Wedding Cancelled 30 Min To Delivery
Decorating By pjaycakes Updated 27 Aug 2008 , 9:38pm by DEBBIE157
pjaycakes, your cake is really beautiful!! Sorry this happened to you, but like everyone else said...you handled it fine. That was a thoughtful thing to do; bringing it to the nursing home!
Since we don't know why it was actually cancelled, I wouldn't automatically bash the groom just b/c he called it off...maybe the bride is a off-the-rails-handful and the groom decided he just couldn't take it anymore (or for the rest of his life!). Seems from what the OP said, the FOB knows his daughter. 
The FOB did say that if they reconcile, I wouldn't be getting a call from him to do another cake (in other words, he isn't paying for another wedding).
He has had so much trouble with this daughter of his that I just felt so sorry for him today, I almost cryed while talking to him.
I had this happen a few years ago. The MOB called and said the wedding was off and asked if it was too late to get a refund. For any of you that have been doing cakes for a while, you will remember Wilton's cake "Truly", the one with the fountain and 4 bridges coming off it. Her cake was already in my vehicle and I was ready to leave when I heard the phone ring and I ran inside to answer it. I told her it was in the van and I was just leaving for the reception hall with it. I asked her what she would like done with this cake, it was hers and I could either deliver it to her or I would donate it to a couple of the nursing homes on her behalf. She yelled to just bring it to her home and I was no better than the hotel where the reception was to take place. I found out later that she had called the banquet manager at the hotel and wanted her money refunded from them also. Ah, NO, she was told, they already had the roast beef started for her 300 guests. They told her the hall was hers if she wanted it, there would be no refunds, they suggested that she have a last minute family reunion. I took each cake off the seperate plates, removed the pillars and placed a flower where the holes were, placed the cakes in seperate boxes and had my husband drive them to her home. When he came back, he said she was yelling at the florist for a refund. She told him there was no reason he couldn't take the wedding flowers apart and use them in other arrangements to sell at his shop. She had no clue of the time and cost of the product that each vendor was providing for her.
I had this happen a few years ago. The MOB called and said the wedding was off and asked if it was too late to get a refund. For any of you that have been doing cakes for a while, you will remember Wilton's cake "Truly", the one with the fountain and 4 bridges coming off it. Her cake was already in my vehicle and I was ready to leave when I heard the phone ring and I ran inside to answer it. I told her it was in the van and I was just leaving for the reception hall with it. I asked her what she would like done with this cake, it was hers and I could either deliver it to her or I would donate it to a couple of the nursing homes on her behalf. She yelled to just bring it to her home and I was no better than the hotel where the reception was to take place. I found out later that she had called the banquet manager at the hotel and wanted her money refunded from them also. Ah, NO, she was told, they already had the roast beef started for her 300 guests. They told her the hall was hers if she wanted it, there would be no refunds, they suggested that she have a last minute family reunion. I took each cake off the seperate plates, removed the pillars and placed a flower where the holes were, placed the cakes in seperate boxes and had my husband drive them to her home. When he came back, he said she was yelling at the florist for a refund. She told him there was no reason he couldn't take the wedding flowers apart and use them in other arrangements to sell at his shop. She had no clue of the time and cost of the product that each vendor was providing for her.
No wonder no one wanted to marry her.....
At least someone got to enjoy the cake. Good idea taking it to a nursing home.
I had this happen a few years ago. The MOB called and said the wedding was off and asked if it was too late to get a refund. For any of you that have been doing cakes for a while, you will remember Wilton's cake "Truly", the one with the fountain and 4 bridges coming off it. Her cake was already in my vehicle and I was ready to leave when I heard the phone ring and I ran inside to answer it. I told her it was in the van and I was just leaving for the reception hall with it. I asked her what she would like done with this cake, it was hers and I could either deliver it to her or I would donate it to a couple of the nursing homes on her behalf. She yelled to just bring it to her home and I was no better than the hotel where the reception was to take place. I found out later that she had called the banquet manager at the hotel and wanted her money refunded from them also. Ah, NO, she was told, they already had the roast beef started for her 300 guests. They told her the hall was hers if she wanted it, there would be no refunds, they suggested that she have a last minute family reunion. I took each cake off the seperate plates, removed the pillars and placed a flower where the holes were, placed the cakes in seperate boxes and had my husband drive them to her home. When he came back, he said she was yelling at the florist for a refund. She told him there was no reason he couldn't take the wedding flowers apart and use them in other arrangements to sell at his shop. She had no clue of the time and cost of the product that each vendor was providing for her.
No wonder no one wanted to marry her.....
I was under the assumption that this was the MOB talking to all of these people? 
Beautiful cake, sorry about the canx. thats Every baker/decor nightmare. Good thing you didn't had to refund that would have make it even worse.
