This isn't a huge disaster - but I was wondering how you guys would handle this. I had a large wedding order for this weekend. It included wedding cookies, a rehearsal party cake, the groom's cake, the wedding cake and a slab cake. I haven't posted the groom and rehearsal cake yet, but will soon. The groom's cake was a golf ball sitting on a tee. The idea came from krissy_kze. The ball was covered with MMF and sat on a platsic collar attached to a bouquet collar and then that was covered with MMF. Anyway, I set the cake up at 3:15 and at 4:45 the hall called and said the ball started to fall off and one of the girls caught it. So, I hurried back over to fix it since the party was supposed to start at 5:00. I wound up scrapping the tee and sat the ball in the grass. It looked fine, but it wasn't what they had asked for. I expect to hear from the mother of the groom since she's the one who paid for it. They've been real happy with previous cakes - including the cookies and rehearsal cake. I don't expect her to be irate about it, but she may be disappointed in the fact the cake was not what she had asked for. So, my question is - Do I offer something to make up for it? I don't intend to refund her money, they got an awesome deal on all of it and I know all the cakes looked and tasted good. I just want to be prepared on how to respond to her - whether she be sympathetic with the cake problem or totally disappointed with how it turned out. Any suggestions?
Here's the pic of what it looked like before it fell. Imagine it without the tee and the ball just sitting in the grass, that's how it ended up for the party.
I can picture it without the tee, and I think it would look just fine! Personally I don't see why the MOB wouldn't understand your problem - I'd rather have a tee-less cake than a cake on the floor.
However, I can also understand how some weddings turn sensible people into monsters.... In that respect.... what to do what to do...
Did you give a package price for all the cakes, or individual pricing per cake??
I'm thinking if you priced individually give 10% off that cake.... IF she has a problem...
Part of me still thinks that is too much to give back for such a fantastic cake though!!!
Hope I helped... 
If she has been happy with all your stuff in the past, I honestly dont think she will mind about the ball being in the grass. The cake looks great in the pic and I would think it would look just as great sitting in the grass. I know how weddings can be stressful for some people and make them mean...but hopefully that doesnt happen for you. Maybe like a 10 or 20% return? She got the cake for the most part. I am guessing she will be happy.
Each cake was individually priced, so I thought, if she asked - to either discount a portion on that cake or maybe even offer a discount on a future cake. I'm hoping she makes initial contact, so I'll know how to read her, but if I don't hear from her this evening I'd either call or email her with the pic of the finished cake.
I'm in the process of setting up a home business, so she would be a good contact for me and I'd like to keep her happy.
The cake looked great! What a shame that it started to fall. Even though you had to make a change, IMO it would look just fine sitting directly on the grass. I think they should have been very happy with the cake. If the MOB complains, I would probably offer her 10% off of her next order. I think you did a great job.
My question would be: Was there some reason that the ball had fallen off the tee? It was on there when you left. Perhaps something happened that you didn't know after you left.
My question would be: Was there some reason that the ball had fallen off the tee? It was on there when you left. Perhaps something happened that you didn't know after you left.
That's how my mom looked at it. She thinks someone bumped into the table. She came with me to set up. But, even if the table was bumped, and if the support was done right, it shouldn't have fallen. At least that's how I'm looking at it. I don't think the support was tall enough - or at least it didn't go through enough of the ball.
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions - I just want to be prepared for anything.
I have found whether it's cake problems or any other problems in life it's best to deal with the issue before someone comes to you. If it were me...and this is just an opinion! I would call the person that ordered the cake (before they called me) and explain what happened and how I resolved the problem. I would add, without going into to much detail, that the cake was just to heavy for the apparatus that needs to be used to make a tee and that it looks just as good as if it were up on a tee.
I have found if they know there is a problem/change then when they "see it" for the first time it's not such a surprise and they tend to be ready for it and accept it more!
Just my opinion...hope it makes sense! BTW I LOVE YOUR CAKES!
or it could be the person never even noticed.
I wouldn't point out a problem unless a complaint is made. especially since this was one of several items. it really might not be that big a deal to the customer in question.
deal with it if thye contact you.
Looking at the cake, it looks as if it were sturdy enough. Personally, I think someone messed with it and won't admit it. However, being the professional that you are, prepare yourself for MOG to approach you about the cake. You have a picture of it set up, you got it to the party venue in perfect condition, and yes you are sorry that something happened, and what can I do to make you happy (short of a return of money), a discount on the next cake perhaps?
Looking at the cake, it looks as if it were sturdy enough. Personally, I think someone messed with it and won't admit it. However, being the professional that you are, prepare yourself for MOG to approach you about the cake. You have a picture of it set up, you got it to the party venue in perfect condition, and yes you are sorry that something happened, and what can I do to make you happy (short of a return of money), a discount on the next cake perhaps?
Yep - I think that's how I'll handle it. Short and sweet.
Thanks guys!!
I just had to say awesome cake! I think it's fantastic either way.
It looked pretty stable in the photo. I agree with the other poster, someone must have bumped the table or something. I am pretty confident that when you set it up, you would know whether or not it would stay.
for future reference:
wondering, was the boquet holder just pushed into the cake and resting on the cake board or was it actually attached to the cake board in some way.
if someone did bump the table, you have a large object balance on a very small base...prime for tipping.
also how many dowels then through ball and into base?
(trying to do a post mortum here so we can all learn how to "borrow" you great design and use it in the future -- that boquet holder for the tee is inspired!)
for future reference:
wondering, was the boquet holder just pushed into the cake and resting on the cake board or was it actually attached to the cake board in some way.
if someone did bump the table, you have a large object balance on a very small base...prime for tipping.
also how many dowels then through ball and into base?
(trying to do a post mortum here so we can all learn how to "borrow" you great design and use it in the future -- that boquet holder for the tee is inspired!)
Let's see - The stem of the tee was one of those plastic and hollow dowels that Wilton makes. I glued and duct taped the bouquet collar to the plastic dowel so that the top of the dowel stuck out of the collar about 1". It was then covered with MMF. I stuck that into the cake. Then I had 3 wooden dowels taped together and put that in the center of the plastic dowel and it stood just over an inch taller than the top of the collar. The center of the cake board under the ball was removed. So all I had to do was push the ball onto the wooden dowels. I think I had two problems - The supports weren't tall enough and I should have anchored the wooden dowels into the cake base board. The "tee" held it's shape, but the ball rolled off of it. If ya'll have any suggestions on another way to do this - I am all ears!!!
As for the response - I sent an email to the MOG last night with a picture of what the cake looked like prior to falling. I figured she still had family in, so I didn't want to bother her at home. I explained to her what was told to me on how it fell and apologized that she didn't get to see the finished product. I didn't offer anything, but told her to contact me if she had any questions or comments. She reponded this morning and said they wondered what had happened to the cake but were pleased with the outcome. Both the bride and groom were more than happy with everything I had done and she looks forward to ordering from me again. So, that's that!!
Thanks everybody for your comments and suggestions!
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