you don't get extra discounts based on your relationship to your clients. If a friend or relative who loves you can't understand that you will probably have to stay awake for two days, turned down work which would have afforded you profit, quite possibly have another family member accompany you to the reception site to help with lifting and carrying the weight of a 5-tier cake, then how can you expect someone who is a complete stranger to understand. You are worth more than that. Never discount your hard work no matter how simple the design. Make your clients live within their means. Their personal finances and inability to take good advice has nothing to do with you.

I was in a situation last year. The wedding for 250 guests was called off 4 days before the event. The MOB (a friend of my aunt) wanted a complete refund on the cake and the cookies. I had already baked everything. I gave her the unfrosted cakes and cookies along with 2-25lb. pails of buttercream frosting. NO CASH. My aunt was furious with me . But according to my contract -which bore the MOBs signature- at that late date her cake had to be paid in full no possible cash refunds. So THEMS THE BERRIES!!

So I guess I said all of that to say, if she signed a contract she should have to abide by the contract. Just imagine what would happen if you don't show up with the cake she asked for. She would be waving that piece of paper like the Flag . But it was nice of you to give her 70.00.
Just don't give back anymore than that .

I always let people make changes in the number of servings as long as I haven't baked the cakes. If I had charged $2.14 a serving then I would have given back whatever that bottom tier cost them as long as it was not more than the non-refundable deposit amount. I just think it's a fair way to do business and creates good-will which goes a long way when you're trying to extablish yourself as a fair business person.

If she is happy with what you returned then I think you should feel fine with that and not feel like you were taken. If they hadn't paid in full in advance then there wouldn't be an issure here would there?

Wendy, you sound very nice. BUT what if you had made gum paste flowers for a 5 tier cake, and then they changed it to a 3 tier? You would be stuck with all the flowers. Maybe you do more cakes than I do, but the flowers I make are for each cake specifically, and I do not use them for another customer. Besides that...not everyone wants orange lilies.

This cake is different though, in that the flowers are fresh.

I like the point of the person who said if I didn't supply a cake, they would wave the contract like a flag. Your right, they would have.

I tell ya, I have another consult this friday, and I am going to do the highlight and initial thing. Maybe I will make them initial with blood. (just kidding)

I am terrified that this bride will be a bridezilla and hate the cake and want MORE money back. Now she has me freaked out. GGGRRR

2506s42-
I think 1nanette had the perfect solution - even if she got a refund, it wouldn't be cash. See how many orange lilies she wants to go pay deposits with. If more decorators had a no cash back policy, fewer brides would be tempted to lessen their financial burdens by begging for less cake or a bigger discount. Of course, this is IMHO.
I have just read too many times about a great decorator feels sorry or pressured by these customers, who are all adults, btw, to lessen her value, her time and her craft for something that shouldn't be her consideration.
You did a good thing because you're a nice person. You shouldn't be taken advantage of for it.

Holly COW!!!!!! You gave her the unfrosted cake and cookies and the buckets of BC... WOW you have Guts! I would feel horrible doing that. Even with a contact. You had all the right but again WOW you got guts girl.........Go head with your bad self

i would have stuck to the contract. they seemed to have taken advantage of you because they were not total strangers.

Maybe I am a bleeding heart or a door mat. But come on- you have a Christian quote on the bottom of your postings.
I couldn't keep someones money for a cake I didn't even make for them. Maybe the cost of the ingredients. I am not just in this business to make a buck. I have learned that life is too short and too fragile, in the end will that $70 break you.
It seems that lately on this site every posting is about how we can fight for OUR MONEY- How much can we charge for OUR WORK. Lets see if we can get two hundred dollars for a cupcake!!!!! yeah for us.
I thought this site was about cake decorators supporting each other and having a forum to ask questions. Postings don't get attention on here unless there is drama with it. SO sad. Please don't get me wrong- sometimes customers and life suck but doesn't that go with the territory, When you work on something that is unique and custom designed.
Well this is my vent and now I am done,hope you gt whatever outcome will satisfy you.