T E R M S    A N D    C O N D I T I O N S

Wedding Cake Ts & Cs

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All sales made by Miss Helen’s are subject to the following terms and conditions. Nothing contained within these terms and conditions affects your statutory rights as a consumer.  If there is anything you don't understand please feel free to contact us on hello@misshelensbakes.com

 

1. Consultations

 

1.1  Consultations are by appointment only for wedding cakes.  Appointments can be made by email, using the ‘contact us’ page on

     our website or through our online booking system on the ‘book online’ page.  Appointments last for approximately one hour.

1.2 The consultation process includes an in-person tasting of four of our most popular flavours.  Extra samples are also sometimes

     available but are charged in full at the time of ordering and are not deductible from the final cost of your cake.

1.3 You can call us or email us if you need to discuss any aspects of your cake before making a booking.  Bookings can also be made

     by email without prior consultation.

1.4 During our consultation we will discuss your ideas, and may sketch out the design of your cake.  This sketch remains our property

     unless the booking fee has been paid, after that we will send a copy of the design to you.  Unfortunately, you cannot photograph

     any sketch during the consultation unless the booking fee has already been paid. 

1.5  Please advise us of any allergies or specific dietary requirements when booking your consultation.

1.6  Please note, that for 2024, we have a £600 minimum order for wedding bookings (not including delivery or cake stand hire).  These

     are our minimum order prices for 2024, however, this is not our average wedding cake price.  Usually, couples have a budget of £650-

     750+ for one of our cakes.   For dates further ahead than 2024 the minimum order value is subject to change.

 

2. Booking Fees

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2.1  All wedding cake orders require a non-refundable booking fee of £150 or 30% of the total order value. For cake orders with less than

      4 weeks notice the full cost of the cake must be paid at time of booking. 

2.2 All booking fees must be paid within 7 days of the booking form being sent; dates cannot be held open without the booking fee. 

      After 7 days, if no fee has been received then the event date will be released and another booking may be taken, which may

      mean we are no longer able to accommodate you.

2.3 All orders are only confirmed when the booking fee has been paid.  Please note that all booking fees are non-refundable and are

      only transferrable in certain circumstances. See ‘Section 16’.

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3. Payment Schedule

 

3.1  Once the cake design has been finalised. The final payment is due 28 days before your event.  The due date will clearly be stated

      on the bottom of the booking form and a reminder will be sent a week before the final balance is due. This is then non-refundable        in the event of a cancellation.

3.2  If the final payment is not received 28 days before your event, then we have the right to cancel your booking.  The booking fee

       paid to secure your date is then non-refundable and non-transferable and we may no longer be able to accommodate your

       booking.

3.3  Unfortunately, we do not offer the option to pay in installments or by credit or debit card. All payments are to be made by BACS

       transfer.

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4. Cake Details

 

4.1  Once the booking form has been sent, please review all the details carefully especially; cake tier sizes, flavour choices, spellings of

      names, allergen information, delivery time and contact numbers – please advise us of any changes as soon as possible.

4.2 The cake will be made according to the booking form and therefore it is imperative that all details are checked carefully.  Any

      errors not picked up on the booking form before the cake is made will not be considered to be our error.

 

5. Decorative Items Supplied By Third Parties

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5.1  We cannot be held responsible for delays on items being supplied from other companies e.g., cake toppers, special order cake

      stands etc.

5.2 If a bespoke cake topper or stand is required, please give us at least one month’s notice to order it but ideally longer.

5.3 If you are ordering a topper or cake stand yourself, please carefully check the size with us to make sure it is suitable for your cake

      and ensure the lead time is in line with your event.  We would always advise ordering as soon as possible.

5.4 If ordering items yourself, we cannot be held responsible for any errors in size, shape or design as the ordering has not been

      carried out by ourselves.

5.5 We reserve the right not to use anything supplied by a third party if we feel it’s unsuitable.

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6. Flowers Supplied By Florists

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6.1  When fresh flowers are being added to a cake, we will liaise with your florist about our requirements, but we would always advise 

      you discuss this with them too.

6.2 The cost of any fresh flowers will be added to your florist’s bill and we would always advise ordering a few extra flowers so we have

      a good selection to work with.

