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Our wedding was Saturday. The day was wonderful and everything went well until I got to the reception and during our first dance caught a glimse of our wedding cake. The cake lady had been nothing but a pain in the ass once she had our security deposit, not returning phone calls and taking weeks to get emails of the cake sketches/invoices to me. I had a bad feeling she wasn't even going to show, but we were reassured by staff members at the reception (while we were on our way there) that the cake arrived. The problem is that the cake was sloppy. She waited until the last minute to do it. The fondant was cracked in multiple places, the rows of pearls at the bottom of each tier were sloppy, the blue ribbon fondant was broken in places, and more than that - the pretty oval silver monogram that we were expecting was 3 letters that were chipped and uneven slapped onto one of the tiers, not even centered.
I paid $725 for a cake of white fondant with alterating tiers of quilted fondant, and the pearl and navy blue edging at the bottom of all 4 tiers. I wasn't overly difficult. I didn't make constant demands on her time. I wasn't a Bridezilla. I didn't complain about her not calling us back. I figured if I was as nice as possible, we'd have a beautiful cake and our lives would go on. Ugh.
I emailed her on Monday asking her for an explanation as to what happened with my cake. So far, I've received no response from her. Yesterday I reviewed her on WeddingWire and gave her the lowest possible rating with plenty of information as to why as well as a link to the pictures of our cake. I'm considering calling her or showing up at her business demanding to speak face to face. I don't want the $725 back (I mean, it'd be nice.. but let's face it, that's not gonna happen and I'm not counting on it). I just want her to explain to me how she can charge an exorbant amount of money for something that I could have done myself.
Do you think I'm being unreasonable in being angry? No one thinks I am, but I certainly don't want to pursue this and eventually look like a witchy little newlywed with a sense of entitlement.
Anyone else have problems with their cakes?
BTW, here are the pictures of our cake..
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Cant see the pics but I'm so sorry you were disapointed! I don't think you're being unreasonable at all, and I WOULD demand at least a partial refund.
Yeah, I'm really sorry that happend, but now you can let others know not to go to that baker and save them the head ache! I agree, you wouldn't be out of line asking for a partial refund
Have you reported her to the BBB? Then your complaint would show up if anyone googled her.
Report her to the better business bureau and i would try to get a partial refund. She sounds wretched!
You def have the right to talk with her and tell her how you feel and demanding a partial refund isnt out of line at all. That's a big purchase and if she screws up, she needs to know about it and compensate you! If shes not returning calls, I would go to her work. Good luck!
Oh wow! Yeah I saw the pics. Honestly the cake looked like it was really old. Did it have a dry taste???? I would definetly complain! That is NOT a $725 cake! Take the pictures into her shop to show her. That way she cant say your lying or wont take you seriously.
I hadn't reported her to the BBB yet because I tried to give her an opportunity to discuss the matter with me first, but so far, she hasn't been bothered to respond to my email. I called her a few minutes ago and got her business' voice mail and left a message. I reviewed her on WeddingWire and I also posted the photos of our cake on her business' Facebook page. I really feel like she waited until the very last minute to do our cake, or she let someone with very little experience do ours.
It's disappointing because one of my bridesmaids makes cakes and did my husband's grooms cake. It was awesome! She did his family crest and even hand-painted Old English letters across a banner on the shield of the cake, and it was gorgeous. I had no idea she was that talented. Sucks. I wish I had known in retrospect.
Definitely talk to her about a partial refund, but make sure to be calm about it first!
Just saw the pics! Wow you have every right to be upset!!! The nerve of her to even give it to you.. thats embarrasing on her part.
Well the good news is, I think it looks fine from a distance so your guests prob didn't even notice. But considering the cracks/unevenness/etc you can see closer you should def ask for a partial refund
How sad, I couldn't even see your letters until the close up picture! I would ask for a partial refund and report her to BBB. She obviously didn't give you what you wanted and paid for!
You should get the money back. Thats bad business if she doesn't refund you. If she is dumb and wont give you a refund I would threaten her with reporting to BBB. But yes, def go talk to her face to face. Its easy to ignore an email and Im sure she knows she did a horrible job so she is avoiding you. Sorry you cake turned out so bad but CONGRATS on the rest of your wedding!
The cake itself tasted fine, but it wasn't spectacular. At the tastings when we booked her, everything was just awesome. Our cake was lacking. I feel like overall, she rushed it because she forgot.
Another couple we know that is getting married in November has already booked her and I'm hoping they'll reconsider after seeing our pics. The bride was a little mortified for me after seeing the monogram looking like it did.
I looked at the pics and I don't think it is so bad that you should report her. I know the workmanship wasn't as good as you were expecting/hoping, but its not even close to the worst cake I've ever seen. Fondant even cracks sometimes on Ace of Cakes. If you want to call her and give her a piece of your mind, then go for it. But really, there is no reason to hold on to the anger about the cake. It's probably just stressing you out more than anything.
I would be upset too!! That's ridiculous that she isn't taking your calls...it's almost as if she is intentionally ignoring the problem. I hope you can figure something out where you would at least get a partial refund.
Definitely have a right to be upset - though in the first picture it doesn't look so bad - so hopefully whenever it makes an appearance in a picture it won't look so bad. I would definitely report her to the BBB.
Definitely write up about her on Yelp and other search engines to let other brides know about this incident! The rest should follow suit hopefully.
I'm so sorry about your cake! You have every right to be mad. I totally understand about letting go of the money, but I would post reviews and pics everywhere I could.
Congrats on the wedding, however!
