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Wow. Harsh feedback for wedding cake. How do you handle... - Page 3

post #31 of 55
7/28/08 at 5:21pm
I always get bad feedback from my cakes........................Let me explain, my husband is the chef and food and beverage director where I do my wedding cakes, so even if my work is great, he always tells me something I can do better next time. He is just like that. Sometimes it is really hard when I always think that no matter what I do, it is not good enough, but I have really learned how to tell him......Honey, stay in the kitchen where you belong, you don't know anything about cakes. There is always going to be that person, that no matter what you do, you can never please. Unfortunately for you, you got him this time! You just gotta deal with it and go to the next cake. !!!!! icon_biggrin.gif
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post #32 of 55
7/28/08 at 5:24pm
Judge Judy is my idol and here is a clip that was passed around a few weeks ago, but I feel it pertains to your situation perfectly.
You already know what this man is up to, don't let him get to you.
Enjoy~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdMktVy2t3I
Child & Home Engineer
Lin
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Child & Home Engineer
Lin
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post #33 of 55
7/28/08 at 5:32pm
If only Judge Judy would run for President!!!!! Love her! Thanks for sharing!! icon_lol.gif
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post #34 of 55
7/28/08 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KHalstead

I would just tell him that this is precisely the reason why wedding cake tastings are conducted and that you're sorry he didn't enjoy the cake and you really wished he would have had the time DURING the tasting to take a bite of the cake so the taste/texture of your cakes weren't a surprise to him or his guests!

This is exactly what I would say also....Definately no refund !
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post #35 of 55
7/28/08 at 6:12pm
Three things come to mind:

1-If your champagne cake recipe is like mine, it does have a firm, sponge-cake type texture. I will not sell it to anyone before they taste it, because it is a very European cake, and needs to be well soaked with a simple syrup ( try vanilla bean ccointreau) Lots of people will buy it for the name at a wedding, but what they really want is good ol' American butter cake.

2- There are people who just like to complain. They really need something to complain about. He picked the cake.

3- You might want to think about having some cuppies in the freezer when you're working a tasting. That way if one or the other fiancee doesn't show up, you can pop them in a box with the other and send them home. I never finalize an order when it is first ordered. I take a deposit, send them home with some samples, let them discuss everything, and then have a seperate meeting to finalize the details. ( This last meeting is a teleconference about 50%) of the time.
Scratch bakers of the world UNITE !!
Inrideo ergo sum ~ I snark therefore I am.
Cake or Death?......Cake Please!
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Scratch bakers of the world UNITE !!
Inrideo ergo sum ~ I snark therefore I am.
Cake or Death?......Cake Please!
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post #36 of 55
7/29/08 at 10:32am
Have you spoken with him again? What did the dj and resort people say? Chutzpah is totally right, ask the staff about the cake, they ate some for sure. Let us know what they say! I'm dying to know.
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post #37 of 55
7/29/08 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, the DJ doesn't know - he said he didn't have any cake & that we all get these kinds of weddings, chin up & move on.

The wedding coordinator said she was in & out that night, & never heard anything about it. She said she's going to ask the staff about it.

I finally just called him. He didn't have a rude tone with me or anything. (After listening to his voice mail again, he did in fact say it was the worst cake that anyone there had.) Anyway, he said that even the kids didn't like it. That one kid came up to him and said it tasted like paper icon_confused.gif Well, I just apologized over & over & said that I didn't know what could have gone wrong, 'cause I tested it and it was fine then. He said he's not one to complain icon_rolleyes.gif but he just had to let me know since every single person at the wedding thought the cake was terrible. I said I appreciate his honesty & feedback.

I then asked him about the 1-year anniversary cake, I asked him if he still wanted it, or perhaps wanted it in a different flavor. He said, no, I don't think it was the flavor, and yes, we still want the cake.

I mean, if it was the worst cake they've ever had - why on earth would you want another one? If it were me & I had disgusting cake I would just say no thank you to the freebie. It's not like he's losing out on money or anything by turning it down. I just thought that was odd.

Anyway, I will be sending out their coupon for their free anniversary cake, and will probably put a some (wedding-ish) sugar cookies in there as well.

He didn't ask for a refund or anything (which I thought he would!).