6.3 We can only work with what your florist provides for us on the day.  Please ensure they order flowers especially for the cake so that

     the cake flowers are of the same high standard as the rest of the florals.  Any unsuitable or toxic flowers supplied will not be used

     on your cake.

6.4 If your florist does not meet us at the agreed time at the venue, we cannot always guarantee that we will be able to wait for them

      to arrive.

6.5 If we cannot wait due to lateness of your florist, then they would have to add the flowers to the cake, and we cannot be held

      responsible if the arrangement made does not then match our vision and design for the cake and take no responsibility for the

      way the flowers have been added to the cake which may not be in a food safe way.

 

7. Alterations To Orders

 

7.1  We are happy to make alterations to your cake design and order up to 4 weeks prior to your event date.  Whilst every effort will be

      made to accommodate changes to the design, please note that changes within 4 weeks of the event cannot always be

      guaranteed.

7.2 Changes to cake designs may be subject to an additional cost.  This will be discussed with you when making the changes. We

      reserve the right to increase a quoted price in the event you request a variation to the work agreed.

7.3 Please take the time to check the new copy of the order form with the amendments carefully and let us know by return if any

     changes are needed. See section 4.

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8. Collection Of Cakes

 

8.1  We prefer to deliver all our cake orders personally, however if this is not possible, your order may be collected at a pre-arranged

      time.  However, not all cakes are available for collection; it depends on the design and size of the cake.  Cakes over 2 tiers tall or

      with intricate decoration are not suitable for customer collection.

8.2 Cakes that are collected by the customer are always boxed for transportation. We will provide full instructions on the care and

      handling of your cake. A signature is required upon collection confirming that you have received your order in perfect condition

      and as specified. We do not take any responsibility for any damage that may occur to the cake once it has left us.

8.3 We advise cakes to be places on a level, steady surface for transport e.g., in the passenger footwell of your car.  We are happy to

      place the cake safely in the car for you if required.  The cake should then be stored in the box at room temperature and out of

      direct sunlight until taken to the venue.

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9. Delivery & Set Up Of Wedding Cakes

 

9.1  We prefer to deliver and set up our wedding cake orders.  We will deliver your cake to your venue at a pre-arranged time.  This will

      be discussed during the consultation, and we will advise the venue in advance of our arrival time.

9.2 If the delivery time needs to be changed, please advise us as soon as possible but at least 14 days in advance – depending on

     other orders on the day of delivery, we cannot always guarantee a change of delivery time will be possible.

9.3 Local delivery is charged at £25 within 10 miles of LS25 4EU (£35 for Leeds or York City Centre deliveries as parking charges are often

      payable at city venues).  Other journeys are charged at 75p per mile for the return journey (mileage is calculated based on Google

      maps mileage from LS25 4EU), plus the charge will include a set-up fee (minimum £25) for time spent at the venue. Sunday

      deliveries will be subject to a £30 surcharge and bank holidays, a £50 surcharge.  

9.4 The delivery charge includes stacking and setting up your cake at the venue unless fresh flowers are being added.  In this case, an

      additional charge will apply.  This depends on the quantity of flowers on the cake but will start from £25.  We prefer to add flowers

      ourselves rather than having your florist attach them.  This is to ensure that they are added in the correct food safe manner and

      that the placement of them matches the original design.  This will all be discussed at your consultation if you are having fresh

      flowers on your cake.

9.5 It is your responsibility to ensure you have given us the correct delivery information and delivery time.  This will be on your cake

      booking form so please check it carefully.

9.6 It would be very rare, but on the event day we may be faced with a ‘force majeure’ e.g., severe weather conditions, public unrest, or

      other unexpected events that may make delivery to your venue impossible.  You can be assured that we would always do our best

      to deliver as prearranged, but some circumstances would be out of our reasonable control.  Please ensure you have adequate

      wedding insurance in place to cover this eventuality.   

9.7 It is your responsibility to ensure you have provided us with the set-up details and location of the cake at the venue.  We cannot be

      held responsible for the location of the cake at the venue.  Please ensure that the display location is level, stable and strong

      enough to hold the cake.  It would be advisable that it is not directly in front of a heat source, in a sunny window/conservatory or in

      a location where it could be knocked easily by passing guests.

