I run a home based business and I was wondering how you guys handle the couple returning cake stands, pillars, etc. after the wedding. I'm not always there and I feel funny about asking them to just leave it and I will mail them their deposit check. If something's wrong and I'm not there when they leave it then how can I say they can't get their deposit back. I hate to have to schedule an appointment though because then I'm stuck there waiting on them to return it. Any suggestions or tips on how you handle this?

I rarely have anything for them to return. It's one of the reasons I switched to SPS. They buy it, it's disposable I don't want it back. Cake stands? I don't rent them. If the bride rents a cake stand she gets it from her florist or buys it herself.

Back when I did home-based I would meet them at the Barnes and Noble or wherever. Then you can cut them the check right there.

Under our philosophy of "we keep it simple for you", *IF* I have anything that needs returned, I will make arrangements with the facility for me to pick it up the following Monday. The bride/groom have this honeymoon thing planned, plus I just do not want to depend on a family member to get it back to me on time. I might need the equipment and if they screw around and not get it back to me timely, I could be totally screwed on my next event.

Plus I don't have to screw around with deposits 'n such.

i take a $200 cash deposit for use of a silver cake stand and my SFS. on my contract they have to name one person who will be responsible to return the equipment to me by Thursday following and i get this person to sign for the $200 cash that i give them. I have people call to arrange a time when i am available or i wll meet them somewhere too.

I arrange to meet them either at my home or somewhere in between so they can return equipment. I only do silver cake plateaus. I use the SPS and don't want it back. They have 3 days to return the equipment or I start taking $25 per day off of their refund of deposit. I don't mind going to the venue to pick up equipment if it's not too far away. I have dome some long distance weddings though and if they wanted me to pick it up they'd have to pay for that service.

I ask for a deposit fee, and my contract states that all plates and pillars and stuff have to be returned to my address, and after 10 days I can use their deposit money to buy new plates and pillars. They are never late.