POLICIES & TERMS OF SERVICE

By visiting Sweet Elevations' site and/or purchasing something from Sweet Elevations, you the client agree that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms including additional terms, conditions and policies referenced herein and/or within a quote, invoice, or available by hyperlink.

Sweet Elevations reserves the right to update, change or replace any part of Sweet Elevations' policies by posting updates and/or changes to the website. It is the client's responsibility to check this page periodically for changes. Clients continued use or access to the website following the posting of any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

PLACING AN ORDER

All orders must be placed using Sweet Elevations' online order form. All orders are filled in the order they are received, and based upon availability. To ensure sufficient amount of time to complete orders, orders must be placed at least 3-6 weeks from the preferred pick-up or delivery date. Rush orders may be accepted based on availability. RUSH ORDERS - If orders are placed or quotes accepted less than 2 weeks from the requested pick-up or delivery date, the order may be subject to an additional 20% rush order fee.

Inspirational photos are helpful, however Sweet Elevations does not duplicate and make no claims for exact duplication of the work done by other cake decorators. Once the order form has been submitted, we will respond within 24 - 72 business hours from the day the form was submitted and the complexity of the custom order design. Order forms are only reviewed and responses are only provided during normal business hours. If there are questions about the submitted form, we will contact you using the email address and/or phone number provided.

SECURING A DATE

Inquiring about a dessert or expressing an interest in a particular date does not secure your order on Sweet Elevations' calendar. The 50% non-refundable and non-transferable retainer fee must be paid in full to secure your requested date on Sweet Elevations' calendar, for Sweet Elevations' services (planning and preparation, and the purchasing of items needed to fulfill the order). If the retainer fee has not been received by the due date provided within the invoice, the order will be cancelled. Sweet Elevations reserves the right to cancel orders due to non-payment and can not guarantee availability thereafter.

PAYMENT

Pricing for orders varies depending on size, servings, detail and the complexity of the design. All payments must be made electronically through Sweet Elevations' PayPal business processing system. All other forms of payment are not accepted. A 50% non-refundable and non-transferable retainer fee* is due at the time the invoice is issued unless stated otherwise within the payment details section of the quote or invoice. All payment due dates are outlined in the payment details section of the quote or invoice, and are final. Payment of the retainer or total amount due acknowledges that you have read, understood, and agree to our polices, terms and conditions. Orders placed less than 2 weeks from the date of pick-up or delivery, must be paid in full at the time the invoice is issued. Sweet Elevations reserves the right to cancel orders due to non-payment and can not guarantee availability thereafter.

LATE PAYMENTS

Payment reminders will not be provided before payment due dates. As a courtesy, an automated late payment notice will be sent to the email address and cellphone number provided if payment has not been made by 6:00 p.m. on the due date. A $50.00 late fee will also be applied to the invoice and each day thereafter that the payment is late. If the payment due (including the late fees that have been applied) has not been paid 2 days after the due date specified within the invoice, Sweet Elevations reserves the right to cancel the order due to non-payment and can not guarantee availability thereafter.

PRICING

Due to the quickly changing hospitality and food industry, the cost of Sweet Elevations' services and desserts are subject to change without notice.

REVISIONS (Changes)

For Custom Cakes, Cupcakes, and Dessert Orders: Clients are provided the option of one 30-minute phone/virtual consultation OR one revision without a consultation after the initial quote has been emailed BUT before the official invoice has been emailed. Orders placed less than one month from the requested pick-up/delivery date, are not provided the opportunity of a consultation and any revisions due to the length of order preparation time.

The consultation with the owner and lead baker, Alicia Permenter provides the client the opportunity to discuss order and design details and/or make necessary revisions to the requested order. An additional $38.00 will be added to the total cost of the order each time the client requests the following: to increase/decrease the number of servings, to change an overall design and/or remove design elements, or to add additional dessert items to or remove dessert items from their order after the 30-minute consultation has been held, after the one requested revision or after the official invoice has been emailed. Requests made less than one month from the preferred pick-up/delivery date will not be fulfilled due to the short length of order preparation time. This includes requests by phone, email, text or direct message via social media. Please see the Wedding Cakes and Dessert Orders for Large Events of 80+ Guests policy details below for revisions for weddings and large events with 80+ guests.

