This is my first post! *giggle* (The bee is my All-Time FAVORITE website EVER and I am SO excited to have discovered that I can ask questions to all of you wonderful brides!!!) Okay, on with the show:
Fi and I are planning on having around 300-350 guests at our wedding. We have been debating on cupcakes, or cake. We LOVE cupcakes, but want to be able to "cut the cake". After speaking to various vendors, because of the octagon shape of our cake that we like, the maximum number of people it can feed is 150. Easy decision! We decided to do half cupcakes half cake! YAY!!!! We thought we had it all figured out.....wrong.
We have found TWO vendors for our cake....and I need YOUR help! Vendor #1 has zero personality and awful customer service. Their cake was hands down the YUMMIEST of all 6 places we've tasted! The fillings are unique, we are in love with the chocolate cake with peanutbutter mousse filling. Their designs are great, and at $2.25 a slice, a great price! Cupcakes are a mere ONE DOLLAR per cupcake!!! *heart*
Vendor #2 has good cake, nothing extraordinary. Their filling and cake options are standard. Their customer service was THE BEST of all the cake vendors!!! Their prices are $2.75 per slice, and $3. per cupcake!!!!! Thaat's right. Pic your jaws up off the floor....$3 per cupcake!!!! Ridicukous compared to the much yummier $1 cupcake!!!Here's the kicker.....they have THE cake stand. As in the cake stand that makes my heart melt and changes my *love* for my cake to my*OhmygodImightpeemypantsitssopretty* cake!!! The stand is NOT available to rent out and take to another bakery...nor is it for sale. And I can NOT find anything like it online!!! With all of it's dangling crystals and shabby-chic beauty...what to do!?
We had considerd ordering the cake from Vendor2 and the cupcakes from vendor1....but then we pay TWO delivery fees! Do you guys have ANY suggestions on what to do???? HELP!!!!!
Can you research any other bakers? No matter how much you love the taste and prices of the first baker, I say keep moving if they have bad customer service. It is not worth the stress of dealing with a jerky vendor, and if there are any problems on the wedding day who knows how they'll respond.
It sounds like the only thing you're really sold on about the second vendor is the cake stand..... if you know what it looks like is there any way you can recreate it yourself? There are so many cake stands out there, you are bound to be able to find something that you can DIY to make more beautiful! Or perhaps an Etsy vendor or local artist can recreate it for you. Might be worth the expense if you then get to keep it after the wedding. But if you aren't crazy about the taste of baker #2s cake and their prices are so high, I'd definitely continue your research.
Where are you located? Perhaps you can post on your local board and see if there are any other good recommendations!
I would say go with Vendor 1 unless they have a history of complaints, not delivering, etc. Google them, ask for references, and look them up on the BBB. If they deliver but are just gruff, I would say it doesn't matter too much. You really wont spend much time talking to your baker and you can appoint someone 'tough' to run intermission. I think you can definitely DIY a cake stand you will be happy with just make sure the base is sturdy enough to meet the vendor's requirements.
I wouldn't go with both vendors, it won't match and things may get a little akward. I saw go with vendor #1. If the cake doens't look the way you want it to, maybe your florist can "spruce" it up
See if you can find a few other brides who have used vendor #1 and talk to them and see if the customer service was a problem for them. If they all say that it worked out fine, then go with vendor 1. Because really, a cake is meant to be eaten and not looked at.
I vote for vendor 1 as long as their customer service is not too terrible. Your guests will be eating off of plates, not the cake stand, so they will not notice the cake stand as much as the taste.
I don't think I could say no to chocolate cake with peanut butter mousse! Whenever you have something chocolate and peanut butter-y, you will remember your wedding day! I understand the cakestand dilemma, but I'm sure that having a delicious cake will remain in your memory for much longer than an amazingly blinged-out cakestand.
I would say go with the cake that tastes better. You might be in love with this stand but the thing your guests will appreciate is the yummy cake and cupcakes!!! If you can't live without the stand you could go the route of cake from #2 and cupcakes from #1...you said you would have to pay extra delivery fee......but you are saving $2 per cupcake so I think it would be worth is to pay another delivery fee as long as it is still less than the $3 less yummy cupcakes. Good luck!!!!
I could never go with a vendor (vendor #1) who has horrible customer service, especially if it is exhibited prior to my even booking with them. They should be trying to attract you for business and if it is bad already, it can only get worse once you book them. What if something were to go wrong before or during the event? What would you do if you had this vendor? These are things to think out.
If given a choice, I would go with vendor #2 if it is within your budget. If not, see if you can stretch your budget here and cut somewhere else. OR you can try looking around a bit more.
