Thanks evryone for your suport..live and learn.

I wrote her ANOTHER e-mail stating that if I did not have the contract and the $ in my hands by Monday at 9pm I would not make the cakes....and to please send me her address and I will refund (what is normally a non-refundable) deposit.

I hope it does not blow up in my face

All I can say is if she doesn't get the money/contract and details to you by your specified time then good luck finding a baker/bakery to do a cake for that day!

Wow that is really close July 7th. It just drives you nuts. I don't think a lot of people think of all the planning and prep work that goes into a great cake.
She sounds like a real procrastinator . She will probably be all stressed out for the whole wedding. Nothing will go right and it will be the cake lady's fault. Just kidding.... maybe. I think I would just refund.

I usually just lurk and absorb the great information, but I have to reply to this post!

I go to Curves with a MOB who tasted one of my b'day cakes I made for a mutual friend. Her daughter is getting married on 7/7/07 as well. I have had sporatic contact with the daughter through e-mail. She finally asked for a tasting, which I provided. (It was to be delivered to MOB at Curves, and against my better judgment did it that way)

Finally MOB told me bride needed to contact me and order the cake. Well, this was after weeks of hearing nightmarish stories of procrastination and order changing at Curves from MOB, and MOB complaining about how bride refuses to make her mind up on anything.

I politely said, sorry I'm booked, you'll have to find another baker.

I've been in the business too many years not to have dodged that bullet.

A final, ironic twist to the whole thing. I got an e-mail from MOB last week telling me since I would not be baking the cake, they needed my recipe since bride said it was the best she tasted.
HA!

It takes all kinds!!

If it were me I would not to this cake. She'll never be satisfied and with so much tension already its just a disaster waiting to happen. CherryBomb mentioned having to return the entire amount because the contract was never signed, not so. You have a verbal agreement which is legally binding. A deposit is meant to protect your interest in a transaction. As long as she was told that her money was a deposit you should not have to refund it. I wouldn't give her the deposit especially after losing another sale. Good Luck and do let us know how this one turns out. Sometimes the forums are like watching the soaps you can almost hear the music and the announcer.

I would only give send her back $50.00 and explain that the other $50.00 was non-refundable and be through with the whole thing. She has not been kepping in contact with you and never did what she was suppose to do back in April ( with contract etc.) So don't feel bad, just live and learn from this. Let us know what you decide to do. Good Luck....The nerve of that bride.

kansasbura...I can not believe that the bride had tha nerve to ask for the recipe!!!

What a $%!

I know I do not have to give her the deposit back, but, good riddens to bad trash....

I also turned down 3 other wedding cake orders saying I was booked

As we all know 7/7/07 is the most popular date to get married...

Can't wait to find out how it ends!

First off... kansaslaura...I can't even fathom someone 'telling' you they need your recipe. Thanks for the vote of best flavor but sheeesh. Has she gone to KFC and requested the secret blend of spices because they have her daughters fav chicken! Think not!

I agree with most of the posts here too about declining and the money. To a sane person you would be expected to keep all $100. Even to a tempermental person you would be expected to keep the $50 agreed upon. Doesnt sound like she is either.... I would give all $100 back to lessen the headache but that is just me.

My question about the contract is, did YOU sign the contract before giving it to her? Just want to make sure because if you signed it then at any point she can sign it and say you backed out especially if you dated it and she fakes her date. Not a nice thing to do, but want to make sure you are protected. If you didnt sign it (hopefully not without her sig and details) then tell her sorry it didnt work out and wish her the best on her day and be done.


Dont forget to let us know how it shakes down...

My turn...

I would NOT do this cake and let the bride know that you are sorry and have booked that date with another another confirmed order with a signed contract. I would also return all the $ to avoid any problems, she may come back to you and say that she never signed a contract and was not responsible for a deposit.

This is why I won't do wedding cakes!

I am amazed at the extent you seemed to have bent backwards for her.

I don't think you handled it wrong.

