Completely Frustrated About Cake!!!

[luvsmickey]

Hi everyone! I know it's been a while since I've posted, but those of you that know about my wedding, you know it's not too far away! I've been really busy with work and several other things, so I'll start by apologizing for not posting as much anymore!

Anyway, I started planning my wedding about 9 months ago when I joined this board. And it took me a long time to choose my cake. I finally found "THE ONE" that I wanted! I posted it in my Planning Journal and was quite happy! I was told that it was in my price range and that I could have my scroll work that is on my wedding gown applied instead of the scrolls on the cake I had found and it wouldn't be any extra!!! I was so happy about all of that. And then about a month ago the bakery finally looked at my design and realized it was going to be more work than they originally had thought. They then said to do that it would cost almost $700, which is over double what they originally told me!!! AND the Castle topper had gone up and would be an additional $100! One way I could save $80, was to change it to a Cinderella Cake topper and so I decided that would be ok, since my DF wanted a man and woman on top anyway! Well, that only made the cake $600 somthing! And I still was a little upset! AND so I told them they didn't have to do my scroll work, and they got together and decided on some ways to make it cheaper! GREAT! I was happy! They told me that they had come up with a design that was close and I said "umm, ok" And finally a few days ago I got a picture of what it was going to look like. I hated it!!! It was NOTHING like my original cake!!! The new cake has scroll work ALL over it and it has Bead style dots all around the base of each layer. And so I emailed them back and said that it was pretty but could we have the scrolls on just the bottom and the center like it was in the pic I originally sent Oh and the swags that are completly missing from the top!!

The email I got back said that they couldn't do the swags do to the fact that they had to make it out of Buttercream Frosting instead of the Fondant! Now I know that they can do swags on Buttercream Frosting because they do it on Intimate Cakes ALL THE TIME! And I don't seem to understand why they just can't do the cake they originally said they would do for the price they said they would do it for!!!! I have emailed my Planner and expressed this and basically told them that they were going to do the cake I wanted at the price they had orginally said they would, because I'm not accepting anything else!!! I have less than 21 days till my wedding! I shouldn't have to choose something else or pay all that money for something that would be less than what I wanted! Why give them that much money for something that's just Ok?!!! I'm beyond Ticked!

What do you think? Am I just being Bridzilla? Or should they be doing the cake they originally said they would do for the price they said they would do it for?

 

[mermaidbride1108]

Can we see pics of the cake?

Also I would think 21 days - they cant go back on what they said - check your contract - is it detailed to saw what you originally wanted?

Nope not being a bridezilla - just want what you have been expected and promised

 

[lurkyloo]

I'm so sorry you're having to go through all this less than a month before your wedding!

It does seem like they should have told you *way* sooner that they couldn't do what they said they could. I looked through your planning journal but couldn't find the picture of the cake, so I'm not sure exactly what you're going for, but could you tell them you want swags like the standard Intimate cake has?
Here's a link to Fairy_Tale_Bride's cake - it has swags *and* a lacy pattern that might be good:

http://photos-084.ak.facebook.com/ip004/v37/12/63/25002324/n25002324_30758084_7068.jpg

It sounds mainly like there are major communication issues - let us know what your wedding planner says!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Bridezilla....

 

[Gillian]

I'm sorry they're giving you such a hard time so close to your wedding! like you need anything else to worry about!

The cake posted by lurkyloo is beautiful.

I don't know if it's any consolation, but I've been to a ton of weddings and can't remember a single cake in any detail. Or at all really. I hate to say this, but it's unlikely that anyone will notice if the scrollwork matches your dress or not. The cake is a part of the decor, like your flowers.

I hope your wedding planner can help sort this out, you should get what is in your contract. But if it's isn't exactly what you wanted, your wedding will still be perfect.

 

[luvsmickey]

I'm sorry they're giving you such a hard time so close to your wedding! like you need anything else to worry about!

The cake posted by lurkyloo is beautiful.

I don't know if it's any consolation, but I've been to a ton of weddings and can't remember a single cake in any detail. Or at all really. I hate to say this, but it's unlikely that anyone will notice if the scrollwork matches your dress or not. The cake is a part of the decor, like your flowers.

I hope your wedding planner can help sort this out, you should get what is in your contract. But if it's isn't exactly what you wanted, your wedding will still be perfect.

Yeah, I don't really care about my scrolls being on the cake, they had just said it wouldn't be a problem to do. I just want the cake I sent them. This is a pic of the cake I sent them that they had said they could do.

I think it's beautiful! This is the pic I sent them that they said they could do for what they're trying to charge me to not do anything close to that. I want it simple, I don't seem to understand what's so hard about it! And I know that other people don't remember the cake, but if you're paying that much for a cake, I think it should be what I want.

 

[Lynn5700]

Why did they wait 21 days before your wedding to tell you this? That is beyond ridiculous.