Vendor #1, as long as there are no complaints and they are responsive, but only because scrumptious cake + fab prices = winning combo. As others have mentioned, GREAT wedding cake (or cupcakes) will be far more memorable than the fancy cake stand. That said, if #1 isn't responsive or reticient to give references, go find vendor #3!
We just picked our baker this week and it was a tough call, especially since the two frontrunners came in with quotes $5 apart. That's right, a whopping $5. Ultimately, taste won out and we couldn't be happier.
go with taste. thats the point of the dessert...the baker isn't your friend, so as long as they are doing their job overlook their less than friendly demeanor.
as for the cake stand- no one and i do mean no ONE will think anything of your cake stand....very few will even notice it and it honestly won't be one of those details that anyone will gush over.
no one will utter:
"omg! did you see the cake stand? thats to die for"
maybe you could focus on picking a cake design that wows you as much as the cakestand. thats what i would do.
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE GREAT ADVICE!!!! I've had an amazing breakthrough this weekend, a girlfriend of mine found the stand at Marshalls!!! (For those that don't know, marshalls is like a tj maxx of sorts) AWESOME! It's in black, so a little paint and we're all set!
And about the customer service, I think I was being a bit bridezilla-ish that day and didn't clarify. They weren't mean or obnoxious, they just didn't sit down with us and give us as much personal attention as we had hoped. They also knew that we were their first stop, and had more in the books. That's no excuse, but I think we are going to go with #1. I live in a small town and they do come highly recomended. I think their recent opening of a nicer new shop and added business has bloated their egos a bit. i think with proper communication on my part of what is expected of them things will go great! Thanks again for all the help!
Glad there was some progress! AWESOME score at Marshall's. I love that store and I find the strangest yet wonderful things in there. I always pop in because you never know what you might find. It's a definite hit or miss. I also love checking out Home Goods and Ross though I must say Marshall's and Home Goods has the best stuff.
Okay bees....
This is my first post! *giggle* (The bee is my All-Time FAVORITE website EVER and I am SO excited to have discovered that I can ask questions to all of you wonderful brides!!!) Okay, on with the show:
Fi and I are planning on having around 300-350 guests at our wedding. We have been debating on cupcakes, or cake. We LOVE cupcakes, but want to be able to "cut the cake". After speaking to various vendors, because of the octagon shape of our cake that we like, the maximum number of people it can feed is 150. Easy decision! We decided to do half cupcakes half cake! YAY!!!! We thought we had it all figured out.....wrong.
We have found TWO vendors for our cake....and I need YOUR help! Vendor #1 has zero personality and awful customer service. Their cake was hands down the YUMMIEST of all 6 places we've tasted! The fillings are unique, we are in love with the chocolate cake with peanutbutter mousse filling. Their designs are great, and at $2.25 a slice, a great price! Cupcakes are a mere ONE DOLLAR per cupcake!!! *heart*
Vendor #2 has good cake, nothing extraordinary. Their filling and cake options are standard. Their customer service was THE BEST of all the cake vendors!!! Their prices are $2.75 per slice, and $3. per cupcake!!!!! Thaat's right. Pic your jaws up off the floor....$3 per cupcake!!!! Ridicukous compared to the much yummier $1 cupcake!!!Here's the kicker.....they have THE cake stand. As in the cake stand that makes my heart melt and changes my *love* for my cake to my*OhmygodImightpeemypantsitssopretty* cake!!! The stand is NOT available to rent out and take to another bakery...nor is it for sale. And I can NOT find anything like it online!!! With all of it's dangling crystals and shabby-chic beauty...what to do!?
We had considerd ordering the cake from Vendor2 and the cupcakes from vendor1....but then we pay TWO delivery fees! Do you guys have ANY suggestions on what to do???? HELP!!!!!
posted by MsAnnaBanana 23 posts 6 months agoCan you research any other bakers? No matter how much you love the taste and prices of the first baker, I say keep moving if they have bad customer service. It is not worth the stress of dealing with a jerky vendor, and if there are any problems on the wedding day who knows how they'll respond.
It sounds like the only thing you're really sold on about the second vendor is the cake stand..... if you know what it looks like is there any way you can recreate it yourself? There are so many cake stands out there, you are bound to be able to find something that you can DIY to make more beautiful! Or perhaps an Etsy vendor or local artist can recreate it for you. Might be worth the expense if you then get to keep it after the wedding. But if you aren't crazy about the taste of baker #2s cake and their prices are so high, I'd definitely continue your research.
