To complain about my wedding cake?

[Woolloomooloo]

We got married a few weeks ago and had a perfect day with just one exception - the wedding cake wasn’t really what we had agreed with the supplier in terms of design.

I had sent her an example photo of a cake that we liked the style of but it had one subtle design feature on the top tier which we didn’t like. We asked her to copy the cake but omit this detail and it said this on the invoice.

We also asked for the same finish as the cake in the photo but with more vibrant, stronger colouration to it.

On the day we ended up with a lovely looking cake, but the colours were not vibrant and the detail we wanted omitting was included!

The cake cost us in the region of £500!

So my question is AIBU to raise it with her?

Or do I just accept the rest of the day was perfect and get over it?

Well a fairly mixed response but I’m going to go with giving the baker some feedback rather than actually complaining.

It was never my intention to expect any money back, I was more after an explanation of why the brief wasn’t followed. I also at no point complained about the cost so not sure where that comment came from.

I’m not going to post any pictures as the cake has my name on it.

Also to the people saying we should have refused the cake at the time - we didn’t see it until we walked into the wedding breakfast room with about 70 guests so it wasn’t the time to raise an issue. Also we’ve been on honeymoon as somebody suggested so haven’t really thought about it too much until now.

I understand the point of view re letting it go and I think providing feedback rather than a complaint is probably a happy medium.

@Cap89 what did you do ?

Op block out your name

Or show the cake you liked and what you wanted removed

As in what was the mistake? The cake had marbled fondant on one tier and she wanted a little bit of silver painting along the marble to highlight it which I forgot to do. It would have been really subtle even if I had done it, so made very little impact on the overall design of the cake and aside from that it was 100% to brief. But she noticed, and it had been in my notes and all our discussions so it was definitely my error and that’s why I responded like I did. A horrible feeling but it was resolved well in the end.

Sorry that was in reply to @Blondeshavemorefun

Oh bless you @Cap89 That sounds nothing

We had a similar issue.

We didn't actually buy it, a friend did but we said we wanted classy and subtle, nothing bling or multi coloured as we are an older couple

Didn't see it until the day of the wedding at the reception. God almighty.

It was bloody awful. Literally, bright purple swirled with white. Huge, massive flowers on each side with diamante bits on. If TOWIE was a cake, this would be that cake.

It was also wonky, and melted in places.

To top it off, we bought a nice cake topper which was discarded for a huge bunch of the cheapest looking fake flowers you'd ever seen. Also blinged up.

There was naff all I could do, and suffice to say we don't have any cutting the cake photos.

Our relatives were asking what on earth we were thinking, or was it a joke. We had to smile and get on with it.

Suffice to say, we don't see that friend anymore. They picked the cake they would have if they got married, and entirely disregarded our choice. They also nicked two of the tiers when we went home. The rest I cut up and froze and the DCs had it in their lunch boxes.

Yes, you should say something, probably along the lines of you won't be reviewing because you paid no attention to what was requested and actually, if it's in the paperwork, I would be asking for a partial refund.

Spot the people on this thread who’ve never made a proper cake before… 🤦‍♀️

I’ve made quite a few wedding cakes over the past 15 years. It’s impossible to gauge how much they should cost unless you’ve done that.

An 8” round cake will cost approximately £10 just in ganache ingredients. Sugarpaste will be about £7 per packet and a box and boards will cost about £7 too. That’s before I’ve got eggs, sugar etc. Thats for one 8” cake. A wedding cake is typically 12”, 10”, 8” and 6”, sometimes more and sometimes less. Now imagine that a fairly simple design with limited/no decorations is going to take a minimum of about 10-15 hours of work and funnily enough, it soon adds up. Has the baker got to deliver the cake? That’s got to be accounted for too. It can take an hour or 2 to set up a wedding cake, who pays for that time?

There’s no shame in getting a cheap supermarket cake, or having no wedding cake at all. But the vast majority of cakes are not at all overpriced, we make hardly any money when you factor our time into it, would you work for £2 per hour?

I now really want a thread where people share their wedding cake photographs! There was a great thread where people shared photos of their engagement rings.

