I am having trouble getting my customers to give me the minimum notice required so that I can plan my time. 
How do you all do it? I wanted to put something on paper but don't know how to word it without sounding a little rude?! 
I was thinking something like.. "Have you given us 2 weeks notice for this date?"
How do you word your minimum notice for a booking? For weddings as well.
Thanks!
could you put a nice message on your answering machine.
like...2 weeks noticed appreciated on cake orders....( wedding cakes would be different)
i take 3 wedding cakes a sat. its first come first serve then its closed for the date. maybe if you limit yourself as to how much then people will know to book you asap.
WOW-I still can't figure out how some of you can whip out so many cakes for a Saturday-3 wedding cakes?! I don't even know where I would put all the cake!
Edited to say I have a girl that likes to email me the day before she wants a specialized cake to feed 35 people. She has done it so much that unless I desperately wanted her order, I say, "I'm SO sorry, I'd love to do it but I'm booked with (fill in blank). They ordered 2 weeks ago." She has recently thrown a COUPLE last minute things out there, but has ordered a full month ahead on others. I think it's working.
I think people will wait til the last minute if you let them...especially for birthday cakes.
Most people have no idea how much time and planning it takes to produce a really nice cake. And there are others who (my opinion) wait to the last minute because they want to make sure they get a "fresh" cake. Having to say no to the last-minute people usually encourages them to order early for the next time. I have friends who know I book up early for anything in May, and have already called to make sure I can do their graduation cakes.
That's what I was thinking, that they will only learn when they miss out, but these are regular clients as well as new ones and when they fill out my online order form, they just do it with as little notice as they like and I was trying to figure out some way of wording how I can ensure that they are aware of the 2 weeks minimum notice but worded really well 
This one has me stumped.. I have writer's block!
I am not a web designer and I do not know how difficult this would be to implement. But here is a suggestion.
What about using a pop-up calendar instead of free form text for date to pick up the cake. My bank uses this when I want to schedule payments. I may "want" to schedule my payment for tomorrow, but I am unable due to the restrictions on the calendar. I must schedule my payments at leat 5 business days in advance.
HTH
I don't think you would come across rude at all if you put up something like what Caryl said, and word it, "A minimum of 2 weeks notice required on all cake orders. Wedding cakes require a minimum of (insert your time limit) to ensure booking. Each cake is a custom order...minimum notice requirements are to ensure that orders can be planned properly ensuring the highest quality for you, the customer."
I would make sure to use the word, required. A lot of people will look at something that says two weeks notice is appreciated, and will take advantage of it. In their minds, the notice would be appreciated but is negotiable.
These ideas are great! I will see if my website controller allows calendars and I will add that wording into my online order form too!
Thanks so much! 
I like to tell customers that "In order to give them a bettr service I need for them to call at least 4 days, because sometimes I have a lot of work and I wont be able to handle all orders". I have a 3-4 day limit on small cakes, but I have people calling for a next day order, even same day. If I really have a lot of work I decline the orders, and that really has helped me to get my point across, that I need more time.
you also could tell her that you'll have to charge a premium on any last minute orders you DO take b/c you can't take advantage of your normal supply discounts unless you know about the order 2 weeks ahead of time. you'll still get them last minute for some people, but at least there is a bonus for you. but by all means, turn down the ones you can't do - last minute orders can't be accomodated in many cases.
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