Where are you located? Perhaps you can post on your local board and see if there are any other good recommendations!
posted by cupcake 274 posts 6 months agoI would say go with Vendor 1 unless they have a history of complaints, not delivering, etc. Google them, ask for references, and look them up on the BBB. If they deliver but are just gruff, I would say it doesn't matter too much. You really wont spend much time talking to your baker and you can appoint someone 'tough' to run intermission. I think you can definitely DIY a cake stand you will be happy with just make sure the base is sturdy enough to meet the vendor's requirements.
www.cristalier.com is a good source for crystals btw.
posted by vyeta7 170 posts 6 months agoi vote for going with the "to die for" cake, so vendor #1 (as long as they are reputable as mentioned above).
posted by bride 168 posts 6 months agoI wouldn't go with both vendors, it won't match and things may get a little akward. I saw go with vendor #1. If the cake doens't look the way you want it to, maybe your florist can "spruce" it up
posted by TallBride 574 posts 6 months agoSee if you can find a few other brides who have used vendor #1 and talk to them and see if the customer service was a problem for them. If they all say that it worked out fine, then go with vendor 1. Because really, a cake is meant to be eaten and not looked at.
posted by prettykatie 158 posts 6 months agoI vote for vendor 1 as long as their customer service is not too terrible. Your guests will be eating off of plates, not the cake stand, so they will not notice the cake stand as much as the taste.
posted by taytayalis 18 posts 6 months agoI don't think I could say no to chocolate cake with peanut butter mousse! Whenever you have something chocolate and peanut butter-y, you will remember your wedding day! I understand the cakestand dilemma, but I'm sure that having a delicious cake will remain in your memory for much longer than an amazingly blinged-out cakestand.
posted by thriftsiren 19 posts 6 months agoI would say go with the cake that tastes better. You might be in love with this stand but the thing your guests will appreciate is the yummy cake and cupcakes!!! If you can't live without the stand you could go the route of cake from #2 and cupcakes from #1...you said you would have to pay extra delivery fee......but you are saving $2 per cupcake so I think it would be worth is to pay another delivery fee as long as it is still less than the $3 less yummy cupcakes. Good luck!!!!
posted by hroper22 40 posts 6 months agoMsAnnaBanana,
I could never go with a vendor (vendor #1) who has horrible customer service, especially if it is exhibited prior to my even booking with them. They should be trying to attract you for business and if it is bad already, it can only get worse once you book them. What if something were to go wrong before or during the event? What would you do if you had this vendor? These are things to think out.
If given a choice, I would go with vendor #2 if it is within your budget. If not, see if you can stretch your budget here and cut somewhere else. OR you can try looking around a bit more.
posted by JCM9608 466 posts 6 months agoVendor #1, as long as there are no complaints and they are responsive, but only because scrumptious cake + fab prices = winning combo. As others have mentioned, GREAT wedding cake (or cupcakes) will be far more memorable than the fancy cake stand. That said, if #1 isn't responsive or reticient to give references, go find vendor #3!
We just picked our baker this week and it was a tough call, especially since the two frontrunners came in with quotes $5 apart. That's right, a whopping $5. Ultimately, taste won out and we couldn't be happier.
Good luck!
posted by missm 483 posts 6 months agogo with taste. thats the point of the dessert...the baker isn't your friend, so as long as they are doing their job overlook their less than friendly demeanor.
as for the cake stand- no one and i do mean no ONE will think anything of your cake stand....very few will even notice it and it honestly won't be one of those details that anyone will gush over.
no one will utter:
"omg! did you see the cake stand? thats to die for"
maybe you could focus on picking a cake design that wows you as much as the cakestand. thats what i would do.
GL!
posted by GetMarried4Less 403 posts 6 months agoDepends on what you mean by awful customer service. If you just don't like the people, well- it isn't like they will be at your wedding.
I'd go with taste. That's what your guests care about.
I'd try hard to find a cupcake stand elsewhere that makes you happy.
posted by goteamgo 63 posts 6 months agoTHANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE GREAT ADVICE!!!! I've had an amazing breakthrough this weekend, a girlfriend of mine found the stand at Marshalls!!! (For those that don't know, marshalls is like a tj maxx of sorts) AWESOME! It's in black, so a little paint and we're all set!
And about the customer service, I think I was being a bit bridezilla-ish that day and didn't clarify. They weren't mean or obnoxious, they just didn't sit down with us and give us as much personal attention as we had hoped. They also knew that we were their first stop, and had more in the books. That's no excuse, but I think we are going to go with #1. I live in a small town and they do come highly recomended. I think their recent opening of a nicer new shop and added business has bloated their egos a bit. i think with proper communication on my part of what is expected of them things will go great! Thanks again for all the help!
posted by MsAnnaBanana 23 posts 6 months agoMsAnnaBanana,
Glad there was some progress! AWESOME score at Marshall's. I love that store and I find the strangest yet wonderful things in there. I always pop in because you never know what you might find. It's a definite hit or miss. I also love checking out Home Goods and Ross though I must say Marshall's and Home Goods has the best stuff.
posted by JCM9608 466 posts 6 months ago