By placing and order and doing business with Haute Cakes Couture Desserts, you agree to the following:
Pricing - Full project pricing is calculated based on the work and items used from initial consultation through set up and delivery. The initial consultation is charged at a rate of $45, paid before the meeting starts. The consultation fee is applied as a credit once an order is placed. Every tier of cake is also calculated in the price. This includes two (2) one-hour consultations, custom sketch / design, flavors / fillings, edible decorations or details, separators & pillars, ribbon, fondant decorations, labor, delivery, and set up.
Wedding Payments - Payment may be made in the form of cash or check. All major credit cards are processed through online invoicing, which is handled by Google Checkout.
Wedding Cake Deposit - A fifty percent (50%) retainer is required within two weeks of a price quote, to confirm an order, reserve your date, and lock in pricing. This contract also indicates acceptance of all policies and procedures outlined at the initial consultation. You have three days (72 hours) if you wish to cancel and receive your deposit back. After three days, the 50% retainer is non-refundable.
Party Cake Payments - Party cakes and dessert orders must be paid in full within 24 hours of receiving the online invoice.
Balance - The balance must be paid in full no later than four (4) weeks before the event date. Payments must be made in the form of cash, check, or credit card. Late payments during the final two (2) week period must be made in cash or via credit card with an additional fifty dollar ($50) late fee added. All payments must be received before the cake is set up. No Exceptions.
Reserving a Date
We only do a few cakes each week and do not "pencil in" reservations. If you want to reserve your date on our calendar, a $200 deposit is required and it will hold your date for one month. The deposit will apply towards your final balance. We will turn down other requests for your date, and set up a meeting at a later time.
Please help us reduce/reuse/recycle - All plastic supplies/ stands must be returned within three (3) days of the event. All items used are technically disposable; however, they are sturdy enough to be washed and reused several times. Please return any items if you can. This includes the plastic support system for your cake as well as the covered cake base that your cake sits on.
Rentals - Silver cake stands/ plateaus are an additional fee and must be returned within three (3) business days. Client will be billed $100-250 replacement fee if not returned by deadline, depending on the stand. A valid credit card number is required for cake stand rental. Cupcake tower customization is included in the rental price. Towers must be returned within three (3) business days after the event. (Rentals are due Wednesday by 5 PM for an event held on a Saturday.)
Design - Changes in design should be no later than four (4) weeks before the event. Haute Cakes Couture Desserts retains full artistic license when designing your cake, which will be created according your specifications. However exact replicas of photos are not possible as each cake is a custom-made design. The bakery reserves the right to make substitutions and/or slight modifications in design, as necessary, keeping consistent with the contracted project. We retain the original copyright to all design notes and sketches and will give you a copy for your personal planning use only and not to be reproduced or published in any public media outlet.
Flowers - We will decorate your cake with flowers at no additional charge. All florals should be cut and ready to place on the cake. Please attach a photo or sketch if there is a specific way the florals should be placed on the cake. If you are using fresh/real flowers on your cake the florist is responsible for the flowers and making sure the flowers and foliage are safe to place on an edible cake. Some flowers and foliage are not safe to use on food. It is your responsibility to select wisely with the assistance of your florist. Acceptance of this contract indicates you will not hold Haute Cakes Couture Desserts or Falana Thomas responsible for any illness caused by the use of fresh flowers on your wedding cake.
Ornaments & Decorations - Ornaments/ table decorations will be placed on the cake and around the cake table at no additional charge. We will do our best to secure your ornament on top of the cake. We are not responsible if your ornament falls off the cake. Heavy ornaments need to be brought to the consultation so we can plan for the correct structural support when making your cake. All items need to be removed from packaging and ready to set up.
Photo Release - After every event we contact your photographer for images to use in our marketing materials, on our website, and for submission to local and national magazines and wedding websites (i.e. The Knot and Martha Stewart). Some images may show your identity. Acceptance of this contract authorizes us to use your images for these purposes without additional compensation. If you DO NOT want us to use your images that reveal your identity for these purposes, please email us.
Delivery - Set up and delivery is a $50 for one wedding cake/ $75 for two wedding cakes, flat rate for the Austin area. Your order will be delivered and set up 30 minutes to two hours prior to the reception start time. This time is our best approximation and will vary depending on weather conditions and traffic. Party cake delivery fees are $25 flat rate, round trip..
Pick Up - Pick up is only available for items three tiers tall and smaller. The cake must be set on a clean, flat surface while driving such as a trunk or floorboard. Most cakes are not boxed and you should never have any one hold any part of the cake on their lap. Non fondant cakes are refrigerated for several hours and should hold up with 30-45 minutes of travel in a cool trunk without damage; however this is not a guarantee. Speed is never the issue with damaged cakes; it is quick stops and sharp turns. We are not responsible for cakes that are damaged with the pick up option.
Cancellation - Cancelled events must adhere to the following cancellation policy. Initial deposit PLUS:
We can only handle a certain number of events each week so other business will be turned away to book your event. If you decide to cancel your event the above charges will apply to all weddings/ large parties are booked several months in advance. 100% refund less $150 for the tasting, design and consultation fees if Haute Cakes Couture Desserts cancels event order, as those monies have been earned. We will do the best we can to find a licensed replacement for your event as soon as possible; however we cannot guarantee a replacement. It is your final decision on whether or not to go with our recommended replacement. You are responsible for all payments, fees, and charges of any new vendor.
Complaints - We try our absolute best for every client, however, sometimes things go wrong. Due to the short shelf life of our products, any problems and/or complaints in your product must be made in writing (email) or telephone/ voicemail by the client(s) named in the contract within 24 hours of the event. We cannot resolve a situation if we do not know about it. If no notification is received, it is agreed by the client that the product met and/or exceeded the contractual obligations and was delivered and fulfilled as promised and client agrees not to make any negative/hurtful comments, posts, ratings, grades, and reviews in any public forum, electronic or media outlet.
Privacy
- Your information is for internal use only and is not sold. This is a referral business, and your information may be passed along ONLY IF you ask us directly for a referral.Any legal matters will be handled in small claims court of Williamson County, Austin, Texas.