9.8 We reserve the right to change the location of the cake at the venue if we feel it is unsuitable and may cause damage to the cake

      e.g., the cake table is in front of a large glass window, and it is an extremely hot day

9.9 We also reserve the right not to use a cake stand provided by the venue or yourself if we feel it will not hold the weight of the cake. 

      We have a wide selection of suitable cake stands available to hire if you so wish.  This will be discussed at your consultation.

9.10 We will photograph the cake at the venue as proof that it has been delivered and set up and left in perfect condition.

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10. Non-Edible Elements

 

10.1  Most of our stacked cakes will contain non-edible elements such as plastic dowels, flowers, or cake toppers.  We will advise you of

      any non-edible elements that need to be removed during cutting and provide written information about this to the venue.

10.2 As we will not personally be cutting the cake, we cannot accept any responsibility for any non-edible elements not removed prior

       to serving.  We will give the venue written information concerning any non-edible elements they need to remove.

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11. Shelf Life

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11.1  We recommend our cakes be eaten within 3 days of the event for them to be enjoyed at their best. 

11.2 Left over cake can be frozen if you would like to, we can discuss this with you at your consultation.

 

12. Allergens & Special Dietary Requirements

 

12.1  All allergy and special dietary requirements should be conveyed to Miss Helen’s during the consultation.  It is the customer’s

       responsibility to make us aware of any special dietary requirements that need to be accommodated in the making of the cake.

12.2 Unless otherwise stated, all cakes contain; gluten, butter and eggs and are made in an environment that handles; nuts, soya, and

       alcohol.  Gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy free cakes can sometimes be made on request; however, we cannot guarantee that

       these cakes will not contain trace amounts of these ingredients due to the nature of the product.

12.3 We would recommend anyone with a severe nut; dairy or gluten intolerance does not eat our cakes.

12.4 We will provide full allergen information with the cake upon delivery to the venue.

12.5 Miss Helen’s accepts no liability for customers suffering allergic reactions from eating our cakes.

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13. Publication & Promotional Rights

 

13.1  The company, Miss Helen’s is the sole designer and owner of the final cake design.  All rights in any original designs created and

       designed by the company shall remain the exclusive property of the company.

13.2 From time to time our designs are published in the media e.g., wedding magazines, websites, and blogs.  We reserve the right to

       use any image of a customer's cake made by the company for publication after the delivery date unless previously agreed in

       writing between the customer and the company.

13.3 The customer has no ownership rights over any cake design. Exclusivity of cake designs between our customers is not guaranteed

       unless the customer commissions an exclusive design.

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14. Commissioning A Cake That Is Similar To Another Design

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14.1  If you request a cake that is not our original design, we will seek the permission of the original designer to recreate it.   This cannot

      be guaranteed. 

14.2 If you wish to have us recreate someone else’s design, we would prefer not to directly copy it, but to use it as a basis to design

      your cake around so that it is unique to you.  This can be discussed at your consultation.

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15. Cancellations/Refunds

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15.1  The booking fee is non-refundable and non-transferable in the event of cancellation.

15.2 Cancellations from the date of booking until 28 days before the wedding will forfeit the booking fee.

15.3 Cancellations with less than 28 days notice are subject to full payment.  If this has not already been paid then the final balance

       will be immediately payable upon cancellation. This final payment is non-refundable in the event of cancellation if that

       cancellation occurs within 28 days of the wedding date.

15.4 There may be a rare occasion when Miss Helen’s needs to cancel an order due to exceptional circumstances beyond our

       control*.  In this case, as much notice as possible of the cancellation will be given and any monies paid, including deposits will be

       refunded.  If required, we will also assist in finding a replacement baker of the same high standard to make your cake for you.

       *This does not include a force majeure that may occur on the event day.  See ‘Section 9.6’.

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16. Change Of Wedding Date

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16.1  If you need to change your wedding date, please let us know as soon as possible.  Any changes are subject to availability and are

       not guaranteed.  Please liaise with us to check our availability before moving your wedding date.  We always advise getting more

       than one new date option from your venue for a move of date to give us the best chance of being able to change the date.

16.2 If we can change your wedding date, provided it is within 12 months from the day you request the change, the booking fee will be

       transferred to the new date.

