Unless you know for sure it was called off and by whom you cannot make assumptions. I know many weddings that should have been called off and weren't because people felt it was too late not to go through with it. Many regrets later when it came time to hire divorce lawyers.

I would ask myself WWMSD? What Would Martha Stewart Do? She would send a kind note apologizing for the misfortune, offer her condolences and then state that all contracts are binding and you cannot offer a refund but you would be happy to credit them one celebration cake within 6 months time at a value of 25% of the wedding cake cost. if you chose to add that last part...otherwise no refund.

WWMSD? Love

I wouldn't refund. This happened to the bride, not to you. Why should she be able to take her misfortune and turn it into your misfortune? Yes it's sad and a blow to her. But it is a blow to her, not you. No reason on earth you should suffer because of someone else's bad relationship. we all suffer enough from our own!
It's kind of like witnessing a car run a red light and hit the car next to you. The woman who was hit turns to you, innocent bystander, and says, "can you believe this happened to me? I have so many troubles as it is. Can you absorb the cost of this for me so I don't have to?"

And I would not offer her the cake at another time either. That would mean you were taking up another week of your time for the same bride with no further money. You'd be using two weeks for the price of one and turning down paying customers for the future week. That's has the same net effect to you as a refund would. Again, making it your tragedy when it was really hers.

The most I would do is tell her you can go ahead and make the cake for this week and donate it to the charity of her choice. She could then receive a tax deduction letter from the charity to use at tax time. That in effect will get her a little $ back and she gets to help out someone else.

you have a contract, so no money back. you could offer them cupcakes that they can freeze and pull out for dinner now and then or some kind of cake if they don't want the wedding cake they ordered.

There was a "dodged the bullet" type cake on the episode of cake boss that was on the other day (I have no idea if it was a new one or not). It was def pretty full with the groom tossed off the side along with all of his stuff. They even made him look like he'd been roughed up a little bit.

I wasnt really wanting the episode so i didnt catch the story on if he called off the wedding or what but it was definitly a funny idea.

While you may feel bad for the bride, the bottom line is that you can't let personal feelings get in the way of running this as a business. Stick with your contract which means no refunds.. I can practically guarantee that she is not getting refunds from the DJ, the hall, the caterer...

Indydebi talks a lot about how as women were "trained" to be nice and so we feel like the nice thing to do is give the poor, sad bride a refund because we feel bad for her. I bet if you asked 99% of men their automatic reaction would be to stick to the contract and not give any kind of refund.

I do like the idea of still making the cake and either asking if they would still like it (maybe not tiered so that it doesn't remind her quite so much of a wedding cake) or if they would like you to donate it somewhere like a shelter.

Cant even bring myself to bring up an offer of a future cake with the MOB. She came over yesterday to pick up the ribbon and topper she had dropped off last week when she made the final payment, took one look at them and burst into tears. I was horrified I just said " I dont know what to say, im so sorry" Her husband was very kind, nodded and said "I know, thank you" and gently put his arm around his wife to escort her to the car. She wanted to pack everything away as soon as possible so they didnt have to look at all the wedding supplies anymore. :/

Maybe when she is not quite so tender. Since I was set to bake this cake yesterday (it really was quite an undertaking, not a usual shape and was going to require baking 8 sheets and then cutting them custom) I cant just bake it off and donate it, especially when the MOB literally cant even talk without crying to have a conversation about it. I have another wedding cake for the day after this wedding was planned that I will begin today. I do have a contact at the local childrens hospital. I was thinking (after the suggestions on this thread) of calling him and seeing when their next fundraiser is and maybe donating a cake of equal value then and doing it their name so they get the tax break.

I have had my business for 3 years now and have never had a wedding canceled this close to the day (only one other canceled ever and it was canceled a week after the tasting and design consult so it wasnt a big deal). I really hope this never happens again

This is a tough situation. My contract does not state that the entire amount is non-refundable, so my situation would be different. However, if this were my client, I would offer a choice of 2 things: 1) A cake, same size, same flavors (maybe different design if simple) for the same day. They did pay, they get something, right?!? or 2) .5 x (total cost less deposit amount). The way I see it, I can use the ingredients for a future cake so no loss there. I haven't baked or spent any labor time on the cake yet (unless you have made gumpaste flowers in advance or something - if so I would not refund that portion either). Given the above information, the deposit + half the remaining amount should be compensation enough for the fact that I didn't schedule another cake for that day.

But, again, that's in line with my contract. If yours says otherwise, I wouldn't blame you for sticking to it. We all have contracts to protect our businesses based on our own situations.

I wouldn't refund anything that close to the date. My contract says that all money paid is nonrefundable, and that the funds are not transferable to other events.

I've had brides cancel the day before the wedding, and I was the only vendor who actually got paid because 4 days before she hadn't paid me and I told her that there would be no cake. She came up with my money, but every other vendor got stiffed. The florist ended up woith $2000 worth of flowers that she couldn't use and hadn't been paid for.

