Weddings · Advice & Questions · Oct 16

I offered to make a wedding cake and the practice version leaned. How do I change the plan?

Weddings

The second tier started leaning while I was still clearing space for the decorations. It was a practice cake at home, eight weeks before my cousin's wedding. I took a photograph, then sat down.

I offered to make her cake because I enjoy baking. She gave me $200 for ingredients and supplies. I'd pictured doing something generous; I hadn't made a cake like the one we chose together.

I can tell her now and help look for a bakery, but the first quote she's obtained is $480. I don't want to hand back her money and act as though I haven't left a gap in her plans. I also can't sensibly promise the wedding cake will work because I've got eight more weeks to worry about it.

What would a fair conversation about changing the plan sound like? I'm more embarrassed about the confident voice note I sent when she asked me than about the photograph.

Discussion

2 community replies

@MorganSays

Show her the photograph now. "The practice showed me I'm not ready to make the cake we chose" gives her information she can act on. Waiting for a better attempt could leave her with fewer alternatives.

@TheoInTransit

Account clearly for the $200: what has been spent, what supplies remain and what you can return. That is separate from discussing whether you're able to contribute anything towards another option. Don't make a promise you can't afford just to escape the embarrassment.

I offered to make a wedding cake and the practice version leaned. How do I change the plan?

Discussion

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