After the first attempt to contact and no reply, she would've been d-r-o-p-p-e-d.

Oh wow...this is wild!
Firstly LMAO- kansaslaura- DA nerve!

I agree with all I have read here.
I don't think I would keep $50.00 either, unless you had it actually stated that you were going to keep a non-refundable deposit.
Wash your hands of this one!

I am wondering if I am even going to delve into wedding cakes. I am doing one for my sister's friend...and am praying this doesn't happen! yikes!

[pulling my attorney hat from the back of the closet where it's been gathering dust]

A contract requires three things to be valid: Offer, Acceptance, Consideration.

You had an offer (the contract)
You had consideration (the deposit she gave you)
You did NOT have acceptance (the bride signing the contract)

If you have a policy that all tastings cost $50, but if you book the cake the cost of the tasting applies to the final cost of the cake, you may keep the $50 and the extra $50 should be returned.

If you have a policy that the first tasting is free, and the $50 you asked for was a deposit (consideration) to hold the date, you are legally obligated to send the entire $100 back to her if you don't do her cake.

Me, I'd just send the entire $100 back and say good riddance.

[/putting the attorney hat back in the closet]

I think that now that all is said and done, you are starting to handle it correctly. I don't believe you did at first. It was kind of you to try to get the info, etc, but as a business you have to look out for #1. Chasing after unreliable customers while turning down others doesn't do that. Not to mention gives this bride the wrong idea, that you are going to do the thinking/planning for her. I'd like to know if she paid up and if you're doing the cake. Do you have another cake lined up for this busy day?

I thought I might share how I do my tastings/contracts and it might help you in the future.

At the tasting, I write down all the details I need to know...contact information, reception details, and we look through a photo album and I do a sketch of the proposed cake. They taste the cake I've brought and decide on flavors (usually they know coming in pretty much what they want). At the end, I give them a rough estimate of the price. I give them some samples to take home and tell them I will mail the contract to them the next business day. They then have one week from the time they receive the contract in the mail to sign it and send it back with a deposit. I put this "deposit due" date on the contract. I then type up the contract, do a color sketch of the cake, and send it off (two copies -- one for them to keep, one for them to sign and return). If they return the contract to me with deposit by the due date, they're booked. If I don't hear from them, then I assume they've gone elsewhere and I free up that date for other bookings.

I've had great success with this method for a couple of reasons. First, I don't put them on the spot and make them tell me yes or no at the tasting. Second, it doesn't leave me waiting around, chasing them down, wondering if they're going to book or not. They have a piece of paper in hand with the date they must book with me and the amount of the deposit.

Whatever you decide, I hope this ends with a minimum of drama. She is going to be getting her wedding cake at Costco if you don't do it -- no one is available on 7/7/7.

My orders are a first come first serve basis. I would not have chased this bride around, when another cake order came in I would give them a contract and if they signed and paid for the cake on time then THAT is the cake that gets made. This woman would have recieved a note from me stating that I had another customer who fulfilled their obligations and so I would no longer be available to make her cake. Tough luck - but that is the way it is. Keep your chin up. Live and learn. Now run like @#%&!!

run forrest run! Let us know the outcome.

I haven't read all of the comments, I also am only a hobbyist baker. If it was me.... Say the tasting was on Friday at 5:00pm I would have given her to that following Monday @ 5:00 pm to have the contract & all information after that I mean 5:01 i would send her $50.00 back to her, keep the non-refundable $50 let her now you are now unavailabe for that day. Sounds like she needs a good old fashioned spanking.

This is sad but I get so addicted to these stories! Its better than my soaps!

I would take the lawyers advice and give the full 100 back and feel good because you will not have to stress about her. In the back of your mind you must be knowing that even if you have the signed contract by Monday this girl is probably going to pull some sort of diva on you!

Most brides leave and breath to have everthing perfect well in advance this girl is not like that - flush her away!