For Wedding Cakes and Dessert Orders for Large Events of 80+ Guests: Clients are provided the option of one 30-minute phone/virtual consultation and one additional revision OR two revisions without a consultation after the initial quote has been emailed, BUT before the official invoice has been emailed. Orders placed less than one month from the requested pick-up/delivery date, are not provided the opportunity of a consultation and any revisions due to the length of order preparation time.

The consultation with the owner and lead baker, Alicia Permenter provides the client the opportunity to discuss order and design details and/or make necessary revisions to the requested order. An additional $38.00 will be added to the total cost of the order each time the client requests the following: to increase/decrease the number of servings, to change an overall design and/or remove design elements, or to add additional dessert items to or remove dessert items from their order after the 30-minute consultation and one additional revision has been made, after the two requested revisions or after the official invoice has been emailed. Requests made less than one month from the preferred pick-up/delivery date will not be fulfilled due to the short length of order preparation time. This includes requests by phone, email, text or direct message via social media.

PICK UP & DELIVERY OPTIONS

Pick-up and delivery options are available. The cost for delivery starts at $25.00 for all orders. The delivery fee is based on mileage, travel time, and set-up (for weddings and large events). Sweet Elevations suggest that all tiered cakes be delivered by their team members instead of being picked up by the client. Sweet Elevations asks that the correct delivery address and clear instructions for delivery be provided within the order form.

After pick-up or delivery, the client assumes full responsibility for the condition of the order. Clients will be given instructions on how to carry, transport, and store their order upon pick up or delivery. Labels on the packaging for the desserts provide the same care instructions as well. Sweet Elevations' products are very fragile and damages can happen if not handled properly – such as cracks, smudges, melted frosting, etc. Sweet Elevations are not responsible for any damage to the order after it has been picked up or delivered. It is the responsibility of the client to take the necessary precautions (cool environment, shading, level ground, insect netting, wind protection, temperature control, etc.) to ensure that the order remains intact beyond the initial pick-up or delivery time. If the client elects a representative to accept and set up the order, the client assumes full liability and responsibility for the condition of the order once it leaves Sweet Elevations' possession.

CANCELLATIONS

Should the client decide to cancel an order, the client must email a cancellation letter to Sweet Elevations explaining the reason for cancellation. A credit on the account (not including the retainer fee and cost of any items purchased to fulfill the order) to use towards a future order up to 6 months from the date the cancellation letter was received, will be given. If the client fails to provide an email explaining the reason for cancellation, the credit will not be applied to the client's account.

When an order is placed, Sweet Elevations has to consider the cost of materials and/or ingredients. In most cases Sweet Elevations can not obtain refunds for items already purchased. In addition, Sweet Elevations has to consider any business that was lost because your order was secured on the calendar.

In the event that a wedding is cancelled, Sweet Elevations will honor the order for a later date if the date is available.

REFUNDS

Sweet Elevations will ask to confirm that the order is correct including the design, spelling, color shades, cake flavor, etc. during the initial ordering process and during the pick-up or delivery of the order. Once the client’s order has been picked up or delivered, it is considered "ACCEPTED". All orders are the responsibility of the client once the order leaves Sweet Elevations' possession.

If a client is not pleased with their order, they may qualify for a credit (not including the retainer fee and cost of any items purchased to fulfill the order) if brought to Sweet Elevations' attention within 24 hours of pick-up or delivery, and the quality (design, spelling, color, flavor, texture, etc.) is determined to not meet Sweet Elevations' standards. Quality determination is solely at the discretion of Sweet Elevations. Please understand that Sweet Elevations will not give credit for orders that have been completely eaten. A credit will not be considered for clients that do not contact Sweet Elevations within 24 hours of pick-up or delivery.

Refunds requested due to decorating style, writing, color shade, or general design will not be honored. Refunds requested due to flavor or texture after the product has been accepted, will also not be honored. Flavors and textures are subjective.

If a client does not pick up their order at their scheduled time, a refund will not be given.