So that's that. I think I will now add a simple syrup to my cakes from now on. I've already started experimenting - and I think it will help.

Geez this is tough. I don't know if I'm cut out for this!! icon_rolleyes.gif
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post #38 of 55
7/29/08 at 1:52pm
Well, I'm glad it all worked out for you. Keep us posted on your next wedding cake & the POSITIVE feedback I'm sure you will get thumbs_up.gifthumbs_up.gif
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post #39 of 55
7/29/08 at 1:54pm
Please don't let this encounter put you off. Add a simple syrup to your cakes in future & put this behind you. You are a wonderful decorator & I would hate to see you stop making cakes because of one bad experience.
June
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June
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post #40 of 55
7/29/08 at 2:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mom2spunkynbug

I mean, if it was the worst cake they've ever had - why on earth would you want another one? If it were me & I had disgusting cake I would just say no thank you to the freebie.



Because it's free cake...because it really WASN'T the worst cake he ever had...because...who the heck knows with this guy!!!! icon_confused.gif

I would just file away the comments and do exactly what you are doing...experiment w/ the recipe if you feel you need to, and make sure BOTH the bride & groom are in agreement w/ the cake flavors beforehand. Keep your chin up!
Lauren~~Wife to Richard~~Mom to Olivia & Ruby
------------------------------------------------------
Amateurs practice 'til they get it right. Professionals practice 'til they can't do it wrong.
I'm somewhere in the middle!
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Lauren~~Wife to Richard~~Mom to Olivia & Ruby
------------------------------------------------------
Amateurs practice 'til they get it right. Professionals practice 'til they can't do it wrong.
I'm somewhere in the middle!
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post #41 of 55
7/29/08 at 2:05pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone.

Well, my next wedding cake is this Saturday! Then I've got 2 next weekend! Then it's MY wedding! So I can't call it quits now even if I wanted to! (which, yeah, right about now I want to!)

I HOPE & PRAY that these next wedding cakes will come out so awesome & I have good feedback. 2 out of the 3 brides had a tasting (and the one that didn't also ordered champagne cake!).

Wish me luck icon_cry.gificon_redface.gificon_rolleyes.gificon_smile.gif
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post #42 of 55
7/29/08 at 2:18pm
Sorry about all the turmoil you have had to endure over your cake. I checked out the picture and you did a very nice job. I thought you did an especially good job on the fondant ribbon around the base of each cake thumbs_up.gif
Here's a thought. Could it have been the fondant? Some people are really turned off by it's texture/taste. I personally like fondant, but some don't. and you know how some people are, they hear one negative comment and they jump on the band wagon.
Put it behind you, and keep making cakes!

Jibbies
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post #43 of 55
7/29/08 at 2:39pm
I doubt that you can reason with him. Just appoligize for him not liking it and move on.
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post #44 of 55
7/29/08 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jibbies

Sorry about all the turmoil you have had to endure over your cake. I checked out the picture and you did a very nice job. I thought you did an especially good job on the fondant ribbon around the base of each cake thumbs_up.gif
Here's a thought. Could it have been the fondant? Some people are really turned off by it's texture/taste. I personally like fondant, but some don't. and you know how some people are, they hear one negative comment and they jump on the band wagon.
Put it behind you, and keep making cakes!

Jibbies



Thanks Jibbies. You know I was wondering that myself! Especially when he said a kid said it tasted like paper? What was he doing? Trying to eat the fondant/gumpaste ribbon?! I can't imagine what else would taste like paper? icon_confused.gif

Whatever - I'm slowly getting over this drama icon_rolleyes.gif
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post #45 of 55
7/29/08 at 8:55pm
Thread Starter 
You know, now that I'm thinking about it - I don't even know if the groom was paying attention when the bride ordered fondant.

Every time someone says they want fondant, or if they like the look of a certain cake & I tell them it's fondant, I: 1) ask them if they've ever had it before, I 2) explain the consistancy & how most people aren't used to it & how it's more popular in the UK, I 3) explain how they have to actually chew the frosting, how it won't melt in your mouth like buttercream - I doubt he heard all of that.

I'm wondering if they are considering the fondant to be dry icing???

I wonder if I should send the bride an email? (I have her email address) Or should I just drop it and let it go...
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