Would you pay for this cake?

Question

My wedding was this past weekend... the cake that I had asked for from the baker was NOT the cake that ended up at the reception. The baker was a friend of a family member of the groom... we had never met her before so she was a neutral party. We had discussed that we would put a $200 deposit and another $200 would be paid after we saw the cake (a tip would be added to that if we absolutely loved it). The cake that was there was not what I asked for... the icing was basketweave which I absolutely hate and definitely did not ask for (I did specify what I did want)... so I was horrified.

The day after the wedding, the family member (not the baker) showed up at my hotel and made a huge scene in front of family and friends demanding $500 for the cake. Of course I said no and that I would need to speak with the baker to determine what should be paid... they refused to let me speak with her and started yelling and cursing.

It was so dramatic that my mom and I were in tears and the groom (who is directly related to the family member, not the baker) was furious.

I dont know if they should get ANYTHING from us...much less $500 when we only agreed to $200. But we agreed to $200 for the cake I wanted... that wasnt the cake I actually got.

Yes, we did eat the cake... but if we would have had a "back up" I would have thrown that cake out... literally throw it! We had no other choice but to use that cake.

The cake I wanted was written down with specifics and even a picture... according to the family member, that picture doesnt matter... She even slapped it out of my hand when I showed it to her!

Up until the day after the wedding I spoke with the baker directly... the family members showed up unannounced and definitely not invited demanding money...then they stood in the parking lot for hours still trying to get the money...

The reception was on a boat...so once we all got on the boat, it was waaay too late to do anything about another cake... but yes, I wanted to just throw that one in the friggin water!

Answer 1

It depends if it means more to be right, which I believe you are, or do you also want to be righteous? If the problem will cause problems with your husband, then I would just pay it and write it off as an expensive lesson. The lesson would be to never do business with friends, family, or family friends. if he agrees with you I would take it to small claims court, in order to prevent further disagreements among family. I would also strongly suggest to the family member that, although you are certain that they have every ones best interest in mind, you would appreciate it if they would step aside and let the two of you and the baker deal with it directly. If that doesn't work just tell them that though you love them, the cake topic is off limits and they need to respect that. Thank them in advance for cooperating and understanding, and see where it goes from there.

Answer 2

As a cake decorator who occasionally makes wedding cakes. I ask for half up front to cover food costs & the initial labor for baking and frosting and decoration such as flowers or a wedding cake topper. The other half due the day of the event. Which goes toward decorating the cake on site delivery etc. I feel this is fair to both parties. If they don't like the cake there is room to negotiate. If there was a problem I'm quessing you weren't there when the cake was delivered and set up or you would have said something at the time. Talk to the baker. That is the only way to put this behind you. I'd suggest talking to the baker on the phone. I'm sorry this all happened . The sooner you deal with this the sooner you can put it behind you. The only bad cake story we've had was when a very expensive wedding cake topper was broken after we'd set up the cake. Though there were children playing in the area and "no one" saw what happened they felt that we were responsible. Rather than leave the couple feeling badly we replaced the topper. It was a Lladro & if you return the pieces they replace it at half price. Which was still over $300.00. I think it'd be reasonable to pay them 1/2 of the $200 that they are expecting if you feel the only problem was cosmetic.

Answer 3

I wouldn't pay them another cent! You already paid $200 right? that should more than cover the cost of the cake that was eaten.

I hope you have a copy of the cake order with the specifics of what you did want. And that you had some sort of written contract. And that you have pictures of the actual cake. If the baker wants their money, they will have to take you to small claims court.

If anything the baker should be refunding your $200 deposit- or at least a good portion of it.

Artistic expression is one thing when the baker makes and decorates the cake. But when it is TOTALLY wrong, it's wrong no matter how you look at it. They must not be very professional if this is how they are handling the situation.

I hope everything else was just beautiful and went smoothly and that you can get over the cake being wrong. I know you are upset now- I'd be too, hopefully it won't be the one thing that stands out about your special day after its all settled.

Answer 4

I would refuse to talk to no one other than the baker who made the cake for you. The family member who recommended this person is caught in the middle and looks like a jerk on both ends because the cake clearly wasn't what was promised, and the baker isn't getting paid. The family member needs to back off and stop being in the middle. Stupid woman.