Oh my goodness, all these responses saying, just leave it, and what do you hope to achieve by complaining? This is exactly why some people like cake makers etc don't put in 100% effort. You gave specific instructions to omit a certain part of the design. So either she doesn't understand English or she didn't take the time to listen to what you the client wanted. I'd absolutely say something like, thank you for the beautiful cake, really enjoyed by everyone, however I was slightly disappointed you failed to omit the design we discussed. Was there any particular reason for this?
If you achieve nothing else, it will hopefully make them pay more attention next time and you'll have got it off your chest. Then move on and focus on your otherwise happy memories.

I think you should tell them but not expect a refund. Just that you were a bit disappointed. They may want to compensate you or just say sorry.

No one cares about the cake in reality. No one even notices it
I would let it go.

If the cake genuinely wasn’t right, I don’t see why on earth you WOULDN’T complain?!

it’s a product you’ve paid good money for.

OP cares. And she’s the one who has paid for it so 🤷‍♀️

Those saying that she accepted the cake, it got eaten etc so therefore she can’t complain…

bullshit! It was her wedding day of course she had to accept it. She can’t exactly give it back and get her sort it out for a couple of days time can she?! Also the bride probably didn’t even get chance to see the cake as too busy getting ready, having photos taken or whatever , I know I didn’t on my wedding day.

I had a celebration cake from M&S for £45 for my recent wedding. It looked beautiful. Admittedly it was only a small cake, for a small party, but everyone commented on it and it was absolutely delicious!

I think you should tell the cake maker that you weren't happy, but leave it at that. It's in the past now. and something to talk about when you look back!

So, now the honeymoon's over, you're looking for something to complain about, and for something to gain ...

Having enjoyed your "perfect day" , in what way do you think you could benefit from complaining about your wedding cake.

You've already stated that you had the perfect day. Why not remember it as such and just leave it there.

Any protracted discussions about the cake could only marr the occasion, even if they resulted in a full refund, and since some of the points you mention are subjective this would very doubtfully be the outcome.

Paying £500 for a £20 cake is all part and parcel of the wedding malarkey which everyone goes through during the process.

Enjoy your happiness and try to focus on more positive things.

@Efficaciou5
how patronising

For a multiple tiered custom cake that’s very reasonable.

I make party cakes for fun, a basic large one can cost me £150 in materials alone.

My wedding cake wasn't exactly what I'd asked for, design wise, either.

I wanted white roses with green leaves decorating the top and sides. When we arrived at our reception the cake was there and just had a big glittery bunch of white roses on the top (no greenery) nothing like what I'd asked for and not something I would've chosen. I was momentarily disappointed when I saw it.

But..

The cake tasted absolutely divine, my wedding reception was the best night of my life and I now have an amazing Husband. The fact that my wedding cake wasn't quite right pales into insignificance when I think of all the joy and happiness I experienced on my wedding day.

I'd let it go OP, but that's just my opinion.

This.

I'll post mine if you start the thread!

Of course you should complain. A decent business owner would take constructive feedback and ensure they don’t repeat mistakes in the future.

I had the same issue. Spent same as you and provided a photo of the cake I wanted, with exact instructions that she said she could do .....she took the cake straight to my reception venue so I didjt get to see it until I was at the reception and I was devastated. Noone wants to pay 500.00 for a cake that isn't isn't same as what I wanted. I complained in an email to her....her business went down the pan after that.

@Excited101 I have baked 'proper' cakes before. I have never made a tiered, decorated one for a wedding...but I can bake and basically ice and decorate a bloody cake. My cakes are delicious thanks.

I would never pay someone else 500 pounds to make and decorate a cake for me. Honestly, baking a cake is easy...the decor a waste of time and artistry for something that's going down people's throats and not touching the sides. The only people who give a toss about the wedding cake is the bride and perhaps her mother. Other than that, guests barely look at it. It is only a cake after all.

Of course, there will be a poster along soon enough insistent that the entire guest list were in raptures over her cake...but the truth is, no one cares.

I apologise if that's a rude or unpopular opinion but I've always thought it. It's not to take away from the skill and talent of cake-makers or the time it takes to make them so beautiful. It's the fact that it's just a cake. It's not worth it.

too late to complain when you've already scoffed the whole thing