I'm sorry about your dilemma. Speaking from experience, taking someone to small court does not help much. You might win the case, but the court will leave it up to you to collect the money. Do you hire a collection agency or attorney to collect it?
I had a business that dealt with the general public. New customers always had to pay on the day of the service and only with cash.
When I've come accross a suspicious check, immediatelly I call the bank on the check to find out if the account is still open, and does it have enough money to cover the check amount. Then I go to their bank as soon as possible to cash it. If they don't have enough, I call every day until its cashed, almost always within a two week period. With an open account, the written check is good for a few months, unless they close the account, or they've put a stop to it. Hope this helps.
Emi
I have only had one customer write me a bad check. It was for a groom's cake. I went to her bank 2 times and the funds were not available. I called her and told her the situation. She was very nice and actually brought payment over in cash. She decided to give me some extra money for being understanding. She said they also loved the cake.
I think I have been very lucky with the people that I have dealt with. However, I am glad that you posted this because I should really be a little more strict on my wedding cake deposits/payments.
I hope that you and your dad will eventually be able to get the money. Have you tried contacting her at home or on her cell??? If you know her address(maybe on the check)...I think I would go by her house and say that you have not had any luck cashing the check...and well...you are there to collect the money for the cake and catering! 
Emi: Thank you for the info..I agree about small claims court. Just because a judge rules in your favor doesn't mean that you are going to get paid. Also, you have to add on your court costs & they can always choose to make payments if they say they don't have the money.
mpitrelli: I had no idea that you could stop payment on cashiers checks and money orders. Thank you..that's good to know.
Quadcrew: With your husband as the Police Chief I bet noone gives you a bad check 
Traci, We have tried numerous times to contact her. We've called many times, but she won't answer or return the call. I don't go to people's houses to collect money and probably wouldn't advise it for anyone else. You just never know what you are going to be dealing with, and I don't want to put myself in an unsafe situation.
I'm glad this helped with your decision on your wedding deposits/payments. Initially, I didn't even want to post this because I felt like an idiot for agreeing to do a cake so last minute, not getting a deposit and agreeing to take a check on that day & then have it be no good. I decided to go ahead & post because I didn't want anyone else to have to deal with this & was hoping it would help guide some of you on your payment policies.
I had decided to deposit the check and now I'm just waiting to see what happens with it.
You are hardly an idiot! I think we all have had these moments.
I started to learn my lesson a few years back. A girl on my team approached me to ask for a wedding cake. She just got engaged over the weekend and they were to marry within the month. She picked the cake she wanted and I quoted prices (there was a budget, but she would not tell me even the general range). I gave her an idea by stating that a box of fondant costs $10 (I work at Michael's and get a discount) and this cake takes 6 boxes). She never clued in.
So when I presented her the list bof three options, 3 different prices, she stared blank face and said the budget was $150! So, I work something else out, rent the stand, start making the fondant leaves....and she cancels. Her fiance's sister was diagnosed with leukemia. I was out minimum $25 for the deposit on the cake stand. It took all I had, and I asked her for that money. Luckily she gladly agreed saying she never even thought of that.
They ended up breaking up shortly after, and a year later in Australia at her brother's wedding met someone (she knew previously), married and stayed there.
Suela: Thank you. You just reminded me of something she said that should be an instant red flag. When I talked to her about price...I asked her what her budget was or if she had some sort of ballpark figure. She didn't answer me any of the three times that I asked. That should have clued me in just a little.
I'm not saying that everyone that orders a cake has to know exactly what they want to spend & if they don't their check will be bad, but they should have some sort of ballpark figure.
If you were going to buy a wedding dress, seeing that they range anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand, even if you didn't know the exact price you wanted to spend, you would have an idea of price range.
I just want to encourage you guys to go with your gut feeling, if something doesn't feel right or make sense, you probably need to think twice about taking the order.
Just my helpful hints for the day
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