Bless your heart! What a situation to be in...especially since you know the family. I think you handled it very well...and gave us some experience on how to deal with it if we are ever in that place!!! Thanks!!! Linda
PS...That cake is beautiful...you do wonderful work!!!
Maybe I'm not looking at this like everyone else, but I definitely think you should have asked what they wanted to do with the cake. They paid for it and should have had the option of taking it themselves or donating it somewhere before you donated it to the nursing home. Had I spent that amount of money on a cake, I would have wanted a voice in where it ended up. JMO
Diane
Thank you all for your responses and compliments. I wrote an email to the FOB and attached a pic of the cake. I told him how bad I felt about the whole situation and although he said not to refund him for the cake, I offered him a half price cake for any "other" occasion he may need a cake for. Since this didn't appear to be his fault, I felt he deserved a bit of a break.
Thank you all for your responses and compliments. I wrote an email to the FOB and attached a pic of the cake. I told him how bad I felt about the whole situation and although he said not to refund him for the cake, I offered him a half price cake for any "other" occasion he may need a cake for. Since this didn't appear to be his fault, I felt he deserved a bit of a break.
That was a gracious thing to do. By the way, I meant to say your cake was beautiful.
Diane
Thank you all for your responses and compliments. I wrote an email to the FOB and attached a pic of the cake. I told him how bad I felt about the whole situation and although he said not to refund him for the cake, I offered him a half price cake for any "other" occasion he may need a cake for. Since this didn't appear to be his fault, I felt he deserved a bit of a break.
I think you were very nice to do that. I'm sure once things get calmed down he will really appreciate it very much. Again, it was such a beautiful cake!
Yes, with my wedding cancellation it was the mother of the bride doing all of the cancelling (and yelling at everyone). We nor any of the other vendors ever heard anything from her or the bride after that day, so I don't know who actually called the wedding off. She took the stance that since none of the products she had ordered were actually used for the wedding or the reception, she should get a full refund. With her train of thought, I guess the bridal shop should have taken the dress back too! She just couldn't understand why we all couldn't have taken everything she had on order and sell it off so she could get her money back.
I think you did the right thing. I do have a question though and I understand if you do not care to answer. How much were you charging for this cake (which is outstanding) and do you ask a deposit for the seperators? I am just starting up my cake business and do not want to sell cheap or lose money on items I need to keep. Thanks ahead of time.
I was paid in full for the cake. I didn't charge an equipment deposit, since I know them very well and didn't have any doubt I would get everything returned. Usually I charge a $50 deposit for equipment which they get back after everything is returned in good condition. Also, I didn't charge a delivery fee for the same reason. But I guess if I did I would have refunded them for that, since it was not delivered.
Great cake and well handled on your part, what a jaw dropper! 
My niece's wedding was cancelled the day before the ceremony just this summer. The groom just didnt want to get married and didn't have the nerve to tell her face to face (they both live in Texas and the wedding was to be held here in Michigan)
Anyway, my niece (and my SIL & BIL) decided to have a party anyway since the hall, food, drink & cake were all paid for. The cake topper was left off and not put on the "cake table". We all had a good time (the cake was delicious!) and my niece was absolutely wonderful, despite her hurt and disappointment.
I think you handled it better than I would have!! And the nursing home is a wonderful place to donate a cake...and it was a very beautiful cake!!! I hate awkward phone calls about anything much less that!! Great job....and I am sure the nurses and patients will give their thanks in orders to come!! 
I had this happen a few years ago. The MOB called and said the wedding was off and asked if it was too late to get a refund. For any of you that have been doing cakes for a while, you will remember Wilton's cake "Truly", the one with the fountain and 4 bridges coming off it. Her cake was already in my vehicle and I was ready to leave when I heard the phone ring and I ran inside to answer it. I told her it was in the van and I was just leaving for the reception hall with it. I asked her what she would like done with this cake, it was hers and I could either deliver it to her or I would donate it to a couple of the nursing homes on her behalf. She yelled to just bring it to her home and I was no better than the hotel where the reception was to take place. I found out later that she had called the banquet manager at the hotel and wanted her money refunded from them also. Ah, NO, she was told, they already had the roast beef started for her 300 guests. They told her the hall was hers if she wanted it, there would be no refunds, they suggested that she have a last minute family reunion. I took each cake off the seperate plates, removed the pillars and placed a flower where the holes were, placed the cakes in seperate boxes and had my husband drive them to her home. When he came back, he said she was yelling at the florist for a refund. She told him there was no reason he couldn't take the wedding flowers apart and use them in other arrangements to sell at his shop. She had no clue of the time and cost of the product that each vendor was providing for her.
WOW that is some story !!!! take the flowers back and use them in other arrangements!! Take the roast beef and make sandwiches and sell them on the street corner!! Scoop the icing off the cake and re-use it for someone else! 
Clueless.
Debbie
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