Rowan Tree Bakery

Wedding & Celebration Cake Terms & Conditions

Standard Terms and Conditions of Trading

These terms form the basis of the contract between our customer (you, your) and Rowan Tree Bakery (we, us). These Terms and your Invoice are considered by us to set out the whole agreement between you and us for the sale of cakes. It is your responsibility to check all details in the Invoice are complete and accurate as this is the document we work to when completing your Order.

                                                               Basis of Sale

Any samples, drawings, or descriptions we issue, and any descriptions or illustrations contained on our website and social media are issued solely to provide you with an approximate idea of the cakes they describe and remain the property of Rowan Tree Bakery.

Quotations are valid for a period of 30 calendar days from the day of issue. Cake sizes quoted are in inches and are based on the diameter of the cake. Cakes are 4 1/2 to 5 inches deep as standard. If you would like a deeper (extra tall) style cake this needs to be requested at the time of booking.

No contract is made with you until we have received your deposit. Once your deposit has been received you are in a legally binding contract with Rowan Tree Bakery.

                                                                 The Cakes

We warrant that on delivery or collection the Cakes shall conform to their description as set out in the Invoice, be of satisfactory quality and comply with all food safety, statutory and regulatory requirements in the UK current at the date of the Invoice. We will not be held responsible for customer disappointment of the design or the interpretation of the cake as long as it is made in line with the customer’s pre agreed requirements set out in the Invoice and will face no consequent liability. It is the customers responsibility to ensure all details within the Invoice, and sketch if applicable, are correct and meet their exact requirements.

The warranty does not apply and will be invalidated in the event that:

(a)  ny defect in the Cakes arises from wilful damage, accident, negligence by you or any third party;

(b) use of the cake in a way we do not recommend;

(c) your failure to follow our instructions;

(d)  any alterations you carry out subsequent to safe delivery of the cake to the venue stated in the Invoice.

Our cakes are made in an environment where nuts, egg, milk, gluten and other allergens are present. We cannot guarantee that any cake is entirely nut or gluten free although we make every effort to ensure that allergies and dietary requirements are accommodated where you have requested this in your Invoice.

Fresh flowers on cakes

If a wedding cake is to be dressed with fresh flowers, we will arrange the flowers on the cake, unless you notify us that your florist will be doing this.

If your florist is dressing the cake, please provide us with their contact details so that we can speak to your florist about arrangement and food safety, to avoid any miscommunication or contamination of the cake.

Please note some flowers are not suitable for use as a cake decoration. Ask your florist for details regarding toxicity. We hereby exclude all liability, arising directly or indirectly, for any contamination to any food product that may arise if your florist is dressing the cake.

From time to time certain materials and ingredients for our cakes may become obsolete. This is totally out of our control; however, we will do our reasonable best to select replacement products to reflect the original design as closely as possible. We reserve the right to replace items with component parts which we consider to be of equal or better quality without consultation with you.

If your cake contains any non-edible elements, such as faux flowers or cake toppers, we will provide a list to your venue of these non-edible elements on the date of your event so that it is clear which elements of the cake can and cannot be consumed.  We cannot accept responsibility for any lack of or miscommunication by the venue or by you to your guests or others in respect of the non-edible elements of your cake and/or its dressing.

Stacked cakes contain dowels in each tier to provide support and these should be removed before consumption. We will advise the venue on the date of the event if there are dowels in your cake. We hereby exclude all liability, arising directly or indirectly, from the consumption and/or misuse of non-edible elements of the cake and/or its dressing.

The cake is a fresh product containing no additives or preservatives and it is our right to assume consumption occurs on the day requested.

Cakes should be stored in a dry place, at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and sources of heat in the box provided by us. The cake should not be refrigerated, unless we have specifically informed you and your venue to refrigerate the cake (for example in extremely hot weather).

Rowan Tree Bakery and the customer expressly agree that the cakes and all goods purchased from Rowan Tree Bakery remain the property of Rowan Tree Bakery until paid for in full by the customer. Rowan Tree Bakery retains the all rights, including moral rights, to the design of the cake and its dressing.  

                                              Delivery and Collection and Set-up

All Orders may be collected free of charge from Rowan Tree Bakery by prior arrangement. A suitable box will be provided for all cakes. We accept no responsibility for any damage sustained to the cake or the box once it has left the Rowan Tree Bakery premises.

If delivery of the cake has been requested, we will deliver the cake on the day set out in the Invoice to the address provided.

Delivery times will be agreed on an individual basis. Rowan Tree Bakery will always do its reasonable best to ensure delivery dates agreed in writing are achieved for the provision of the goods or services however Rowan Tree Bakery cannot accept liability for delays from traffic, adverse weather or other incidents outside our control.   

If the delivery address changes after the Invoice is issued, we reserve the right to make additional charges to cover extra mileage.

When delivering to a wedding venue, we will contact the venue in advance to arrange a mutually convenient time for delivery.

If we set up the wedding cake, we shall take a photograph of the cake before leaving the venue and, where possible, obtain a signature from the venue confirming the cake has been received in good condition.

If we are not delivering the cake and the venue need to set up the cake themselves we shall explain to the venue via email how the cake is to be displayed. Once the cake has been delivered, we are unable to accept any liability for any damage sustained to the cake thereafter nor any failure to follow the instructions provided.

