There is always a first time. . .you know, the first time to ride a bike without a helmet, the first time to drive without a sea tbelt and the first time to take a wedding cake order without a contract.
I am extra cautious about ALWAYS getting a signed cake contract along with a deposit. I always do, until that day. . .
I figured they were nice people, would just get the check from them at the cake tasting. The tasting WAS this weekend, I've bought all the ingredients even the liquors, for the 6 cakes and fillings they wanted to try.
Got a call this morning from the mother of the bride. She's bawling said the groom called off the wedding. She talking about all the money she is out and how devastated her daughter is. I didn't have the heart to talk to her about all that I was out for the ingredients.
So, this may be the first time, but it will definitely be the LAST time I don't get a signed contract with a deposit!

Ok I am very confused. Was this a tasting or an actual cake order you failed to collect funds and a contract on? If it was just a sampling and you usually charge for samplings then yeah, don't let it happen again to wait until the sampling to collect for it. But I have NEVER heard of a client signing a contract and prepaying a deposit PRIOR to their sampling and consultation. It is generally at the consult that they sign and pay.

It was an actual wedding cake order. I don't usually do tastings unless I have a contract with a $100 non refundable deposit for the wedding cake order.

Around here, you won't get a signed contract or deposit before actually tasting the product. I think that's jumping the gun a bit. So if a Bride doesn't like anything at tasting, then she is out $100 ?? Please note, I'm not saying that your cakes are bad by no means, I'm playing devils advocate here. I think everyone has had a tasting that might not have resulted in an order. Wether it be based on their budget or taste. Just thinking out loud.

It's unusual, but it is done where people book before tasting the cake. Maybe they've had her cake before at another event, whatever...I've had people email me and say that they want to book me and they don't need a tasting at all.

Sorry you're out the cost of the ingredients, but you're right to see this as an unpleasant learning experience, oh well...

I understood it to be that the OP was out for the ingredients to make the 6 tasting cakes....not the wedding cake itself. If I misunderstood, then I certainly stand corrected. Either way, she is out something and that's never good. I would rather be out over tasting ingredients than for a wedding cake.

Maybe all the necessary ingredients were purchased for the tasting in anticipation of the wedding order as well.. *shrugs* Either way it's a kick in the cake pan for the OP

You know it would be very very hard to get a call from a bride/groom that are wanting a tasting & consultation. They are very specific on what they want to taste because that's what they are thinking of having at their wedding....So you have to go buy these ingredients for said tasting.....in that case I'd have to charge for the tasting with that charge going toward the cake balance or cake deposit if they went with me. Sorry I'm just thinking aloud.

Sorry that you are out the cost & I hope that you're able to make it up somewhere.....remember most liquors don't go bad so maybe a cake/dessert will come along for you to use it.

Yes, I ALWAYS apply the $100 deposit to the cake order, but I do use that deposit for purchasing needed items for tastings. This was a referral from another wedding, they had already seen and tasted my cakes. They had asked for 6 different flavors to try and it was a 4 tier cake.
Around here it is alot of word of mouth. Most of my orders are from past clients and referrals.
Yes, it is a kick in the Cake Pan!!!! OMGosh I love that, made me laugh.

So which was it just a cake tasting that they cancelled on. your post is still very confusing.

I believe both the tasting and the wedding was cancelled. The Bride had already "tasted" her cake and has seen her work previously. They were booked for a 4 tier cake and a tasting with 6 specialty flavors. The OP didn't secure the $100 non refundable deposit at the time of the booking based on faith, and purchased the needed specialty ingredients for said tasting, which was cancelled along with the wedding. I think I got it! This topic has brought up a good point that I had not thought of myself. It now makes sense to secure a $100 non refundable fee as it would offset the cost of the tasting as well as your time should anything like this happen again. Thanks for the Food For Thought OP!!

I do monthly free samplings and brides have to RSVP, I select 4 different popular flavors and have samples of Vanilla, chocolate, & cream cheese buttercreams on hand. I don't deal with fillings at samplings. If they want a private sampling where they choose their own flavors to sample and are the only consult of the day then they must pay a $40 sampling fee which is credited toward their order if they book with me.

My tastings are very specialized. I allow the bride and groom to pick several flavors of cake and fillings. This way they know what they really want. Just a couple weeks ago, I had a bride say she just wanted a lemon cake and a peanut butter cake. I said that is fine, but I would bring one cake of my choosing also. At the tasting, they chose the flavor I brought, Pink Champaign with Strawberry filling.

I do open tastings about twice a year. I invite everyone to come and try and bring their friends too. I do charge $4 per person to cover ingredients. I have gotton alot of business doing these tastings.