I know this isn't what you asked, but if the bride really wants all Cassata, another option is instead of doing a stacked cake, have each cake on a separate stand, like in the photos below:







Note: these are not photos of my work, but ones I found by doing a Google image search to illustrate what kind of set-up I was talking about.

Just remember, this is a reflection of her, not you. And, you can out last her.

I wouldn't bother to worry about it.

Thanks everyone!

prterrell-that's exactly what I was thinking of too! I offered to do all Cassata with them floating like that, but she wanted stacked.

So far, no return call from the "new bride".

You don't owe anybody an explination. The bride made the decision and there's nothing that says YOU have to ask the bride, or whomever, if they've signed a contract with another baker. Small towns are notorious for having the ONE person in town that has diarreha of the mouth. It's just another thing you have to deal with in small towns.

They can ask the bride because she got what she REALLY wanted from you, as opposed to settling for what the other baker was giving her.

any update??

Why do people (referring to this other decorator) find it necessary to lie??? Ugh!!!!

Lita829- I love your quote, "Your only competition should be yourself!" That is so true! If we could just work on trying to outdo ourselves and not others, we will be alot happier Thanks for the tip

I've got news for you...you keep saying you're 'not in the wedding cake business' but trust me...after this wedding you will be whether you want to or not! You know, Ms Queen Bee-otch Baker may not be as wonderful as she thinks she is. It sounds like the people in your community want someone else to choose from. You might want to embrace that instead of fighting it. If she can't realize that having a competitor could actually help her improve her business, then she's not very savvy. The bakery I worked for was competitive, but we also realized that you can't please everyone. It's nice to give people a choice. We went after business, but we also shared. Sometimes we would get someone wanting a cake that we did not have time to do, and we would recommend other bakeries....and they did the same. But the bakeries in our community NEVER bad mouthed each other. It's best to let the product speak for itself.
Good luck!

Ahhh, I'm finally home before 11!!!!

Thanks everyone for your replies!
I still haven't heard back from the "new bride" which leads me to believe that either 1) she found someone else OR 2) she was never a bride to begin with.
I'm leaning towards #2. So far, it's been quiet. Hopefully the drama is over!

Slander is spoken, libel is written. Take notes on what happened with time/ dates/ and names. File it away and forget it, and keep it cordial.

If something else happens down the road with the badmouther, add to the file. If it gets to the point to where it's really causing a problem for your biz, seek out legal action.

Let her run her mouth! Like you said, you're not in the cake business, you're not competing with her, so what's the big deal? She's obviously not a professional, because if she was, she'd handle HER business, and let you handle yours.

Like you said, you're not going to ask a customer if she has signed a contract with anyone else before YOU sign them. And if the other baker did have a contract, then she'd also have a cancellation policy in place which would still her paid a little for not having to do anything.

Unless of course, she was sooo sure that she'd have no competition in her area that she never included a cancellation policy in her wedding cake contracts. If that's the case...eh...screw her.

This lady is obviouly jealous of you and is worried she is going to lose some business. You go girl, and do YOUR THING! I always say there is plenty of cake to go around.

This is better than a soap opera. I can't wait to hear another update lol

That is what competition is for, for customers to be able to decide what is best for them, and don't be stuck with a single option.

This person is obviously threaten by you, and that is nothing but a good sign, because she feels you are worth worrying about.

Do a great cake, and make a customer happy, that's it, don't worry about her since you are not doing anything wrong!

Eh, it's a small town... Lived in them all my life.
The truth will get out there soon enough. The woman already has a reputation anyway. So the folks in town know what she's like.

Just stay pleasant and professional (leaning towards friendly) to everyone.
Congrats on the new business, and welcome to CC!

I'm so sorry you have to go through all that! Try not to let it stress you out. From your story, you did nothing wrong. There are always the negative complainers out there in the world, and she must be one of them. Good Luck!