If the cake is delivered with a cake stand, a security deposit will be payable with the final balance as set out in the Invoice. The stand must be returned to us in a good, clean condition within 3 days of the wedding. Upon the return of the stand the deposit will be refunded via bank transfer with 5 working days. Should the stand be returned broken or damaged, the cost of the replacement stand will be deducted from the security deposit.

Price and Payment

The price of your cake will be as set out in your Invoice. No VAT is payable on the cakes. A 50% deposit is required for wedding cake orders immediately upon booking to secure your date. For Wedding Cakes, an Invoice will be issued detailing the final balance, deposit sum and account payment details. No further payment reminders will be sent, and it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure payment is on time.

Please note all deposits are non-refundable, unless the Order is cancelled in writing more than sixty (60) days before the date of your event.

The balance of the price must be paid in cleared monies no later than the date set out in the Invoice by bank transfer to the account specified, payment by debit or credit card, or via PayPal. If paying by debit or credit card, please allow 3 working days for payment to clear. Cheques will not be accepted.

If payment is not received by the date specified this shall be constituted as breach of contract by the customer. We reserve the right to hold the Order until payment is made in full. When payment is late, we accept no responsibility should we be unable to purchase the required stock or equipment to make the cake as laid out in the Invoice. In these circumstances the cake will be made as close to the Invoice as possible with no redress or liability on Rowan Tree Bakery.        

Cancellation and  postponement of the Order

Wedding cake deposits are non-refundable, unless cancelled in writing more than sixty (60) days prior to the event.

We understand that occasionally it is necessary for the wedding date to be postponed. In the event of a wedding postponement, the payment due remains the same as a cancellation. If you postpone within sixty (60) days of the wedding half the remaining cost will be due on the original payment date as set out in the Invoice.

 If you postpone less than one (1) month prior to the wedding, the outstanding balance remains payable on the original due date as set out in the Invoice. Subject to availability we will carry any monies paid forward to the new wedding date.

                                                          Alterations to the Order

You may, prior to eight (8) weeks before the wedding day, amend your Order by providing us with written notice.

In the case of alterations, a revised Invoice will be issued detailing the changes and the new price. Alterations are not confirmed by us until a revised Invoice has been issued.

Should you make any changes after the time scale stipulated above there will be no reduction in the price you pay, even if your new design is cheaper than the original Order.

If for any reason you fail to collect your cake Order, we reserve the right to take action to recover any balances outstanding and charge the cost of taking such action to you.

Rowan Tree Bakery reserves the right to cancel, vary or suspend the operation of any Order and/or this contract if events occur which are in the nature of force majeure including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing): fire, floods, electrical or gas unavailability, storm, plant breakdown, strike, lock outs, riot, hostilities, non-availability of materials or supplies, adverse weather or any other event outside the control of Rowan Tree Bakery.

Rowan Tree Bakery shall not be liable directly or indirectly for any breach of contract resulting from our right to cancel, vary or suspend performance of the Order and/or this contract. In this situation we will provide you with written notice and any booking fees paid are non-refundable and we refer to our cancellation policy.

Rowan Tree Bakery’s liability (both in contract and tort) in respect of defects in goods or services provided under the Order and/or this contract shall be strictly limited to the issue of a credit note in respect thereof or granting a refund or other such compensatory measures as Rowan Tree Bakery, at its absolute sole discretion, considers appropriate in the circumstances and shall be limited to the to the value of the goods or services giving rise to the claim and the customer agrees and acknowledges such limitation. 

Complaints

Complaints are very rare and due to the amount of work put into each individual cake we take them very seriously. Any issues must be brought to our attention within 48 hours of collection or delivery to give fair opportunity to assess the nature of the complaint.

Both Parties agree to not post any negative or confidential information about the other arising out of this contract any Order on any off line or online forum, newspaper or other publication or any website or social media platform without providing advance written notice of the intended content thereof and providing the other party with a prior opportunity to resolve any issues between the parties amicably.

Complaints regarding the decoration of celebration cakes can usually be easily repaired so errors of this nature must be pointed out upon delivery/collection so as to give us the opportunity to correct them. Once a cake has been collected or delivered, this confirms that decoration is as requested, and no further claims can be made. Wedding cake customers will be sent a detailed description and/or sketch of their wedding cake prior to the wedding in the Invoice. It is the customer’s responsibility to check that this meets with their requirements and raise any issues with us if there are any discrepancies.

Where the complaint is in regard to the quality and/or taste of the cake then the cake, or remainder of the cake/tier, must be returned to us as soon as possible after cutting and within 48 hours of collection/delivery to ensure that we are able to fairly assess the nature of the complaint. 

Please note we can only deal with the customer who placed the original Order.

General Terms 

All designs and intellectual property rights remain the property of Rowan Tree Bakery. We reserve the right to use images of your cake for any form of advertising including hard copy and web-based promotions, publications, brochures, galleries and competitions. It is advisable that you make a copy of all documentation received from Rowan Tree Bakery for your own benefit.

These terms together with the Invoice provided constitute the entire agreement and understanding between the parties relating to the Order. Except as may be expressly stated in these terms, it supersedes and cancels all prior agreements, statements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, between the parties.