LOL
I have a GROOMzilla... I was asked to do a cupcake wedding for Sept. 23. The reception is in a loft space in NY city. I was excited!! NOW.. i am having the hardest time with the groom. I did a sampling of cupcakes when I met with the couple for the first time. chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, coconut, decorated with flowers, some with ganache. some filled. I went all out!! I am ALWAYS praised on my cupcakes. They disappear. This time.. I was asked if I could make a cupcake that was moister.. richer.. 
I have since made FOUR different recipes and only 1 (vanilla) is what I would consider in the ballpark. I cant get a chocolate one with the consistency he likes. I am getting tired of making FREE cupcakes. Also, they asked if I would make a traditional dominican cake (he is from the dominican republic) I said I would be glad to try it. Now...last nite..... they said they want the dominican cake tiered and less cupcakes than originally discussed....... 
This dominican cake has a meringue frosting (NOT meringue buttercream) Just egg whites and sugar syrup type meringue. And she wants pearls on the cake. I dont know if I should just walk away from this or what. we have been going back and forth with this stuff all month. I dont think I can stack this cake without ruining the frosting and I dont know how it will take the decoration and... I am not sure I want to spend the money to make one (this cake is not exactly cheap). Any input would be greatly appreciated!! This site always comes through! 
Hi Ginny,
With all the free samples and practice cakes, you may be better off just letting this go. Sounds like they would be too hard to please anyway!!! I'd hate to buy all the ingredients, be getting started and then they change their minds!!! That's just my 2 cents!
Berta
Honestly, it sounds like this groom and his family are not going to be pleased no matter what you do. If it were me, I would politely tell them that I didn't think I had the skills and experience necessary for the type of cake they desired and that I would have to decline. Since the wedding is only a month away, if you decide to cut your losses and walk away, I would do it as soon as possible so that they have time to find someone else to make their cake. Believe it or not, I have actually gotten a future order from someone that I did this to. They were impressed that I actually had the courage to tell them I wasn't qualified, and that I did it with enough time for them to find someone else.
Well, I'm new here, but my feeling from your post is that this is a no-win situation and that it would be best for all involved to cut bait--and RUN.
If these people are less than a month out from their wedding and can't make up their minds about the cake, it's sure to be a nightmare next 22 days and by the wedding, ALL of their problems will be YOUR fault! I wouldn't want to be in the middle of this.
The gap between cupcakes and a stacked tier Dominican cake is about--a million miles--and it's too easy to get stranded out there. Personally, I'd tell them all of the exact concerns that you have cited here and end with, "And give all of MY concerns, I think you'd be much happier with a cake from someone much more familiar with this recipe." I wouldn't let them lure me back with guilt--Oh, it's so late, Oh, we only want you-- either.
The only way I'd do this project is with a written contract (for x # of cupcakes, x flavor & x icing, x decoration, x style of set up, x location, x delivery charge, A HUGE X $S NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT, and A CHANGE ORDER SCHEDULE--for all of the other x's above --THAT WOULD ESCALATE TO THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE WITHIN 5 DAYS OF THE WEDDING. In other words, I'd either FORCE choices NOW with a financial commitment that would hurt if they tried to back out or they'd back out all together and I wouldn't have to get caught up in their mess.
My motto is: I won't let your "emergency" become MY crisis !
Maybe the groom doesn't want to get married and figures if he drags his feet on the cake, he can get out of it 
I agree totally with what everyone said. He sounds impossible to please. And you are going to put your self through-excuse me-HELL to try and do what they want. That is, if they ever make up the freaking minds!!! I would just tell them that I feel that I am not the right person for this job. They are expecting flawless in less than a month ofr something that they may finally decide upon about a week before the big day. I think that they would take anything going wrong that day out on you. Don't put yourself through that!!! Nothing is worth that unless it is something for yourself!!! God gives us crosses to bear, not manial groomzillas!!!
Tanya
Run away! It is not worth it... your time is better spent on other things than this family.
I think that since they changed their minds about the cupcakes they should've at least been charged for all the ones they ate.!!!!! I agree that he sounds impossible to please and that this is a no-win situation. He'll probably call you the week of the wedding and tell you he changed his mind AGAIN!! 
