A little (long) vent with a good ending
I had a phone call from a member of the community center where I do volunteer work and serve on the board of directors. I have donated a lot of cakes for many of their events and have always done so with a smile and felt good about it. But, I had a member call and ask me if I would do her wedding cake as a gift. Now this was last spring and they were to be married in September. I was so taken aback by the next comment from her "I thought I'd ask, because if you don't ask, you don't get"
Now stupidly I agreed to do this, then had them over for a cake tasting and they spent 2 hours going through books.The sample cake I made for them is this one from my gallery photos.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=ShirleyW&cat=0&pos=187
Finally they narrowed it down to a design, flavors, colors, date, etc. As they are leaving she asked me if I will be sending her a written contract. I told her I did that with paying clients, but this cake was a gift, why would she want a contract? She says "So in case I am unhappy with the cake I can't come back and complain" What??? I should have run right then.
They left and I am steaming that I let her get away with this. As the time gets closer for the wedding she becomes ill and has surgery so the wedding is postponed till May 2007. Now time is getting closer and she calls me last week and has upped the amount of guests from 100 to 225. I finally was able to say I could only do a cake up to the original 100 guests and if they went over that amount they would have to pay $6.50 per serving. She backed down and changed it back to 100. Then I very nicely reminded her of what she had said about the contract and told her that I was offended by that. That she has seen my work, tasted my cakes and if she feels she may not be happy with the cake she should think about going to someone else, I suggested Costco. No, No, she wants me to do the cake, and she is sorry she offended me, was I sure she had said that? She says she must have been in pain or on medication and didn't realize what she was saying. But could they come for another consultation because she felt rushed at the last one. Rushed? They were here for 2 hours and I served them lunch! So I tell her no, she will have to have faith that I will do a cake she likes and then I told her that she may choose the flavor but I have decided that I will choose the design. This is a gift, you don't tell people giving you a gift what they should give you. Well, I guess you do if you are registered somewhere, but for the most part you accept the gift graciously, say thank you and then return the gift for an exchange if you aren't happy with it or got two of a kind.
So, I am going to do the cake, although I thought about telling her I was going in for a facelift or liposuction and wouldn't be able to do it. I have decided to do a cupcake tree with a heart shaped 6" and a silver heart topper because they want double hearts as a theme for the wedding. This will give me the opportunity to do something different that I have been wanting to try anyway. And it gives me the freedom to create a design I will be happy with and I am sure they will like. I will feel so much better about doing this now that I have stood up for myself. I would have done the cake last September but I would have resented it, and it would not have been a joyous occasion for me.
GOOD FOR YOU! Now, stick to your guns. If she calls again with any issues, tell her, NO. Or tell her it doesn't look like a gift cake is going to work for her, suggest she see another baker.
You are seriously being taken for a ride. You did agree to do a freebee as a gift, but she is really trying to take advantage. I can't believe she had the guts to even ask.
Oh Shirley, I'm so sorry that common courtesy is so rare.
I can't fathom a scenario where a gift of wedding cake could include the mention of contract and complaint.
Good for you for demanding respect, and for determining what the gift will be.
(I can't even address the audacity of adding 125 free servings...)
Oftentimes, people will mistake kindness for weakness 
You handled the situation extremely well! And now you're even going to have some fun by creating something different.
The bride doesn't know how lucky she is, but we do; you could have dumped her for being so ungrateful and she would have deserved it.
Your cakes are exquisite, can't wait to see this creation 
Good on you for sticking to your guns. The cheek of her to ask for a contract so that she could complain if she was unhappy!!!! I am also wondering where she is going to get the cake for the other 125 guests 
that she tried to get you to feed for free!!!
She first said 100 guests, then 225 guests but when you would not do it for free she went back to 100 guests. Does that mean she will not be inviting the extra 125 guests or maybe she will not be feeding them.. Or maybe..... she is getting someone else to do a free cake for these 125 guests???
Some people simply have more nerve than sense (or courtesy, or appreciation, etc., etc.) and this person is definitely one of them!
