Wow. Harsh Feedback For Wedding Cake. How Do You Handle...
Business By mom2spunkynbug Updated 31 Jul 2008 , 12:58pm by KeltoKel
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. !!!!!
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~
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 !
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.
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.
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 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 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!!
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
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.
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!!!!
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!
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
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
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
I doubt that you can reason with him. Just appoligize for him not liking it and move on.
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
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?
Whatever - I'm slowly getting over this drama
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...
Sorry that this happened, it was a beautiful cake.
I would just drop it and let it go, do not email the bride. Right now everything ended well and the groom did not ask for a refund. If you talk to them again about it you are just giving them another opportunity to change their mind and demand a refund. With how he has been attitude wise about things going back and forth I wouldn't bother.
This is kind of off topic but that champaigne cake sounds good, and the frosting. Anyone have the recipe? I wanna try that?
One thing that no one has mentioned... What will make the moistest cake dry is if the caterers cut it up, then waited and waited and waited for everyone in the room to finish before they served it with the slices sitting exposed...
It's just something to consider that it might not have been the scratch vs. box debate at all, just the overanxious caterers cutting it too early...
Sorry that this happened, it was a beautiful cake.
I would just drop it and let it go, do not email the bride. Right now everything ended well and the groom did not ask for a refund. If you talk to them again about it you are just giving them another opportunity to change their mind and demand a refund. With how he has been attitude wise about things going back and forth I wouldn't bother.
Thanks mkolmar.
And thank you for your feedback. You are so right!
One thing that no one has mentioned... What will make the moistest cake dry is if the caterers cut it up, then waited and waited and waited for everyone in the room to finish before they served it with the slices sitting exposed...
It's just something to consider that it might not have been the scratch vs. box debate at all, just the overanxious caterers cutting it too early...
Oh wow, I never thought about that. Who knows with the people that were there. I always give a piece of paper to the staff (usually try to find who's in charge) & it states my name, phone number, email, how big the slices should be cut & a diagram (Wilton's) of how the cake should be cut, and how many each tier will serve.
Anyway, I gave the sheet to this guy and told him about it and said to cut the entire cake because they will receive a fresh one for their 1-year anniversary. He looked at me like I was crazy He said "You mean, serve the WHOLE cake including the top tier?" I said "yes" He looked at me like then says "Do THEY know this?" NO I'M JUST GONNA HAVE YOU CUT THE WHOLE THING UP WITHOUT THEM KNOWING! I said "Yes, they know this, I offer a fresh cake for their anniversary so they don't have to eat a cake that has been sitting in the freezer for a year." Then he said "Ok.....'cause I don't want to ruin anyone's day." I said "They know."
OH! So THEN he says "Wow, that's pretty cool. So do you have to take a picture of the cake so you remember what it looks like?"
LOL
I said "Um, yes. I take pictures, and have all of their information regarding flavors and everything on paper."
Anyway...my whole point in this post is to say - yeah...who knows when these people cut up, then served the cake!!! I will have to add that to my paper saying to cut immediately before serving so that the cake does not dry out! (But I will still put a simple syrup over them as well.)
Thanks!
Buy JenniferMI's DVD on making her fondant & you will have fondant that melts in the mouth.
I agree with dropping it now.
But COME ON -- every single person there thought it was dry? There was not a single guest who was reserved or well mannered enough to pretend to like the cake? Even if I didn't care for a cake, I don't know that I would have the gall to tell the bride and groom that I didn't like their cake. Even if they were complaining, I bet I would say something like "'it wasn't that bad". They must come from one doozy of a family that not only did they not like the cake, every single one of them felt the need to complain about it. Get real.
I agree with dropping it now.
But COME ON -- every single person there thought it was dry? There was not a single guest who was reserved or well mannered enough to pretend to like the cake? Even if I didn't care for a cake, I don't know that I would have the gall to tell the bride and groom that I didn't like their cake. Even if they were complaining, I bet I would say something like "'it wasn't that bad". They must come from one doozy of a family that not only did they not like the cake, every single one of them felt the need to complain about it. Get real.
You've apparently not run into some of the families I've run into ---the kind that like to complain about everything & see how much they can get for free. It's funny but annoying at the same time. Needless to say those kind have family as a network, not friends.
Well, I'm posting after reading only the first page, so sorry if I repeat something.
I personally would not call him back. The man sounds abusive, to everyone around him. Yes, scratch cake tastes different than mix, and he should have participated in the tasting.
At the wedding, he's critiquing the cake? Give me a break, he should have been doting on his new wife.
He's probably trying to recoup losses. They ate the cake, and that's that. That's why you prepare when you are planning the wedding.
The cake is beautiful.
And yes, all future dealing should be done with the wife. If he calls you, because you are not going to call him, tell him that.
Again, no explanations. At all. And no refunds, absolutely, not even a discount off future purchases.
My thing is, when there's a complaint, you always, always have to consider the source. He sounds like a controller, who needs to complain. He doesn't sound like a happy person. You're not going to change that, no matter what you do. You're not going to make him happy.
I would make any communication with him as few words as possible.
I would email the bride b/c I am curious as to what she thought. Although at this point, it might be best to let it go. I agree, might be the fondant.
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