I did my first wedding cake yesterday for a friend's son. When I got to the venue (small community center) NOTHING was ready. There were no chairs, tables, no decorations.... nothing. This is at 11 o'clock and the wedding is at 12. Finally the "keyholder" shows up about 11:15 or so and we get inside the building. I'm getting the table placed in the corner, getting the tablecloth on the table that the keyholder brought, and finally setting up the cake. Someone says, "Didn't you bring any flowers or decorations or anything?" Uh, no. I was supposed to deliver the cake and then leave to actually attend the wedding. They just said "Do the cake," not decorate the whole table. Supposedly other people were in charge of decorating. Is that something that we are just supposed to know to do? Just wondering.
Lisa
No, if your people wanted decorations on the table, they would have told you about it and provided them for you to put there.
Theresa 
agree with both of the above. no, it's NOT something that we're "just suppose" to do. Sounds like the bride is one of those folks who just assumes everyone ELSE will take care of everything ... wave the magic wand and POOF! She has a reception!
I finally had to put on my order form, 'Price covers cake, delivery and set-up. Bride is responsible for table, table linen, plates and forks."
(yeah....I DO have the above bolded part actually bolded on my form.)
I always ask my bride what I should expect to do at set up. Is the venue doing the table?? What will it be dressed in as far as colors?? Will there be flowers on the table?? What else will be on the table? Things like that. That way I know what I need to do/bring on the dayl
I do what I am paid for. If they contract me for a cake, I make and deliver a cake. If they want the table decorated to coordinate with the cake, well, I can do that, but they have to pay me for my time and materials. I make sure that my contract clearly states what I am (and am not) providing. I've never had anyone expect table decoration when they just ordered cake though.
I always ask my bride what I should expect to do at set up. Is the venue doing the table?? What will it be dressed in as far as colors?? Will there be flowers on the table?? What else will be on the table? Things like that. That way I know what I need to do/bring on the dayl
And you charge extra for being their event coordinator/decorator, right? 
I'm with Pink ..... when you buy a cake, how in the world do you get it in your head that the bakery also decorates your reception room? 
Thanks for the replies. I ended up staying and helping just because I wanted it to be done on time. More help arrived and with everyone running around like crazy we got it done. I did miss the wedding and that was not the plan. I had to make the decision whether just walking out and seeing the wedding was worth it knowing that everyone could possibly be quite surprised at a reception hall that was not completed. I thought like someone earlier said that the halls were done at least the night before. It turned out okay, but was quite chaotic for a bit. Like I mentioned, these were not strangers to me and I didn't want the young couple to come in to a mess. Someone dropped the ball, but it wasn't them.
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