16.3 If you are moving to a date further ahead than 12 months from the day you request the change, a new booking fee of £150 will be

       payable.  The first booking fee will not be refundable or transferable. It will be classed as a cancellation and a new booking as it is

       highly likely we will have turned down other work for your first date. *

16.4 If you are moving your wedding to a date we are unavailable for, unfortunately the booking fee will be strictly non-refundable as

       this covers work already completed in the run up to your wedding (this may include but is not limited to: phone calls, emails,

       completing and sending forms, holding consultations, providing cake samples and it is also highly likely that we will have turned

       down other work for your original date).

16.5 Date changes to different years may be subject to an additional charge in line with our yearly cost increases e.g., a date change

       from 2022 to 2023.

16.6 Date changes from off peak days/months to peak days/months, may be subject to an additional charge e.g., a date change from

       a Thursday in January to a Bank Holiday in August.

16.7 We would strongly advise that you take out wedding insurance that covers you in the event of a cancellation/change of wedding

      date that is out of your control.

      *If we are subsequently able to fill the original date with a new booking, we will deduct the first booking fee off the final balance of

      your cake.

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17. Complaints

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17.1  In the unlikely event there is an issue with your cake, it must be brought to our attention within 48 hours of the cake being delivered

      so we can be given the opportunity to assess the nature of the problem. We would take any complaints very seriously.

17.2 If the compliant is regarding the quality of the cake, we may ask for the cake or the remainder of the cake to be returned to use

      within 48 hours of delivery for inspection.

17.3 If the complaint is regarding the design of the cake, but the cake was made according to the booking form and sketch which has

      been checked and approved, we cannot be held responsible for any errors not picked up by the customer.

17.4 For any complaints, we can only deal with the person who booked the cake originally.

17.5 You must give us an opportunity to resolve the issue and agree not to post any defamatory comments or pictures on online

      forums or social media channels before discussing the situation with us and allowing us reasonable time to provide a satisfactory

      solution.

17.6 Once a solution has been reached, you agree not to post any defamatory comments or pictures on online forums or social

       media at any point in the future.  If this happens, we may seek to take legal action against you.

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18. COVID 19 Restrictions

 

18.1  If your wedding cake booking has to be amended due to COVID 19 restrictions, we will try our best to be accommodating and     

       flexible.

18,2 If you need to postpone your booking because your wedding date falls under a period of Government restrictions for COVID 19,

       e.g., a national lockdown or Tier 3 / Tier 4 restrictions where weddings are limited to 15 people or less or if they are not allowed all

       together,  then as long as we are free on your new date, we will move the deposit paid across to the new date for you subject to

       the conditions below.

18.3 If we can change your wedding date, provided it is within 12 months from the day you request the date change, the booking fee

       will be transferred to the new date.

18.4 If we are not able to accommodate your date change request, the original booking fee (or booking fees if there have been

       multiple changes) will be non-refundable. See Section 15.

18.5 If you are moving to a date further ahead than 12 months from the day you request the date change, a new booking fee of £150

       will be payable on top of the original booking fee.

18.6 If you decide to postpone your wedding as you are worried about future COVID 19 restrictions, but restrictions are not currently in

       place for your wedding date, it will be treated as a standard change of wedding date or a cancellation.  See Section 15 and 16.

18.7  If you are moving to a date further ahead than 12 months of the day you request the change, so have paid multiple booking fees,

       all booking fees will come off the final cost of the cake.  However, should you choose to voluntarily cancel the wedding booking   

       further down the line, you will lose all booking fees paid.  This is only valid for COVID 19 postponements where restrictions are in

       place as stated in ‘Section 18.2’.  All other postponements will be subject to the clauses in ‘Section 16’.

18.8 Any date changes to future years or from off peak to peak days/months, may be subject to price increases in line with 16.5 and

        16.6.

18.9  For multiple date changes due to COVID 19 restrictions, each new postponement will be treated separately, and we will use the ‘

        within or outside 12 months’ rules outlined in 18.3, 18.4 & 18.5

18.10 Any subsequent voluntary cancellation will be subject to the payment terms outlined in Section 3 ‘

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We reserve the right to revise and amend these terms and conditions.  However, you will only subject to the terms and conditions in force at the time you place your order with us.  If you change your wedding date for any reason, you will be sent the most up to date terms and conditions with your new booking form and these will supersede any previously sent to you

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By paying your booking fee, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions so please read them carefully.