My kitchen construction is almost finished and I am thinking about getting my flavor lists and other things made up so I will be ready for business when I am licensed. One thing I need some advice on are policies related to payments. Mostly for wedding cakes. Do you require a deposit to hold the date? Do you require half of the payment before you begin work? When do you require them to return any plates, pillars, etc... Anything else I haven't thought of. I would really appreciate advice from all you wonderful wedding pros. Thanks.
Think,
what happens if you already have everything for the cake and they cancel a month before the wedding.. (personal reasons) and well you have already spent your money and just recieved a deposit to hold the date and nothing else.. Do you refund the deposit and just blow it off.. Or do you request half the money and the rest amount owed a month in advance.. And they cancel NOW WHAT??
Some places require a non-refundable deposit of a percent down so that they cover their butt on the cost of supplies that it would take to make the cake(s)..and then the balance due in whatever form of payment, cash, certified check, etc a certain timeframe before the wedding, like 1, 2, or 3 weeks otherwise no cake will be made...
Check this out for some ideas..
http://www.earlenescakes.com/wedcakeordfrm.htm
http://www.earlenescakes.com/brdslet1.html
You may want to hop over to Earlene's websitel and read this Letter To The Bride which details a bit how she requires payments and their potential cancellation.
Generally, I think that the standard procedure is 50% at time of ordering, when party size and cake style decisions - and therefore expected costs - are finalized, and the other 50% 14 days before delivery. As one site warns it's brides, "When you consider that your name and residence will be changing it is very reasonable for payment to be expected in advance."
Earlene stipulates in her Bride's Letter that cancellation up to 4 month before the wedding forfeits the original deposit, although in her case, that original deposit is considered a "retainer" and is above the actual cake costs.
===
Looks like m0use got the Earlene link in ther too.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%