I informed her wedding planner that the bride would be responsible for reimbursing me for the cost of the supplies and my labor that I have already put out.
reimbursing the cost of...... that's B S, you have already called her, so you can't change what you said, BUT WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER WAS SHE OWED YOU THE FULL AMOUNT OR ELSE. so now you tell her to pay said amount for reimbursment or you'll see her in court for the full amount plus fees....also, she should in turn sue the planner--okay so now i'm just mad & acting sue happy 
what's also sad is the fact that i bet she won't be getting a topsy cake like she wanted 
--evil wedding planner 
That wedding planner is a complete tool...
If you are unlicensed then she knows she can do anything she wants and you are basically screwed. What a witch....... I would say either get licensed (which I totally understand is easier said then done) or only take business from people you know you can trust (which I totally understand is easier said then done 
).
I am very sorry this happened.....regardless of how everyone feels one way or the other on us homebakers, you did not deserve to be treated like this and ironically, it was the licensed 'professional' that was dishonest and morally corrupt.
Just try to learn from this, feed the cake to your family and try to take comfort in the fact that karma does exist and should be headed for the wedding planner's rump with teeth bared sometime in the near future.....
You may not be legal, but does she know that? I would atleast threaten to take her to small claims, in hopes of getting your money, but if she didn't pay up, I would let it go.
Also, I think that you might be able to make a Better Business Bureau claim against the wedding planner. I would look into that.
Stephanie
Whoa Nellie! It sounds like it is pretty easy to be legal in PA. Read this thread. Sounds quick, easy and cheap to be legal, otherwise all those little amish and menonite ladies who bake at home would be outta biz.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-42875.html
Thank God for the Amish!
ITA--If they do not know you are no legal--threaten away!
Even if your not a legal business, you had an agreement, one that you can prove through e-mails, that you were going to provide a service for afee. she broke the implied contract therefore she is liable for the costs to date (some states it would eb the whoel thing).... you know, its kinda like going to a hotel, if you cancel too late u haev to pay a fine... some stuff.... an dbesides your being reasonable by only requesting reimbursment for cost incured. there is a whole whack of contract law, and stuff about implied contracts and verbal contracts and all that jazz.. maybe look at ur options, and inform yourself on everything before you threaten to sue.. that way you can follow through should you need too................but at leas it would be a day to remember,... and watch that other cake be dry and pasty!....opps evil thoughts... my bad
You do risk the chance of getting fined since your not liscensed if you take it to court.
Do they know you are not legal? If so if you push it that planner sounds like the type that would turn you in if you threaten too much as well.
If they don't know then I would push it but not actually go through with the legal end.
I wish you luck, I have been screwed in the past by brides (not for cakes). Wedding Planners seem to decide so many things and convience the brides they know best. Sure some may have great ideas and can contribute but the brides do have a brain they just get treated like they don't.
I feel for the bride. She is probably wearing a dress she didn't want, getting married at a venue that she didn't pick and paying much more for her wedding than the needed to. I say go after the planner.
Well, I called her everyday last week and on Thursday when she answered the phone she wasn't very nice. She hung up on me. So I decided that it was time for me to stop being nice and I sent her a certified letter saying that if she did not make the reimbursement payment that I requested by Friday, the 17th, that I would file a small claims suit against her for the original amount of the cake and all court costs and any other costs incurred along the way. My sister-in-law drew it up for me. She works for a law firm. I haven't heard anything from her yet. I guess I'll just wait until Friday and see what happens.
Good luck to you Shipley hun. I hope this witch pays up what is owed
One other thing I think I'd try to do is file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau on the wedding planner. SHE blew the contract, and honestly, I'd be trying to get at her somehow. It may not do much but it might make you feel better.
From now on, I'd be asking each bride coming in the door if they're working with a wedding planner and find out WHO it is and their contact information.
I'm sorry you had this mess. I thank you for sharing it with all of us. It's a great learning experience for many.
The BBB is so annoying for people (businesses) b/c if someone files a claim aganst you - you really have to answer it! So you have to spend time answering it - and if you send a complaint in with a lot of back-up info (like your contract with the bride, e-mails, etc) and the other person doesn't have any info - you make yourself look better and that other person looks like an idiot. You can even file your complaint online.... and since you have e-mails and stuff maybe you can just attach those.... far less work than the whole court-filing thing! So I say give it a try.... why not?
My only concern is again if the planner KNOWS you're not officially legal....... then she could bring that up....do you think she'd be someone who would go through all the trouble of trying to prove you're not legal or will she just write something back to the BBB that's brief and doesn't really address the problem? Just be careful. I wish you all the best!
Good luck Shipley and tell us how it goes. I haven't done a wedding cake yet, but be assure that I'm learning from your experience: I' make a contract!!!! I have a lady that said she was going to call me for her wedding cake when she's at this step of her wedding planning, So I'll prepare a contract for her to sign when the time comes.
(((((((big hugs to you))))))))))))
Always, always, always have a contract. And ALWAYS get at least a 50% deposit up front. Maybe 25% and 25%, if the bride balks at the entire 50% at once. Your contract should have a cancellation clause that essentially allows you to keep enough (all?) of the deposit in order to cover your costs.
If you don't treat your customers in a business-like manner, they won't treat YOU in a business-like manner, and you'll find yourself dumped on a lot. There are a lot of stupid and inconsiderate people out there!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%