CAKE DESIGN, FLAVOR AND COLOR DISCLAIMER

Sweet Elevations makes every effort to fulfill the client’s vision. However, Sweet Elevations does not duplicate and make no claims for exact duplication of the work done by other cake decorators. Inspirational photos are helpful with the development of the order design, but there may be cases when the actual cake may vary based on the designer’s creative interpretation or structural necessity of the cake, with the goal of maintaining the integrity of the overall look.

Sweet Elevations make every effort to properly represent the colors that the client finds on Sweet Elevations' website or from another online source. Colors viewed on a computer screen or printed will vary from one computer to another due to differences in monitor calibrations and printer configurations. They will never be an exact representation of actual colors.

FRESH FLOWERS

Sweet Elevations does offer the option of fresh flowers for cakes, cupcakes and other desserts. In choosing to have fresh flowers, you acknowledge that fresh flowers are not food products, and may be toxic or contain pesticide/herbicide residues, dirt, insects, and/or other contaminants. All floral pieces inserted directly into the dessert are cleaned and wrapped accordingly.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Sweet Elevations reserves the right to take and use photographs of the cake/dessert, before, during and after set up for use of marketing, advertising, and promotional purposes without compensation to the client. The photos taken may include partial images of the venue and décor. Sweet Elevations may also request photos from the client or the client's photographer for the same purpose, and will credit the photographer in our marketing (if the photographer agrees thereto).

ALLERGY AND DIETARY WARNING

Sweet Elevations’ desserts may contain or have come in contact with one or more of the following ingredients, any one of which can produce an allergic or other medical reaction:

Wheat and its derivatives
Gluten and its derivatives
Corn and its derivatives
Soybeans and their derivatives
Eggs (whole, whites, and/or yolks)
Milk and milk products/derivatives
Tree nuts and their derivatives
Peanuts and their derivatives
Tree nut oils and their derivatives
Peanut oil and their derivatives
Tree nut extracts
Natural dyes
Natural flavorings
Artificial dyes
Artificial flavorings
Sugar
Artificial sweeteners
Other allergens not listed

Sweet Elevations cannot be held responsible for allergic, medical reactions, or a resulting allergy or medical reaction related illness to the ingredients resulting from eating any of the desserts. Almost all of Sweet Elevations’ desserts are not suitable for consumption by vegans (unless labeled as such), vegetarians, nor those with religious dietary restrictions as they may can contain various animal products including but not limited to: butter, eggs, gelatin, honey, lard, meat byproducts and derivatives, milk, tallow, etc. It is the responsibility of the client to inform all individuals present of the presence of these ingredients which may be deemed as potentially hazardous to one’s health or as unsuitable for their personal consumption due to allergies or any dietary restrictions.

WEDDINGS
All wedding cake and dessert orders must be placed using our online order form for wedding cakes and desserts. All orders are filled in the order they are received, and based upon availability. To ensure sufficient amount of time to complete orders, orders must be placed at least one month from the date of pick-up or delivery. Rush orders may be accepted based on availability for an additional fee.

Inspirational photos are helpful, however Sweet Elevations does not duplicate and make no claims for exact duplication of the work done by other cake decorators. Once the order form has been submitted, Sweet Elevations will respond within 24 - 72 business days from the day the order form was submitted and the complexity of the wedding order design. Order forms are only reviewed and responses are only provided during normal business hours. If there are questions about the submitted form, we Sweet Elevations will contact you using the email address and/or phone number provided.

TASTING BOXES

All orders for tasting boxes must be placed using our online order form. All orders are filled in the order they are received, and based upon availability. To ensure sufficient amount of time to complete orders, tasting box orders must be placed at least 3-6 weeks from the preferred pick-up or delivery date. Rush orders for tasting boxes may be accepted based on availability. If tasting box orders are placed less than 2 weeks from the requested pick-up or delivery date, the tasting box order will be subject to an additional 20% rush order fee.

COTTAGE FOOD LAW

We (Sweet Elevations) are an insured home bakery that operates under the Maryland Cottage Food Law. This law requires the consumer be aware of the following statement: This product was produced in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensure or inspection, and that may also process common food allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, milk, fish and crustacean shellfish. This product is not intended for resale. You agree to notify guests of allergen risks and hold us harmless for any allergic reaction.

*RETAINER FEE must be paid in full to secure your requested date on our calendar and for our services (planning and preparation, and the purchasing of items needed to fulfill the order).