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loriemoms
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 09, 2005
Posts: 2638
Birthday: Feb 12
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:57 pm |
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I have this bride who has been a lot of "fun" since day one. Her parents came to me about a year ago to book her wedding (the bride was away at school, wrapped in finals) They brought me an email she had written and even the father said "if you can make sense of this you are a god!" She had this long discription of a cake in blue green or maybe even green blue...in a box, but not really a box. Crazy stuff like that. We had our tasting, they loved the cake and signed a contract. We figured we would figure out the design later. When the daughter was done with school, she came over with a beautiful drawing she did of a cake. Phew, ok settled. Then two months later, she decided she didnt like the color and then sent me another picture she drew of another cake that ok, there is still plent of time, i will do that design. No problem. NOW I am confused on what to do with the color. She gave me color swatches and said "but not quite as colorful" and "colors not quite as deep" as the swatches. I have asked her PLEASE bring a color that she wants exactly. No swatch yet and her wedding is a week away. I wrote her a number of emails saying I will do the best I can, that green/blue or blue/green can be like 100 million different shades and that a swatch would help a LOT, but i get things like "just don't make it too dark". (The swatches she gave me are VERY dark) I am scared sh*tless on how this cake color is going to go. Do I do the cake a very light green/blue and hope that is ok? It is a fondant cake, with the green/blue or blue green color with some white designs on it from a book she found (The mom doesnt know what to do either..) Sigh. Why do I do this business? |
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kelleym
Official CakeBoss Rep
Joined: Aug 24, 2005
Posts: 2557
Birthday: Dec 21
Gallery Supporter Member
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:06 pm |
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Tell her to go to Home Depot and get you a paint chip sample of the shade she wants, and that without SOMETHING for you to match the color to, you cannot guarantee you will achieve the color she wants. Put it in writing so you have it documented. Ay yi yi. |
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k8memphis
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 1295
Location: Memphis 10 C
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:37 pm |
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This is not hard at all but when you're in the midst of it it can be a bit daunting. This is simply 'use your own judgement'. Run happy with it. Clearly the bride does not know what she wants. Go with your gut. Make it pretty. But feel released from all the confusion too. It's ok. Go with the flow. Use all those impressions she gave you like a Monet palette and wa ah ah la something.
I never contact brides at this point. She didn't know what she wanted when she was free and clear to think about it now that the roller coaster has left the starting gate she doesn't suddenly know or care to figure it out. Make her something pretty. That's what she wants. So anything you make that you interpret to be not too deep or not quite as colorful is great! |
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southerncake
Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 22, 2004
Posts: 768
Location: North Carolina
Birthday: Jul 29
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:43 pm |
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If she doesn't get a paint sample or fabric swatch to you in the next day or so, I say use your best judgement. I actually like cases like this where I don't have an "exact" color to match. It is much less stressful for me when I know there isn't something else (like a bridesmaid's dress) to compare the color to!! |
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loriemoms
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 09, 2005
Posts: 2638
Birthday: Feb 12
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:08 pm |
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I like...no I LOVE the way you guys think! I do have it in an email that I cannot gurantee the color, (you think that is enough?) and just do what I think is pretty! You guys have lifted my spirits, as I was so depressed over this cake. (And I know what you mean about matching! Especially buttercream. You never know how much darker it might go when it has set..)
Thanks guys! |
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spring
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2004
Posts: 39
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:36 pm |
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We always have the bride send us a paint chip of the EXACT color she wants.
We also have the bride come in and ok the color, once we've mixed it in fondant. Saves a lot of heart ache on both sides.
Minette
My Blog www.minetterushing.typepad.com |
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peacockplace
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 25, 2004
Posts: 2751
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:03 pm |
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Minette,
Welcome to CC! I stumbled onto your website a while back and have been a big fan of yours ever since. Your cakes are amazing!!! I love the blog too! |
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loriemoms
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 09, 2005
Posts: 2638
Birthday: Feb 12
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:40 pm |
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| spring wrote: | We always have the bride send us a paint chip of the EXACT color she wants.
We also have the bride come in and ok the color, once we've mixed it in fondant. Saves a lot of heart ache on both sides.
Minette
My Blog www.minetterushing.typepad.com |
That is a great idea, although I do not mix my fondant until 1-2 days before the wedding. I am not sure I can get brides in here to double check the fondant color...how do you get them in or do you mix the fondant up weeks ahead? |
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spring
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2004
Posts: 39
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:13 pm |
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We only color a small piece of fondant, maybe the size of a 2" circle. I mix the fondant an hour or two before the bride comes in.
Once approved, the fondant swatch is wrapped tightly in saran wrap and put in the freezer. When I'm ready to mix a whole batch of fondant, I bring it out and use it as a guide.
I've never had trouble getting a bride to come back and look at the fondant. They seem to be happy to do so.
Minette
My Blog: www.minetterushing.typepad.com |
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JulieB
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
Posts: 870
Location: Nashville, TN
Birthday: Jan 02
Gallery Supporter Member
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Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:13 pm |
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Wow, Minette, your blog is awesome. I'm a fan. |
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spring
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2004
Posts: 39
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Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:49 am |
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CarolynGwen
Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 10, 2007
Posts: 598
Location: Oregon
Birthday: Dec 21
Gallery Supporter Member
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Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:17 am |
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I have every free paint chip sample Home Depot carries.
I numbered each brand by number in a way that makes sense to me right on the pait chip, laminated it and punched a hole in it then put it on a ring.
The bride matches her swatch to the chip. I note in the contract that they want color _________ from my swatch samples. I initial, they initial, we are done. |
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loriemoms
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 09, 2005
Posts: 2638
Birthday: Feb 12
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:21 pm |
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Those are excellent ideas for the future! I like the paint chip idea. (I have a catalog of ribbon that they pick their ribbon colors from, but never thought of using paint chips for fondant..) |
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mindywith3boys
Frequent Member
Joined: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 329
Location: Indiana
Birthday: Nov 09
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:34 pm |
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You could do a rang of colors. Start at the bottom with a darker blue/green and with each tier get lighter. |
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marmalade1687
Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 05, 2005
Posts: 284
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Birthday: Aug 15
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Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:40 am |
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I use the paint chip idea too - working with many out-of-town brides makes this essential!! When we need a colour sample, I can tell them to go to a paint store and choose a paint colour that exactly matches the colour that they want for their cake, then mail it to me. It's free for them, and I can get a, exact colour for their cake. Their idea of a lavender may be wildly different from my idea of lavender!
I also tell brides that I will match their colour as best I can, but it is never a 100% guarantee, especially when it gets into the darker colours...I can usually get it pretty darn close, but telling the bride this has saved me a couple of times! |
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