 

[luvsmickey]

Why did they wait 21 days before your wedding to tell you this? That is beyond ridiculous.

Thank you!

 

[osxgirl]

To me, the cost is the big thing. You contracted for a certain cake at a certain price. To tell you now that it's going to cost more, AND you aren't getting what you wanted anyway, THAT'S the part that's completely wrong. That doesn't make you bridezilla at all. You should get what you are paying for.

If they aren't making good on the contract, then WHY are you still being charged so much for the cake? Seems to me it would be the other way around.... we're sorry, we can't do what we thought we could do, so we're doing something simpler, and we're taking $XX off of the cake for the inconvenience.

If you contract for a certain service or product, you should get what you paid for! Especially when you are paying premium prices, and we all know that while the quality is usually excellent, it is premium prices as well.

 

[mcco5543]

You are certainly not being bridzilla. You actually seemed quite willing to compromise back to the origional cake and they are now saying that they can't do the origional cake either? That's not right, and certainly it's not right they they are telling you this less than a month before your wedding. Absolutly not being a bridezilla. you stick to your guns on this one.

 

[StephSFL]

NOT A BRIDEZILLA!

I feel for you and understand your predicament! I had a VERY similar problem with the bakey and my planner. Prices suddenly went up, they couldn't do things they had promised . . . it was ridiculous! I think you did the right thing by making such an ultimatum. I made a similar statement to my planner and it helped. If this had already been decided they cannot go back on it and give you less then agreed upon so close to your wedding! That is soooo wrong! It seems what you are askign for is really not out of line!

I hope everythign works out- please keep us updated!

 

[Swmhc]

Well, after seeing the picture of your cake (which is gorgeous), I have to say that to get that particular look, you would have to go with fondant. Fondant is more expensive than buttercream, but gives you that ultra smooth look. If you go with buttercream, then the "swags" would look more like the ones in the post from lurkyloo. You cannot make buttercream into the stiff swags like in the cake you want. Buttercream is much too soft for that.

We ended up sticking with the "standard cake" included in the intimate package as the cake we wanted was going to cost $600 as well.

And as a cake decorator...I ALWAYS notice the cake. At first wedding, almost 20 years ago, a friend of my ex's offered to make the cake to save us money...so we agreed. She also does professional cakes, so I thought it would be okay....WRONG ! It was nothing like what I asked for and obviously to this day, it still upsets me. So if the style of the cake is important to you (as it is to me), make sure you get what you want !

 

[luvsmickey]

Awww, thanks guys!!! I will be talking to my planner tomorrow morning. Keep your fingers crossed for me! I'm going to need all the I can get!!! I'll let you all know how it goes if I can before I go to work.

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I agree that they shouldn't have waited until 21 days before your wedding to tell you the cost. They told you the price long ago and that is the price they should honor! It is so frustrating that some companies feels this doesn't apply to them I had the same problem with my MK Shoot, they were trying to charge me the higher price as prices had increased. I sent them an email saying I expected them to honor the price and I was told they will. I'm glad you are standing up for yourself and backing them into a corner, they have no right to change things so close to your wedding.

 

[luvsmickey]

Yay! I just got off the phone with my planner and she said she completly understands and that she will take care of making it look like the picutre! Yay! She said had I not been so honest, she would not have know what was really important. Well, I have to run! Thanks for all of you're support!

 

[princessdisneybelle]

Yay! So glad you sent that email. I'm sure it will be beautiful. Have a great day at work

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

I dont think your a bridezilla in the least

I dont get where neverenoughwdw could say you are??

1st of all they do this 3weeks before your wedding!!
Why couldnt they have informed you of this months ago....cost is a major factor in weddings & when you DOUBLE the cost of just the cake...well thats shocking & unexpected!!

You had a contract & if it specifies the cake details, they have to take the loss....not you

I think you showed incredible class in letting them show you alternatives....& it was your right to say if you liked it or not....your paying for it.....would neverenoughwdw pay over $600 for something they didnt like....i dont think so!!!

Bridezilla is all about selfishness, unrealisticness & a bad attitude...& i dont see that in you

Like most of the posts said....its unreasonable & unfair & you shouldn't accept it....be firm in telling them it was their error

good luck

 

[AbbyPan]

I agree with everyone.

You are not being a BRIDEZILLA!

It's about the principle. If they could not make the cake that you wanted for the px that you were hoping to pay, they should have stated that from the very beginning.
It was their mistake, not yours, which makes what they are doing unproffessional and you should expect more from a corporation that prides themselves on providing exceptional service.
Even if they cannot create exactly what you've asked for, they should honor the px.

 

[StephSFL]

I am so glad it worked out!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Bridezilla....

I'm so glad you got it sorted out! I don't think you are a bridezilla - they said they could do something for X amount, 3 weeks before they turn around and say it's going to cost double. I don't see how any bride who's planning a wedding can come up with $350 3 weeks before their wedding. It looks lovely