How do you book a customer who isn't getting married for 4years?! Yup I had someone who wants to book a cake for July of 2013!! I mean who does this? Anything could happen between now and then, heck I may not be doing this then, I will but really 
Happy caking 
I'd tell them to contact you a little nearer the time. I mean, who plans their wedding for 4 YEARS??!!! You're right, anything could happen. The most likely is that they won't be getting married at all. I imagine that the bride has badgered her boyfriend (or, to be fair, could be the other way around) into naming a date, which he has made as far in advance as possible. Can you even get a calendar that far in advance?! 
I had an inquiry for .... check this date ... 11/11/11. I didn't even respond to it. There is no way to intelligently discuss pricing on cakes or catering 3 years in advance. It's a waste of time for everyone.
I might be dead by then, and hubby would have to figure out how to refund a deposit.
I sent her an email telling her I can do it but to contact me again in a year or so. She hasn't responded back but I don't really need her to.
inydebi, I was thinking the same thing! How do I know i'll be alive then? or her for that matter!
Mike you are funny
I'd tell them to contact you a little nearer the time. I mean, who plans their wedding for 4 YEARS??!!! You're right, anything could happen. The most likely is that they won't be getting married at all. I imagine that the bride has badgered her boyfriend (or, to be fair, could be the other way around) into naming a date, which he has made as far in advance as possible. Can you even get a calendar that far in advance?!
My brother and SIL had set their wedding date that early and had even asked me to do the cake that early. The only thing that changed was the design of the cake.
She was in college and worked in another town and planned her wedding on holidays and weekends. Their date was sit for the month after she graduated so she couldn't just wait until the last few months to plan things since she had very limited time in town and out of school.
I have known a few peopl who waited this long to get married mainly because they were paying for the wedding themselves and didn't want to be in debt when they got married. Most of them are already living together and the wedding is more of a formality.
Indy - maybe your customer was just trying to avoid being turned down because of you being booked up on that date. Remember the 7/7/07 date? Lots of bakeries were booked up and had to turn people away because of so many wanting that same date. Maybe she could make a deposit and you could pencil her name in so that she wouldn't get turned down later on for not being the first (or one of the firsts) to ask. I'd certainly tell her that pricing couldn't be discussed this far in advance. Just a thought.
jammjenks, that is a good idea ... except my leads come in from various bridal sites and I have to pay anywhere from $1 to $5 each .... I didn't feel like paying $5.00 three years in advance to tell her "call me in three years".
If I get no-cost (blind) leads come in for future dates, I may just try your idea. 
I don't book over 6 months ahead, why? Experience has teach me that brides get confused with so many tendencies and styles that they go back and foward over designs and prices, even after the contract had been signed, and then you have to start doing amendments to it and adjusting prices. also with the cost of living rising month to month you can't compromise a price per serving 3 years ahead.
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