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MANILA (AFP) - A 10-year legal fight over a "tawdry" wedding cake has ended after a couple lost their claim for damages for the humiliation and sleepless nights they said it caused them.

An appeal court ruling made public Tuesday rejected a claim seeking P50,000 pesos ($1,053) in moral and other damages from a Manila pastry shop.

Edgardo Abenina and his wife Stephanie filed suit shortly after their June 21, 1997 wedding reception at a Manila hotel, alleging the five-tiered orange chiffon fondant cake did not meet specifications.

They alleged it leaned to one side, had a "tawdry-orange" color and caused them embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, serious anxiety and sleepless nights.

However the court threw out the case, agreeing with a lower court that the pastry shop had had no intention to cause distress.

The court noted that the wedding pictures showed the pastry in good order, and the bride and groom smiled while cutting it. It was also partly eaten.

The shop was, however, ordered to reimburse the couple the full P4,775 pesos cost of the cake.