Do not give her the money back!! If they were concerned about losing money if the wedding was called off or cancelled, they should have bought wedding insurance!!! (yes, there is such a thing!)

Keep the money. You feel bad because of the nature of the cancelled cake, but that isnt your problem. You have to provide for your family the same as any of us. You have a contract for a reason.

You have several options here.

See if you can return some of the items you bought and then refund that monies.

Give them a credit of 1/2 the amount

Or

Keep the money as stated in your contract! If you decide to do any of the two options above you are out time! And gas.

I say the same as most of the people on here say, a contract is a contract and nothing is owed. If everyone gave money back to all that have a tale of woe, no one would be in business.
I also agree with making a donation in the name of the parents but, I would make the cake to only use a portion of the money. You are due money for your time invested whether it is for the shopping for ingredients or designing the cake. The other vendors probably have gotten paid already and they too can not refund money on items they can no longer use plus their time involved with all of it.
evelyn

OP, I can't even imagine how uncomfortable that meeting was for you today. I think you handled yourself with grace and I'm sure the bride's parents appreciated it.

It's a tough time for all of them I'm sure.

There would be no refund!! What about your time shopping, gas. When there is a contract and they willingly sign it knowing if anything happened 2 weeks before the wedding there is NO REUND. WHAT GUILT?!! There would be none. I bet you the bride has some knowlege that something was wrong, but thought they could make it through since the wedding was so close. If you start feeling gulty or sorry for every poor issue you will go broke! Let the groom's family bare some of these expenses. As one post stated, the venue, DJ and others are not hearing a refund so why should you? You will learn toturn feeling OFF when it comes to business. Peopel play on feelings!!

Just a note on donating a huge cake for a charity...I did this once and the guy auctioning it described it as a wedding cake. Well, nobody needed a wedding cake that weekend and I think somebody finally bought it for $50 to get the auctioneer to shut-up. I think a better way to do it would be to raffle off a custom wedding cake worth the same amount, through the charity (it is illegal to raffle in most states without some kind of permit). Or to donate as many smaller cakes as the large cake was worth, or to donate cupcakes to the Children's ward of a hospital or group home a few weekends in a row until the amount is payed off.

Just food for thought.

Anna, you're right about that. When I suggested donating to a charity, I meant actually making a regular, non-wedding cake that weekend and bringing it to a shelter or something for them to eat, not auction. But that may not have been clear. Good catch!

This has happened once to me. I asked them if they wanted me to do the cake anyway, since they paid for it. They said no. I then asked if they wanted me to make a smaller cake...something they could just have for dessert that weekend, so it was not a total loss for them. They declined that also, so I said the next time they needed a small cake...say, for a birthday, let me know a couple weeks ahead of time and I'd be glad to make them a freebie. About a month later, the bride called and asked me to do that ...she and her girlfriends were getting together and having a "cleansing" night....she was ready to have a campfire and burn all momentos of him....and they enjoyed a cake too!

I personally would not give a refund but I would give them a voucher for future celebration cakes to the value of the wedding cake.

CP xxx

I like this suggestion from the previous poster of offering to go ahead and make the cake (maybe altering the design some), after all they did pay for a cake for that day - and the idea of a freebie celebration cake within 6 months or so if they do not still want the large cake.

I also really liked the idea someone had about offering to apply the deposit portion of their payment to the deposit on a future wedding cake order (though the wording would have to be very careful and tactful). This is something I will be writing down in my research notebook for sure.

I think either of these options would be a small token to them that you appreciate their business and are sorry for their situation, while still being professional and not having word get out that you are in the business of giving refunds. It could also potentially create a loyal customer and while some would say even the deposit is too much of a 'refund', I kind of look at it as you are not out any money, you've still made your money off of this order (and can consider the deposit time saved for labor?) even if you earmark the deposit for a future date. You aren't losing money in the future for a booking because you are not doing a 'freebie' cake that you got paid for 2 years ago, since they'll be paying for the new cake.

I also wanted to say to the OP that I am sorry that this happened to you in the first place, and if I ever do open my dream bakery I dread something like this happening. However, I so appreciate you sharing with us and asking opinions of other CCers, because while it not only helps you in getting needed advice, it also helps all of us who are dreaming/planning/researching someday owning a bakery open our eyes to so many situations and resolutions that we might not consider until it happened. It is an invaluable help to someone like me!

Customers are really cheeky - they would not got into Harrods in London - and say' Oh by the way - can you cancel that cake and give me my money back.' No - number one they would not dream of it and number two they would be told precisely where to go! It is sad - but these things happen. If time has been booked out for baking and decorating - and it has been booked in the diary, thus missing potential other work - a contract is a contract. It is only a tough call - because it is your money. If you were working a bakery and the same thing happened - it would be really easy to say - Nope sorry company rules, its the contract - the boss says etc. If it was me and the lady kept asking - I'd pass the blame over to the accountant, who makes the rules!! That way bringing in a third person even if they are fictitious, makes it slightly easier.

Sue the Groom; Breach of contract! it use to be done way back in the day!