Some Brides Just Know How To Do Everything Wrong!
Decorating By CheriN Updated 1 Sep 2007 , 5:59am by step0nmi
Arrrggghhh! I am sooo frustrated. This one bride that I have has been nothing but trouble from the beginning. First she asked me to do a cake with fondant roses and she said she would meet me at the end of the month to discuss it.... two months later (when I have run out of time to practice what she wants because I have never done them before) she get's a hold of me... I told her that I would not be able to do the flowers that she wanted... she said that was fine because she had changed her mind anyways. Then she proceeded to change her mind for more times within the last month before her wedding... so as soon as I had one planned out she wanted something different... not only that but she was a bargainer and was trying to get the cheapest price possibly. finally 2 weeks ago she decided... she said she would bring me the money the next day... she also wanted me to make it with a recipe that she had for chocolate carrot cake... so I had to wait for her to give it to me. I have waited and waited.... I have not recieved the money or the recipe. I was planning on making the cake today and decorating it tomorrow... I have called her many times a day for the past week... and have not been able to get a hold of her. She left a message on my phone last wednesday saying she had stopped by but I was not home so she would come by again that night... but she never showed. Arrgghhh... now I am going to have to tell her (if she ever shows up) that I will not be able to do her cake... I know that I will fill soooo bad because I don't want to ruin her wedding by not letting her have a cake... but I mean really I have not heard from her... I don't have the recipe what am I supposed to do... my worst nightmare is that she will show up yet tonight or tomorrow morning and expect me to work wonders. 
I'm sorry this is so long... I just had to share because I knew you ladies would understand. I already said no to doing another cake this weekend because I thought I would be doing this one..... Anyways... I better stop before this get's a mile long. 
Thanks for listening!
Chen, you did nothing wrong at all. She's at fault. Did she sign a contract? If you don't have a deposit how can you make a cake? Why would she stop buy without calling? She probably never stopped at all. That was just to take the blame off of herself. I wouldn't do the cake either, and I would have told her before now. Have a relaxing weekend.
Kat
I know that I will fill soooo bad because I don't want to ruin her wedding by not letting her have a cake...
It is not a case of you "not letting" her have a cake. stop thinking that right this second young lady! (wait a minute .... gotta put my mom-finger back in the holster).
SHE screwed around. SHE missed appointments. SHE waited until the very last minute. SHE didn't do what she was suppose to do. SHE is the one "ruining' her wedding.
I'm sure Costco can slap one together for her.
Thats why I don't do wedding cakes b/c people want tons for nothing b/c its getting down out of my house. Its too much stress for not enough money and if you do the slightest thing wrong then they want to sue you and say howyou ruined their memories forever. GL and I'm glad you are strong enough to say "no".
I think this a great lesson for you. Get a contract and some how state that there needs to be an XX% deposit and that it is their responsibility to get you recipes, design requirements by a certain time. You don't do the chasing. If they don't comply, they get no cake and you keep the deposit.
So, I'm not quite sure how that would work in the real world but it sounds good to me!
This is why I shy away from wedding cakes too.
I will only do them for friends with good reputations.
You did nothing wrong. I really am beginning to discover that most people have NO clue what kind of planning and effort..especially mental energy-goes into a cake! 
I would definatley tell her sorry too late if she shows up anytime soon. I know brides have a lot of things to get ready but I guess cake just wasnt on her priority list so too bad for her. I know this sounds harsh but some brides think the world stops for their special day forgetting that the rest of us have a life as well.
this sounds like one of my customers! I wouldn't do it anymore... even with no contract, you have no reason to HAVE to do it... she never paid you anything down or anything so I would just forget about it... let her worry about getting a cake the day before... ugh, people!
Don't feel bad! It's her wedding and her responsibility to take care of the arrangements in a timely manner. She failed herself. Don't sweat it!
This is why I shy away from wedding cakes too.
I will only do them for friends with good reputations.
You did nothing wrong. I really am beginning to discover that most people have NO clue what kind of planning and effort..especially mental energy-goes into a cake!
I agree on this one. People have no clue what it takes to plan and decorate a cake. I hade a bride talk me down in price and then....she let me know that someone else was doing her cake for free!!! It's cake serving 150 people. Some people!! You all have a great day!! Ace of Cakes was really funny last night. Duff looked quite striking in his kilt. Could you imagine having your cake done and getting up the next morning and all the icing had fallen off? I would freak!
Your bride is a flake and has no clue! Call her immediately and tell her that since you have never recieved the money to start her cake, nor the recipe and it is now too late to actually make a wedding cake, you will NOT be able to do her cake and wish her luck on her wedding day.
Her husband is going to need the luck, though.
Then pour yourself a nice drink and relax. 
