This last wedding cake "order" was made over two months ago. Mostly verbal with witnesses for both sides(mostly, because there were details like style, date, servings, flavor)...the cake had loads of flowers...I told her I would need samples of flowers she was going to be using ASAP since she was soooooooooooo particular about color and type....this was when I was working full time and babysitting the grandbaby....I needed the sample bouquet ASAP in order to make all the flowers she wanted during my "free" time...she agreed to drop it by Friday....Friday came and went...her and husband-to-be were to come back by the following Tuesday for a tasting....They came by Tuesday and sampled cakes based on the flavors she picked out at our first consultation.
The flavors changed...the icings changed (almost as if someone swayed her to IMBC)...her h-t-b decided he wanted his to taste "just like..."...to which, I responded, get me a sample of what you're talking about and I'll make sure you get just that....and still no flowers..."my florist is avoiding me" she says..."I'll make sure we get it to you THIS Friday along with a sample of ..."
Friday came and went as did 4 more Fridays... My thinking on this is...She's a grown woman and it's her wedding...I stressed to her how and why it was important for her to bring by the flowers and she claimed to understand...I ain't tracking nobody down to ask them about something THEY WANT...
The agreement was that 1/2 was to be paid 1 month in advance and the other 1/2 to be paid no less than 1 week before the date of the wedding.
The month in advance day came and went...tomorrow will be the 1 week before the date...
Does everyone else make a point to contact their "customers" when they lack the consideration to contact you?
I really wouldn't chase them. Like you said, 'she's a grown woman'. If she can't go things on her own she should have hired someone to do it for her.
Now you can relax and not have to do that cake and if you did make any flowers, use them for someone else. Same with baked cakes if any.
Good Luck in the future!!!
She knew the "rules". Maybe she went with what he wanted it to taste just like. . . Sounds like someone you might not want to work with anyway. If you do contact her just make it a call to inform her that will not be making her cake as you have not received the payment at explained - to make sure she isn't thinking you are.
There will be other cakes - I wouldn't worry about it.
Debbie
I didn't make any flowers...she never brought the sample bouquet that she wanted them to look exactly like
there was nothing exchanged except for my samples across their lips! nothing like money though
I think I had pretty much written her off when the 2nd Friday came and went.
Thanks ya'll for comforting me on this one.
I would phone or email her telling that "since i haven't received your downpayment or the flowers i require to make your cake, i'm assuming that you have gone elsewhere to have your cake done. So i'll take your order out of my calendar" Something like that anyways...good luck!
I don't chase customers. My contract is not verbal - it is in writing and signed by both myself and the customer (usually the bride).
It stipulates in no uncertain terms that final payment is due 4 weeks prior to the wedding and that no changes to the cake can be made after that 4 week mark. If payment is made later than that 4 week window, it must be made in cash. If payment is not received by 2 weeks from wedding date, contract is deemed null and void and cake will not be made - and the $100 deposit is forfeited.
Yes I agree hun, I'd just email or phone her and let her know that since she didn't stick to the "rules" or contract and give you the deposit and didn't bring the flowers in time that unless she brings you payment in full tomorrow (now only say this if you really wanna do it lol) you can not fill her order. And if she still wants you to do the cake and does bring you the entire amount due tomorrow, you still don't have enough time to get her flowers right and she will need to suggest a substitute flower arrangement, unless of course they are NON toxic flowers and can be placed on the cake 
Good luck, but I wouldn't count on this order hun I think she's just used you as a back up incase her other person doesn't pull thru
I would phone or email her telling that "since i haven't received your downpayment or the flowers i require to make your cake, i'm assuming that you have gone elsewhere to have your cake done. So i'll take your order out of my calendar" Something like that anyways...good luck!
Definitely get it in writing that you are confirming the order is canceled. You don't want her "assuming" all is fine and then sue you for not showing up with a wedding cake.
You know, it sounds like she decided to go with someone else and didnt have the heart to tell you. Either way, if her wedding day comes and she has no cake, she has only herself to blame. If she cant bother with a down payment, then she doesnt get a cake. Simple as that. I wouldnt worry about it. And when she calls you the day of or the day before just tell her that when she didnt provide you with the down payment to secure the date, you gave it to someone else. Even if you havent. Just wash your hands of the mess and dont worry about it.
It ain't even about the money.
It's about the flowers...she wanted them to look just like her bouquet and in these colors
and her and her h-t-b had to have the groom's cake taste just like one of those Hershey orange balls(?)
all I ask is if you gotta have it "just like" anything...make sure I have something to go by....I made that clear each time they came over.
If you still have time to make the cake, I'd go ahead and call her. It might be that she's just stupid. I'd jack up the price on the cake, though, demand payment in advance and make it however you have the time to make it (plain white, wrap a ribbon around that bad boy and call it a day). She honestly may be clueless about what all is involved in making a cake.
If she wanted you to do the cake, she'd have gotten the deposit and the sample flowers to you by now. She told you what she wanted-- fine. But she never actually bought the cake.
A lot of women have trouble telling people No. A lot of them don't like it that saying No makes other people call them difficult or b*tchy (or bridezillay).
It's ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING AND YOU HAVE NO FLOWERS MADE (OR SAMPLES OF SAID FLOWER COLORS), AND NO $$$$$$$ ??????? 