As for everyones questions..no I did not sign the contract, I did not even quote her a price because she did not know what she wanted...I tell my brides that my tastings are free....If you decide to book with me I require a non-refundable $50 deposit to hold the date. She paid $100 and was not sure about all info. such as hall address, contact number, etc..and wanted her mom to taste the cakes too. She asked if she could mail it back with the info. I had done this with another bride, and it was fine...but never again, contact and deposit to save date, no contract and deposite no cake. i will never again take one w/out the other....

Live and learn...The hard way...

kellym, that sounds like a great plan you have in place.

Did you do something wrong? Yes!, but you already know that and are learning some valuable lessons here the hard way. I, too, will bend over backwards to help someone but have gradually learned not to be taken advantage of. That helps no one and only serves to waste my time, and likely the other person's as well. Kellym's advice is outstanding in every way; please gleen what you will from it. I suspect that this bride will indeed come through with contract, etc.--likely a bit after your deadline--but your troubles will be far from over. She may well change her mind on details from now until the wedding, (or cancel the wedding?) but the worst is that in the end you will most likely have a "customer" who spreads her displeasure of you far and wide, thus causing you to lose future business.

i'm curious how this will turn out. i really hope you're the one happy at the end. i really couldn't care less how this bride's cake or entire wedding for that matter will turn out. my prediction... let's just say it's obvious she's got it coming.

i'm not a professional baker and just yesterday i delivered my first official big (well for my experience) wedding cake. for a friend. i was so surprised how there can be such a bride who doesn't really care about details for her own wedding. 6 days before the wedding i still didn't get anything confirmed -- size, design, flavor! i knew i had to start and i knew they didn't get anyone else to make the cakes. so i wrote her an email saying i'll go ahead and do what i think she wants. she better call me right away in case i'm doing something wrong. as i think you all would understand, i was going crazy with all the decisions! the things one would do for a friend. as it turns out, she was that type of person -- doesn't matter what it looks like. she's tasted my cakes of course which is why she asked me to make her wedding cake. i'm flattered but oh my stress!!! to make it all worth it, i didn't cringe when her sister (who was paying) asked for the price. you see, i'm the type who's embarrassed when asked how much. she didn't bat an eyelid and gave me the money. (and i worried about that too!)

i said all that just to mean that i think i understand you and that i actually envy you for having the option to walk away. you're a winner! goodluck!

[quote="kelleym"]I thought I might share how I do my tastings/contracts and it might help you in the future.

At the tasting, I write down all the details I need to know...contact information, reception details, and we look through a photo album and I do a sketch of the proposed cake. They taste the cake I've brought and decide on flavors (usually they know coming in pretty much what they want). At the end, I give them a rough estimate of the price. I give them some samples to take home and tell them I will mail the contract to them the next business day. They then have one week from the time they receive the contract in the mail to sign it and send it back with a deposit. I put this "deposit due" date on the contract. I then type up the contract, do a color sketch of the cake, and send it off (two copies -- one for them to keep, one for them to sign and return). If they return the contract to me with deposit by the due date, they're booked. If I don't hear from them, then I assume they've gone elsewhere and I free up that date for other bookings.

I bet that works really well. It looks like it takes a lot of the pressure off of the cake decorator for pursuing the project. They KNOW they have to take the intuitive. Great advice!

She definitely sounds like a Bridezilla! I have met very few brides that are not all about the details, wanting to get things done, and making sure they have enough time to do them. I just did a wedding cake last weekend that I met with the bride last August. She was starting nursing school and wanted to get as much done as she could before school started. Wish they could all be this way, huh? Anyway - I agree in keeping the $50, however, because she's such a loose cannon, I think give all the money back, let her know that you are booked, sorry, but she didn't follow through with you, you've lost other business, and have a booking for someone that signed a contract. End of story. If she wants to be upset about it, the only person she has to be upset with is herself. How ridiculous! Keep us posted on what happens!

She's a 07/07/07 bride? I was totally booked (multiple wedding cakes) for that date over a year in advance. She's nuts!