I think this a great lesson for you. Get a contract and some how state that there needs to be an XX% deposit and that it is their responsibility to get you recipes, design requirements by a certain time. You don't do the chasing. If they don't comply, they get no cake and you keep the deposit.
So, I'm not quite sure how that would work in the real world but it sounds good to me!
Guess what Jen? That's exactly what my contract says and I stick to it! I will not start making a cake if I don't have full payment and I do not accept changes less than 14 days before the cake is due. Brides and all people have to start realizing that we are running our own businesses. Just because we do it from home doesn't mean that we are not running a professional business. And business decisions are not personal. So don't feel bad Chen that she won't have a cake. It's completely her fault. You tried to accomodate her and she basically didn't appreciate it. Move on to the next cake!
Oh! Thank you so much ladies for your support! I feel so much better about it now. Just for clarification..... no we did not sign an agreement and no she did not give me a deposit... but I had informed her that I did need the money before I could buy the cake... it is now Friday morning and she still has not gotten a hold of me... so I am starting to feel less guilty about it. 
I have definetly learned my lesson and will be doing a contract from now on... with all those guidelines in there. I do not do very much and am in a small town so I guess I felt silly making them sign something... but now I know different. Thanks again ladies... I just needed an outside perspective so that I knew I wasn't being crazy. Not that other cake decorators is truly an outside perspective. Thanks again ladies! Sooooo much!
I specialize in wedding cakes and have never had a problem like the one you describe.
ALL brides sign a contract and put down a deposit. The contract clearly states that the deposit is non-refundable for any reason. Actually including death. Yep, had that once. The wedding had been cancelled, and a month later the groom died. Still didn't get their depoait back. The cake has to be paid in full two weeks prior to the wedding or I don't turn the oven on.
I will only use my own recipes. Using a recipe that hasn't been formulated for large scale baking is a non-starter for me.
Brides who try to negotiate my prices are sent packing.
This is my business. I treat it as such and brides respect that.
Now that's the way I do things. Of course, you should never substitute my judgement or business practices for your own. You should do what works best for you in your business.
.... and am in a small town so I guess I felt silly making them sign something...
It's not personal ..... it's business.
I've lived in big towns; I've lived in small ones. The closer "knit" people feel, the more likely they're going to take advantage (aka: screw job) of each other. Sounds blunt, but cut through the crap and that's exactly what it is.
The only one in this house that chases anything is the dog.
Hurrah for indy and leah, btw.
CHen?? So at this point does the bride know she won't get a cake or is she still assuming she's having a cake done????
Now that I took up nursing, I am a hobbyist, and only make cakes for friends and family, but I still have a contract, ESPECIALLY for wedding cakes, (my favorites to do.)
Good fences make good neighbors, and good contracts mean that there are no misunderstandings, everything is black and white, no she said, he said, or "but I thought you would ____________.
You definitely need to call and leave a message for this woman and tell her you can't do the cake since you have received no money or the recipe she wanted you to use! You need to cover YOUR butt!
So sorry you had to deal with this though. I hope it works out that you don't do her cake because she needs to learn a lesson!
I would say that she's called her enough times.
The recipe wasn't even given to her in enough time to test it to make sure it will work.
Grandma(or whoever originated the recipe) may have her secret ingredient that she failed to divulge and given the recipe without being able to test it first may lead to disaster at the last minute.
If this person doesn't have a cake, it ain't your fault.
If you feel guilty and want to do something just in case, make something with what you have. Explain to her, she can pay for this cake or go without.
If it were so important for you to use a special recipe, she should've tried a wee bit harder to get it into your hands.
I would have canceled this cake a couple weeks ago. I require them to pay in full two weeks before the wedding date (enough time for a check to clear) and they sign the contract stating such. I'd say you have one lesson learned and if she becomes irate, she doesn't have a leg to stand on because how are you going to make someone a wedding cake without a recipe or any money? Too bad you turned down that other cake order without having gotten at least a deposit on this wedding cake 
i'm sure at this point she found a cheaper altnertive (the wedding is tomorrow?) and just doesnt have the manners or guts to tell you so she is just hoping you dont notice. (uh, hello?) . i agree. dont do it. call and leave a message and be done with it to cover your bases.
i had a bride who was picky and i was flexible, allowing small changes here or there, but then about a month ago she got pretty spoiled and freaked out that i had done "her" flavor for a party. she cried and cried and acted like the world was over because everyone would remember her wedding cake as a birthday cake COPY (her words exactly).
well, i set her straight and demanded that she stop playing games because i was already bending over backwards to make her happy and i wouldnt make any more changes or i just wouldnt do her cake. in fact, i was in the process of returning the deposit...she came back with a plea and apology. ok..but no more changes. period.
My contract has a Changes section. Three weeks out, the serving number on the invoice becomes the guarantee and there are no more changes in design, flavor or decoration.
My new pricing goes into effect tomorrow. This clause was added to my Terms.
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