I agree, if she attempts to make any other change or suggestion, tell her to find another baker who is willing to cater to her greedy whims.
Good for you for standing your ground. Janice
Geez, some people! First of all, you are a very generous and gracious person, I am a nice person but I would have told her she at least had to buy the ingredients. I can't believe that she would just totally take you for granted, after you are doing her such a big favor by making her a free wedding cake, then have the nerve to ask for more than double the servings you agreed on plus even mention having a complaint!!! Wow, I don't know what goes through people's heads sometimes. I'm glad you decided to do your own design, at least you can have fun with it and try something new. Good luck with everything!
Only another cake decorator would understand, thanks ladies. Yes, I have decided if she calls for any more changes I will say no and I will politely find a way out of doing the cake at all. I have no idea what she is feeding the extra 125 guests, but I have a feeling she has planned on the original 100 and if she could hoodwink me into doing more she would invite more guests.
I am continually appalled and amazed almost every single day at the rudeness and crudeness of people nowadays. I'm officially "old" as I have used the phrase "These kids today!" more times than I care to mention!
But seriously, what is wrong with parents who just cannot and will not teach their children basic good manners and courtesy??????
KNOCK KNOCK!!!! HELLO OUT THERE!!!!!! Parents, what the heck are you doing?????
Just upping the count from 100 to 225????? Does she not have a clue? (Oh wait ... of course she doesn't!) And I agree with the other post. Will the Select One Hundred get a special invitation that allows them a piece of cake!
HELLO????? ANYBODY HOME IN THERE????????????
I'm shocked by people these days. (OMG! I'm 28 and saying that ---does that make me older in frame of mind 
) I'm glad you stuck up for yourself Shirley. You are an amazing artist and person whom I admire so if these people can't see that then they are unworthy of your talents! I can't belive she's 53 and saying things like this--
I don't know, I was raised to use proper manners and could never approach someone to do something this expensive as a gift to me. But her attitude is just as she said "If you don't ask, you don't get." She is a bit of a Diva in other ways too, so it shouldn't really surprise me. I am waiting for her reaction when I come wheeling in with 100 cupcakes, she may faint.
Although, I think the cupcake thing is adorable and apparently the "in" thing right now, I'm guessing that you are right about her fainting when you come in with them! It would serve her right for having such bad manners, and at her age!! Of course, bad parenting could be her pitiful excuse but I'm a firm believer in accepting resposibility for our own action and behavior once we become adults. But then again, some kids never become adults!!
Well, the top tier will be the 6" heart shaped she asked for and I bought a lovely double silver heart ornament for the top, the cupcakes will all have gumpaste rosbuds and miniature silver beaded hearts, so I know it will be pretty. I just don't know if she is up on the latest craze in wedding cakes with the cupcake tree design.
Oh you guys have to hear this one. I was at the Chocolate and Champagne fund raiser Sunday for our community center. This bride was there as well. Several people won 2.5 blocks of white Ghirardelli dipping chocolate in a raffle. She won one of these and gave it to me because she knows I work quite often with chocolate. Nice gesture, yes? Then as she hands it to me she says "Maybe you could use it to make a little something extra for our wedding?"
I just looked her straight in the eye and told her I wouldn't have time and besides it is scheduled for May 19th, outdoors and would be too warm to do anything chocolate!
I am waiting for her reaction when I come wheeling in with 100 cupcakes, she may faint.
That is so funny
Bad manners has no age 
Don't give in 
I LOVE the way you handled this woman! Your post was like a mini cake-decorating soap opera. I'm going to tuck some of your responses for future reference in case I ever deal with customers or dimented divas in the future. The only thing that would make this story sweeter to me is that she says ONE MORE stupid thing to you and you tell her to take her invisible contract and shove it up...oh sorry. I've read enough of your posts to know that you are too classy for such behavior. But it's fun to dream, right?
You are a very generous individual and I hope you are able to get some fulfillment out of this experience.
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