Wrong Wedding Cake - what to do!?! - Page 8

now I don't have a business and I've never made a wedding cake but I've read enough here to know that there is more than just the flavor that is decided upon when ordering.

There is color, size, decorations and set up. All of THESE requirements of the contract were met. The bride and groom couldn't even tell it was wrong until it was cut. With that said....she deserves a refund but not in full since it wasn't the wrong color, wrong decorations, the wrong shape and there was enough to feed the guests. The baker made a mistake but it wasn't a total loss.

I think at least she deserves about 40% back ( and the cost of the expensive filling upgrade) as well as a new anniversary cake in the right flavor.

My opinion.
mommachris

Mahzooka
I guess perhaps, and speaking for myself I was trying to say that in the big scheme of things, while it is a big deal and she is due a refund of some sorts, the important point of fact is that she is happily married to a wonderful guy. She's a new bride and I hope in 5 years that this is maybe something they can laugh about. Worse things happened to me-my m-i-l changed my s-i-l's dress from black to purple because she was 13 and the bridal shop didn't tell me. She showed up at the wedding in a purple dress when everyone else wore black. I see that in my photo which hangs on the wall everyday, the florist sent the wrong corsages and my bouquet fell apart. Now it's something we all laugh about. I went to pursue some action against the florist but was told that if they wore the corsages, even though they were not wrist corsages they owed me nothing and they gave me 20% back on the cost of my bouquet.
Your cousin should have called or had someone else call on her behalf at the wedding and try to get in touch with the baker, if not she should call right away and perhaps a full refund can be given. It was upsetting to be sure but I think what most of us were trying to do was to tell her to make the call and see what can be done now but to also remember that her day was a happy day as well and if this was the biggest problem she enounters in her marriage than she's going to be fine.
BTW, I certainly hope that you will reconsider not posting here. I had someone pm that I "must be retarded" if I couldn't figure out the SMBC from the Confetti cake book. I have a daughter who is retarded and while I was upset about that stupid person, I didn't respond but didn't let that stop me from posting here and learning and asking questions. 99% of the people here are great but there is some who are not. Just like most people who you run across in general, it's no different.

Alright... I've read. And now I need to just say... I think she is entitled to a refund for the cake portion of the cake. If you know what I mean. The decorator still did the right work. And for me... the cake portion is usually not the bulk of the charge. Design costs a bit. It was the cake that was wrong. And of course a topper on their anniversary in the right flavor as said many times previous. As for whether or not she should be upset... she has every right to be. I would have been. As for ruining everything... it shouldn't. But, I certainly understand how she felt. I was disappointed in my wedding cake for my first marriage. It was ugly. But, it tasted great. It kind of put me in a sour mood for about 10 minutes and then I moved on.

As for what she should do... I have made this mistake before. And I have offered a refund or free cheesecake. Which they are very happy about. I think she should let the bakery know in a kind way. After all, they are probably going to be mortified. I was. And immediately offered to correct it as best I could. Just contact the bakery and see what they will do about it. And let us know... we do care.

Regardless of whether the wrong cake flavor 'ruined' her wedding or not, what was delivered was not what was ordered and agreed upon, therefore some sort of compensation is in order. I am glad to hear it was decorated as ordered so the pictures will not reflect the snafu. I think 50% refund is appropriate and fair.

The baker needs to be more careful next time . I do not, however, think that a full refund is fair - let's be realistic here. I'm sure part of the brides dramatic 'ruined' reception routine was due to the fact that logically, she knew she could pitch a royal hissy and get a complete refund....... I would not be able to justify that. I think the color or style being wrong would be worse, personally....

I also love the idea of a freebie cake in the flavor they ordered and/or an anniversary cake gratis but I don't think that's enough. JMHO

** and I do feel bad for the baker.....we are all human and we all make mistakes.

I stand by my full refund. She did not contract for a service, but for a product. The product was incorrect. She probably spent hours deciding in flavors/fillings/decor. If you were contracted to cut and serve the cake, and you did, even if it was the wrong cake, you would still get paid for your cutting/serving. But the cake was wrong.
How do you cut a cake with a large ceremony and then deny your guests some of that cake?!?! A gracious bride must serve the cake! Hello, it's a centerpiece of the reception!
Whether or not the judge would rule in her favor because she served it, is beside the point. I make what they order, or they get a full refund. It's either right, or it's not. No gray area.

Rather than get involved in the whole debate going on here, I'd just like to know the outcome, did she contact the bakery? Are they offering her a refund? What was there explanation for the incorrect cake?

I'm a curious bunny and am interested in the outcome!

At the risk of beating a dead horse (it's definitely dead, here, just in case we're wondering)...

Does it even matter, any more, really?

Maybe we should suffice it to say we all hope it works out for this bride, whatever happens, and that she gets whatever refund or free cake is due her (not up to us, anyway--and like I said, I'm sure the baker will be delighted to fix the situation to the best of their ability, albeit after the fact), and that she lives happily ever after.

And (however significant or insignificant a detail it was), may the wrong flavor in her wedding cake be the *worst* thing that ever happens to her.

Thank you and good night.

I guess whether it matters anymore or not depends on who you are and what part of this world you are standing in.

Diane

I'm the one who mentioned that the pictures of the cake cutting were probably bad, but I NEVER said the baker is responsible for refunding ANY of the picture money, ONLY the cake. I was just trying to point out a few different reasons why hte bride may have thought that it ruined her reception. I was using the look on confusion on her face when they cut it instead of the smile. I do not think that the baker is responsible for refunding that. Whoever thought that's what I said read my comment wrong.

I think we can just say ..... we agree to disagree...

I think it could of ruined their wedding....

What if they were allergic to raspberries...

They signed a contract..... why doesn't this matter now?

If it were me....the baker...I would be sooo sad ...and upset at myself for this mishap I would offer all of their money back. It was my mistake not theirs. They signed a contract with me....therefore my screw up I lose the money....

Please don't get mad at this lovely group of people.......and don't leave we all can help each other in some way at some time


Christi

it really doesn't matter what any of us think...whether she should get a full or partial refund. what matters is that if there was a contract...and i'm sure there was...what did it specifically say about refunds whether full or partial.
the bride needs to look at that and go from there. she is definitely due a refund of some sort.

Haven't had a chance to read all 8 pages of this post, but I think that your cousin is entitiled to at least 50% discount and a new anniversary tier. I have been married 18 years and I do remember the details of the day, down to the cake. If they ordered a specific flavor then that's what they should get. People have favorite flavors or there may be an allergy to flavors (hopefully no one was allergic to raspberries!!). Whatever the reason, the couple is entitiled to get what they ordered, despite how pretty the cake provided was and what the guests may or may not be aware of. Your cousin should contact the baker and make them aware of the situation, taking the anniversary tier and a copy of her order with her to the bakery. 40 lashes? No,but a calm reasonable discussion with a resolution good for your cousin is in order.
Yeah, she married the love of her life, but after planning and paying for a celebration to match their feelings, if something goes wrong then there is nothing with feeling upset.
As cake bakers/decorators we should tke responsibility for the product we create and be just as gracious (if not more) when rectifying a mistake as we are when we make a cake perfectly
(didn't mean to be so long, I guess today is my opinionated day )

Somewhere there is a Bride who got a 3 tiered chocolate-kahlua cake with chocolate fudge filling,
instead of the white cake with bavarian creme and raspberry fillings she ordered.
OH OH.

I hope noone at the chocolate cake reception is allergic!