It seems like you're bending over backwards for someone who is taking you for a ride!!! I hope I helped.
Daniela
I would politely tell them to find someone else to do their cake since everything you've done for them, they keep changing their minds.... It's hard enough doing a wedding cake without the added pressure of a "GROOMZILLA"...causing you all kinds of grief...
I don't know what people expect sometimes....
Good luck in your decision...
cakegal
I just wanted to 2nd everything that BlakesCakes said. I think they have trouble making decisions, and just don't even know what they really want. If you get a financial commitment they may be just fine. But then again, you just need to go with your gut!
Well, first of all, I wouldn't have changed my recipe to suit him. Especially if it's a tried and true recipe that you've been getting raves over. I would have nipped it right there and said, I'm sorry, I don't think this is a good fit for either one of us. So you are better than me already. Second, you need to be honest with him and tell him your concerns about the icing/stacking, etc. I say back away.
My two cents: If he wants a specialized Dominican cake, then he should find someone who he can trust in making it. Not that you couldn't, but it sounds like a Judge Judy thing to me "She didn't give us the cake we wanted so we want our money back" type of thing.
He's in New York, how many bakeries specialize in ethnic foods in New York? Seems to me that New York IS the cultural melting pot!
Tell GROOMzilla that you just can't take the chance, that you are just not comfortable with his demands, especially since they keep changing. I also think that in the future you might want to start charging for extras.... like one tasting is free, the next will be charged per flavor of cake..... get a contract stating what they want, but adfd a codicil that you have the right to charge for changes to the order if made less than one month prior to the wedding, and for every order change, you charge a nominal fee for your troubles. Don't let this guy continue to walk all over you!
Debbi
I think I would politely - but firmly tell them, that (you) feel very confident in your cakes and your abilities as a decorator....and obviously they know you're skilled and capable or they wouldn't have sat down with you in the first place. Tell them you've been flexible and that you want them to be pleased, but based on their requests and reactions, their demands are too high. So, if they do appreciate your work and definitely want you to decorate for them, they need to be a little more cooperative and they need to understand that the traditional D.R. cake is not meant to be decorated like a tradtional american cake....the consistency of the icing doesn't work. Obviously, I would also emphasize that you understand and relate to what an important day it is for them. If you take your business seriously -- so will they. Hope this helps!
Oh....please tell them that you don't have the skills to make the kind of cake they want and they should find someone else, and Oh...please let them go and see who else they will find to put up with that crap and make all them free samples. And trust me, you will sleep so good, after you get rid of that headache!!!
They sound like the type that might just stiff you in the end with the final payment or, if you get final payment up front, may sue you because you "ruined" the whole wedding with a "bad" cake, etc. Even though they LOVE it. They may be laying ground work to not pay. They could end up hurting you far more thn it's worth. Give them some names to work with, since you cannot please them.
I hate to beat a dead horse...but I totally agree with the rest. I have had a few customers like that before. And they are NEVER satisfied. It honestly makes you wonder WHY are they using your services if nothing is exactly like they want it!? Don't let them stress you, your work is good. I used to try to work thru whatever they could throw me and for way too cheap. You would be surprised how good it can feel to politely tell someone that you just wont be able to do their job. And that maybe someone else will be more suitable for them.
I would definately be careful about all this, unless you are willing to lose money on this whole thing.... I would drop this thing like it was hot.
If you still want to stay on their "good side" (if they have one) or you're feeling guilty about this, then make them a list of Bakeries (WHICH IS WAY ABOVE THE CALL OF DUTY) that could handle their request (stacked dominican cake and short notice changes are easier for them to handle).
Yeah.... not so fun and not good for you the way it is now. Either way, whatever you decide to do.... you'd better do it quick (like you didn't know)! I feel for you and good luck!
THANK YOU ALL !!!!!
I talked to this couple and I am no longer baking the desserts for this wedding 
What a load off my mind. Every one of you had the same advice So did my close friends and family. I do really hope they end up getting exactly what they want. It is a wedding after all. I am just glad to be done with it.
Thanks again for "nudging" me in the right direction. You are the best!
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