I would not pay anything else for the cake. You gave the baker $200 for it already, and that should be enough when she garanteed that you would get what you want and then did her own thing. Its almost as if she gave you someone else's cake when your original one didn't work for her or something. No, do not pay her. If she takes you to small claims, then deal with it there.

Answer 5

No, I won't pay her and you do not have to deal with anyone but the baker. I would also write the baker a letter explain that $200 was enough money for the ugly cake that you did not order and that their family member made a huge unpleasant scene at the wedding. They should have never chased you down- they should have waited until later to contact you and work the payment out. They knew they were in the wrong so they tried to scare it out of you!

Answer 6

Oh my goodness -- what a fiasco.

Congratulations on your marriage, don't let this unfortunate series of events dampen your spirits, or your honeymoon.

I read your question, and all of your additional details. The first conclusion to this problem that popped into mind is: Let the family member, who suggested their baker friend, pay for the cake. The $200.00 you paid as a deposit is payment enough for a cake that was eaten, but not specifically ordered. Your husband's family member who suggested their baker friend is behaving very suspicious. To have caused such a scene, just one day after the wedding -- well, I would have called the police! Very strange, very suspicious, very tacky.

If at all possible, cease all communication with the family member, and if the baker calls you, tell the baker to call the family member and work it out.

Answer 7

This is why things should always be placed in writing and then signed off on.

If you didn't sign a receipt for the cake you did receive, then you aren't legally required to pay anything more for it. If it wasn't what you had asked for, and since it was for a special event, then you shouldn't have to pay anything more for it. I imagine you used it since it was the only cake available at the time, so you should still be out some money.

Since you aren't demanding the $200 you paid as a deposit back, then they should accept that as full payment. The mistake was on their part. In fact, it sounds like more than one mistake is to be had on their part, since the family member was demanding more money than had been agreed upon.

Apparently something is fishy about this all around, and I have my doubts the baker themselves were involved in it, which is likely why the family member doesn't want you contacting them. Maybe even the cake you received was meant for another wedding which fell through, so the family member chose to pawn it off on you. Whatever happened, you do need to speak to the baker about the matter.

Answer 8

I think what happened to you guys is terrible. It had to put a damper on your day. I would absolutely refuse to pay $500. You said you would pay $200 for the cake you wanted, you already gave a deposit. I think the deposite should be more than enough for a cake that you never wanted. You need to try to get in touch with the baker and try avoiding this other person involved at all costs. Just explain how not only was it not the way you described you wanted it, but it was something you really did not like at all. Good luck!

Answer 9

When you buy cheap, you get cheap.

Sorry to be this honest but you made the concious desition to go with a friend of a relative that you have never seen and do the side job thing to cut cornest and save money. That should teach you a lesson of never EVER go with people that are not professional and do favors for others. That never works out, especially when you have family members involved.

I'm very sorry about this, but when you have no contract and no agreement per se, that's what you get. That's why professional cost money, because they do that for a living and stand behind their products and their reputation and you can take then to court if you are not satisfied. In this case, the baker can argue that she was just trying to do you a favor and that she did bake a cake for you that you ate at your wedding.

The truth is that you didn't even talk to the woman and trusted in third party's word. That was your mistake. Check yoru previous question when you said that she only wanted $200 for the supplies. Please. No one goes to the trouble of doing a wedding cake that big out of the goodness of their heart. Of course they wanted to make a profit and you failed to communicate with the baker.

If she baked the cake and ate it, then pay the $400. You don't pay a stranger $200 and then whimper the day of the wedding taht you didn;t like it. hat's why you go see those people in person, do the tasteing and discuss yoru specification. You fail to do that, so take responsability for that.

Good luck

Answer 10

Keep all of your records, the picture and if you have a copy of your instructions and the agreement (and a picture of the cake provided). Contact the baker (or attempt to at least twice) with someone neutral present (on speaker) so that they can hear you be told that you can not speak to that person (so they can later testify to the event) and document and date when it took place. Pay her nothing, she will either let it go, or take you to small claims court. There the judge will weigh the evidence and decide what should be paid and you look like the good guy becuause although you did not get what you wanted you attempted to contact the baker and work out some sort of resonable payment for what you did get.