Terms & Conditions
Please read and agree to the terms below before placing an order. They cover quotations and payment, design changes, allergens, delivery and collection, and how to care for your cake. If anything is unclear, just ask — we would rather explain it than have you guess.
Payment
All prices are non-negotiable and priced according to your exact design and the size of your cake. Following your consultation or enquiry, your quote is valid for up to 1 month (wedding cakes) or 14 days (celebration cakes). Paying your deposit secures this price and your slot in the diary.
A non-refundable 50% deposit (of the total cake and delivery price) is required when you place an order. Failure to pay the deposit within a week of your event may result in your order being cancelled.
You will receive details of how to make payment when you place your order. Please confirm once a payment has been made.
Final payment for your wedding cake is required no later than one calendar month before collection or delivery. It is your responsibility to remember to send this payment, as a reminder invoice is not issued.
Unfortunately, we do not accept cheques.
If an order is cancelled less than 7 days before the event, we reserve the right to retain your non-refundable 50% deposit. If you postpone your event, we will try to accommodate your new date; if that isn't feasible, your order will be treated as a cancellation.
We retain the right to cancel a booking in very unusual circumstances beyond our control, such as fire or ill health, in which case any money taken is refunded in full.
Design
It is your responsibility to read and check your quote thoroughly; any amendments to the design should be made at least 14 days in advance.
If requested, we will endeavour to adjust the design where possible, but this is sometimes not possible depending on the nature of the request or the notice given. If an alteration affects the cost, or preparation work for the original design has already been undertaken, your balance will be adjusted accordingly. Please tell us when you pay your deposit if you are still undecided on the design.
We reserve the right to change the design if circumstances beyond our control may compromise the quality of the finished cake — melting due to weather, for example.
Each cake is made individually by hand, so although every effort is made to ensure consistency, it may vary slightly from the design requested or the picture supplied.
Cream cheese cakes should be refrigerated, so we do not advise covering them with fondant. We are happy to substitute cream cheese filling in cakes such as red velvet and carrot cake with Swiss meringue buttercream, which has a creamy texture and does not require refrigeration.
If your cake requires fresh flowers, these are not included in the price. We can work with your florist, but we expect you to make all the necessary arrangements with them.
We cannot take responsibility for any damage to the cake caused by a floral arrangement implemented by your florist.
Where fresh flowers are used, the cake is set up as late as feasibly possible to keep them fresh through the day. Depending on the varieties used and the weather, it may be necessary to cut the cake early in your event so the flowers look their best in photographs.
Allergens
Please discuss any dietary requirements with us, for you or your guests. Cakes can be made gluten free, egg free and alcohol free. Cakes are made in a home kitchen where nuts, gluten, dairy, egg and soya are present, so we cannot guarantee a cake is free from traces of any allergen.
Most cakes contain small proportions of inedible items. It is your responsibility to ensure these are removed by your caterer or guests before the cake is eaten — for example support dowels in tiered cakes, ribbon, wires in sugar flowers, crystals, flower picks and floral tape.
Delivery
Delivery charges are calculated on a mileage and time basis. Alternatively, cakes can be collected from the studio by prior arrangement.
If you choose delivery, it is our intention that your cake arrives in perfect condition before your event begins. However, we ask for patience with factors beyond our control, such as traffic conditions, as we cannot be held liable for such delays. In some circumstances we may recommend the cake is delivered a day in advance. It is your responsibility to give us your correct ceremony and event times, plus the venue postcode. In the unlikely event of a late delivery, the maximum compensation is a refund of the delivery price.
We cannot be held liable for damage to the cake at the venue once we have left the premises. With this in mind, we ask that somebody responsible checks they are happy with the cake before we leave.
Late requests for delivery, made after a booking was secured on the basis of collection, will be accommodated where possible but cannot be guaranteed, as earlier delivery commitments take priority.
If you choose to collect your cake, we cannot be held liable for any damage once it has left the studio. Tiered cakes are most at risk during transport, and we strongly recommend checking that your wedding insurance covers cake damage. To keep your cake as fresh as possible, we recommend collecting it the day before a wedding.
It is your responsibility to ensure the cake table, linen, cake stand and knife are arranged and set up before our arrival. If a delay is incurred because these are not ready, we reserve the right to charge for the time involved at £20 per hour. Alternatively, please arrange for the cake to be left with the event manager to assemble or move into position as appropriate.
Please take extra care to ensure a stable cake table is available for a marquee wedding, as surrounding floorboards can easily rock the cake once stood on.
Your Cake
Cake decorations are very delicate, and we cannot accept responsibility for damage done to the cake after it has been handed over to you.
In the event of damage, you are welcome to advise us and request a repair, which will be costed accordingly, including transport costs where appropriate.
The cake portions listed in our guides and FAQs are only a guide. The number of portions per cake depends on how the cake is cut.
Your cake is baked to be fresh for the date of your event. While we give no guarantee of quality more than 48 hours after your event, Thistleberry Cake Studio cakes have been tested to still taste fresh after a week kept in their box. Our cakes are made entirely of natural ingredients, so they do not have the extended shelf life of supermarket cakes, which contain additives and preservatives.
You can freeze cake to preserve it, bearing in mind this may affect the state of the icing. Defrost in the fridge with the cake in its box; condensation will form as it defrosts, which is normal. Food should only be frozen for a maximum of 3 months.
If you plan to keep some of your wedding cake, please let us know which tier you would like to keep so boxes can be provided. Otherwise all cake boxes are removed to avoid cluttering the venue.
Sugarpaste and fondant cakes should not be refrigerated, as this causes condensation to form on the icing and accelerates staling.
If you would like to hire a cake stand or decorations, a deposit is required before release. The deposit amount depends on the value of the item.
Please make arrangements for hired items to be returned safely within 7 days of hire. If there is no damage, the deposit is released in full; in the event of damage, any deposit refund is at the studio's discretion.
Complaints
If you have concerns about your cake, please let us know as soon as possible so we can put it right in time for your event. All other concerns should be made in writing, with evidence of the fault included. No refunds are given for a change of mind.
In the event of a late delivery, the maximum compensation is a refund of the delivery price. Please be patient with factors beyond our control, such as traffic conditions, as we cannot be held liable for such delays.
Refunds are at the discretion of Thistleberry Cake Studio.
Because every cake is made to order to your requirements, we do not offer returns. If you receive the wrong cake or something entirely different from what you ordered, please contact us immediately so we can evaluate the issue and make it right. Where a refund is approved, it is issued to your original payment method within 10 business days; your bank may take a little longer to post it.
Questions
If you would like anything here explained before you order, email hello@thistleberrycakestudio.com or start an enquiry and we'll answer personally.