I looked at the pics and I can see the problems in details you are talking about. It looks mostly like it was a rushed job and she didn't put enough time into it. But at least it was delivered and from a distance none of the issues were noticeable. I am not sure there is much you could do besides post a bad review, which you already did, because technically she did what she was supposed to do: deliver a cake. If you involve the BBB it usually has to be a more serious issue. I am not sure you can report someone for just doing a generally lousy job.
Well, the thing is this.. I know that some things are going to happen when a cake is moved from one location to the next. A spot here and there is to be expected.
However, if you move a cake and the fondant ribbon cracks, the rows of pearls shift, and the monogram somehow falls apart and moves inches across the tier so that it's not even - then you should not be charging $725 for a wedding cake. You should be taking a Wilton cake class at your local Michaels.
I know it is a bit late for you now, but for other brides in your position, sometimes vendors will refund your money if you don't go public with their mistakes. The downside to that is, of course, that another bride is likely to be terribly disappointed since without publicity poor vendors will continue shoddy work.
I don't think she will provide you with an explanation (especially by email, since then there would be a paper trail of her admitting liability).
Did you pay by credit card? If so, you can try to dispute the charges. There is also the possibility of suing her in small claims court, since you have pictures to demonstrate that the cake was damaged.
You should also post these pictures and reviews of her everywhere - yelp, the knot, projectwedding, yahoo and google so that hopefully when another bride or prospective cake buyer is googling her the reviews appear.
I'm a professional cake decorator and it looks to me like it was damaged in transit. All the cracking and the pearls breaking off looks like poor transportation. Usually that is avoided by assembling the cake on site or driving like a granny. If the person who delivered it was not a cake decorator they probably didn't know what to do with it.
I would definitely get to the bottom of the situation!! I couldn't imagine sleeping at night knowing one of my clients felt the way you do about my work!!!
i'm sorry that you had such a bad experience.
first of all, i really don't think you're being overly angry. you aren't even asking for a refund, just an explanation as to what happened to your cake and the lack of communication as well.
where did you find her through?
i'd at least try giving her a call at this point.
good luck, i hope you find some relief soon!
I would be mad too, for 700+ dollars your cake should of look A LOT better. Did you have a bunch of different flavors?, that just seems like alot for a 4 tier cake.
Sounds like she is embarrassed and thinks you will just stop trying to get ahold of her.
I would wait a few days to see if she calls you back. I can't remember if you said you have emailed her or not. But I would just calmly explain that you need to talk to her about the cake, and to call you as soon as possible.
If she never calls or emails you in a few days I would report her.
I think she should be ashamed of herself for actually charging money for such shoddy work, but I'm not sure the BBB would take this complaint. I only say that because she didn't technically fail to come through on anything, it just wasn't quite the standard that it should have been. This is a yelp, google, wedding website, etc. type review. Just spread the word as much as you can. And I would go in person, with the pictures, to tell her how disappointed you were. Let her know that you plan to review her negatively everywhere you possibly can and that you will tell everyone who listen not to use her business--that might make her work with you on a partial refund. I'm so sorry!
Maybe if you can talk to her you suggest (1) she gives you a partial refund or (2) you can post some vendor reviews of her service online including these pictures of your cake. It's up to her!
Sorry, that does not look like $725 worth of work! I'd be pissed (and I'm by no means close to being a bridezilla)! I would definitely try to talk to her one-on-one and calmly explain the situation. I mean, what's done is done, but you shouldn't just sit back and take it. That's your hard-earned money!
When I saw the at-a-distance picture I though you were over-reacting, but up close you're right, it looks like a disaster! : ( I would definitely keep trying to get a refund. If you can't talk to her over the phone, go in in person.
I'm not familiar with the BBB, so I don't know if you can report her.
Oh my, I would be upset and I would report her to the bbb and ask for a partial refund.
Wow. At least somebody was smart enough to get all those pictures as proof. I think I'd be a bit disturbed as well. That's more than a few mistakes.
I think since it obviously didn't ruin your wedding and it was eaten, the most you can hope for is a partial refund. Good luck! Maybe she'll cooperate (or at least respond) once she sees the pictures.
I would keep trying to reach her, but if I couldn't, go and calmly request a face to face meeting. I would bring the pictures and explain why you were not happy with the cake and why you think a partial refund is in order. I would pull the BBB card only if she is unrecpetive or won't give you a fair chance to talk to her.
(Personally- I think she has probably done this before and the bride/unsatisfied client gives up and so she goes on...)
The best thing you can do is to be calm and rational (even tho I know it's hard!!). If you lose your cool, that only hurts your case.
Good luck!
I can totally see why you would be upset! I would def try to contact her again..give her the benefit of the doubt and think maybe she has just been busy..I would say if you dont hear from her today or tomorrow I would go into her shop with the photos and CALMLY ask for some sort of explanation..She should at least give you some money back!
Ide try and get a little bit of a refund or a free cake for your next event =]
Thanks everyone.. :)
I'm going to give her another day or so and see if I get any response. If nothing, I'll go in and try to talk to her on Friday. :)
I doubt she'll refund you, but give it a try. My only suggestion is to calmly tell her that you'll be giving poor ratings on her service. For example, when you google a cake baker on google around you, there are usually ratings, and you could rate her service. Also, tell your friends that her cake wasn't very good.
Those are some serious flaws in a cake, something that most people would see unless they were only on one side and placed against a wall. My thing is, I bet it was damaged on the way in or during set up. Did she set it up or did the reception crew? Just make sure that it was her who damaged the cake..
I would demand an explanation. And I wouldn't bother with phone calls. I'd walk right into her bakery so she can't avoid you.
Clearly you can't do it over, but since you've already posted the pictures on the FB page and given her negative reviews, what motivation does she have to make it right with you?
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