That's a pretty simple equation in my mind--
That equals NO CAKE 
Good grief, I'd drop this one like a hot potato. I'd e-mail or call her, tell her that every deadline has passed, that you're not Houdini , and that she'll have to find someone else willing to have their lack of planning become an emergency!
Gahh--some people just cannot be explained using polite language...
Just my .02
Rae
Like I said earlier...I basically wrote her off after the 2nd missed Friday with no flowers and no call to say something to the effect of..."Hey! it's ....Just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten about the flowers. I'm still trying to hook up with the florist" something like that.
I was just curious if anyone out there does the ..."Hey! It's me, AGAIN. Just calling to remind you that I need those flowers to get started on the flowers for your cake you ordered" "uh, hi...it's just me again. I REALLY need those flowers in order to get started on the flowers for your cake. They are very time consuming and I need to be doing them every free moment I get because you want sooooooooo many of them" "okay, well, I'm sure you know the voice by now and what I need to get started...sooooooo I'll take this to mean you REALLY don't want your wedding cake and groom's cake from me...I do hope you are able to find someone to pull it off for you. Take care!"
RUN!!!!
I would definately call her and simply tell her the deadline has passed for you to be able to get the cake with ____ details on it as there is no longer enough time for me to do the prep work to make that happen. You have until 5pm today to contact me with payment in full, in cash or I will be unable to do a cake of any kind for you. Thank you for your interest, have a nice day! Some people's kids?!
-Lori
I think it is telling that she said herself that her florist is avoiding her!! Perhaps that says something about this BTB's nature...
It's pretty obvious that she found someone else. She won't be contacting you, and there's no need to contact her unless you want to look like you are desperate for the business. Next time have a contract and get a deposit, so you won't have to worry about it, it will all be in writing and if they don't hold up their end of the contract, it's over, no wondering "what if".
That's crazy! I'll be watching this one to see how it turns out.
I agree that she has most likely gone elsewhere for her cake and is now avoiding you so she doesn't have to tell you. If I were in your position, I think I would call and tell her that the deadline has passed and since she has not made any payment, you will not be making her cake. That way she won't be expecting your cake and you can avoid the blame if something goes wrong (i.e. she really thought you were still making it).
What is a Hershey's Orange Ball??? I've never heard of such thing lol
"After my repeated attempts to contact you regarding the flowers needed for your cake's design (June ___, June ____, June _____, etc.) I can no longer continue with this uncompleted order without participation from you.
I do hope that by now you have indeed found another baker for your upcoming wedding, but it would have been appreciated for that to have been made clear to me. I could have taken another wedding order for the day, which will now be impossible for me at this point in time.
I have your $____ deposit, of which I will refund $____. Please let me know if you would like to pick this cheque up in person, or if I should mail it to you?
Thank you and have a great wedding. Sorry that I cannot be a part of it."
I'm not even taking the time to read every post on this one: jot her a quick note and keep a copy:
Dear Bride,
On ________ (date), I met with you to plan your wedding cake for an event on __________ (date). Several other phone calls and meetings have transpired since, and you have made promises to get me samples of the floral elements, colors and florors you wanted to have. As of today's date, you have neither provided me with the required physical items, nor any payment in a timely fashion. Further, you have missed several deadlines for doing so and, therefore, I will not be able to create your dream wedding cake due to these missed deadlines.
So that we are both "on the same page", I WILL NOT be able to provide you with your wedding cake on _________ (date).
Despite my inability to provide you with your dream cake for ___________ (date), I do hope that your wedding day is beautiful.
Regards,
Your Cake Lady
MAKE SURE YOU KEEP A COPY! DELINEATE EVERY DEADLINE THAT SHE MISSED AND FOR WHAT, AND MAIL OFF TWO COPIES: ONE CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, AND THE OTHER VIA REGULAR MAIL (because some people just won't sign for a certified letter). Unfortunately, while some people just can't manage to meet their deadlines, we cannot be responsible to whip out a crystal ball and a magic want to make their dream day happen. Not without some sort of recourse.
For future reference, I'd suggest doing what I do: I tell all my Brides that they are NOT in my book IN INK until I have a deposit of $_____. Final payment is due 3 weeks ahead of the date needed. No final payment, no cake, no exceptions.
Be like a "good dog" ... don't chase!
Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now.
NEXT!!!
HTH,
Odessa
OhMyGoodies, I hadn't heard of one either until the evening of the tasting. From what I gathered, it's a chocolate ball. They come in different flavors. They package them in pretty foil wrapping inside of a cube box. They can be found "near the imported chocolate at Wal~Mart". Other than that, I haven't a clue.
I woulda dropped em quick! I would feel safe to assume she has moved on anyway.....(hopefully this isnt a case of a tragedy in her life i.e. death or a split up) and that she just went with someone cheaper or something.
Its disrespectful to say the least for her to leave you hanging. I wouldnt do it based solely on that.
Also forgot to mention that one of the pickiest couples I ever consulted with ...who had a crazy theme VERY detailed...and they met and tasted several times and we worked out nit picky details of decor and such for hours! They left thrilled with my vision and they could just see how wonderful it was going to be. I waited for them as they said they would be back that Fri. to pay half on the balance ...then I didnt see them Fri...I did actually call this one as I had to leave at some point fri and didnt want to miss them. They said they would see me Monday...that was 6 months ago..lol. I never called after that...BUt it has caused me to be a little more leary of people. People here in the South are big on their word...and many get a little put out...but I want everything in writing.
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