So I just got a call from a family friend. She wants me to make her wedding cake in January...sure I can do that. It'll be my first, but I have time to practice and the cake is simple with fresh flowers - no biggie! She then proceeds to tell me she has a new job at a wedding venue in Seguin, TX. Exciting! Her new job: wedding coordinator. This is where it gets good! She wants me to be the cake decorator for the venue. They just opened and she thinks my cakes are wonderful and brides would love them (they're okay, but not wedding-worthy!). I tell her I'm a hobbyist and there is no way for me to be a legal homebaker and I don't have the means to build a separate kitchen and Texas sucks. She tells me that the venue has it's own huge fully equipped commercial kitchen and she's going to talk to the owner about letting me rent it to do my cakes!

I don't even know what to say or do or think. I'm barely breathing here! This would be a great opportunity but I don't think that I'm good enough to do wedding cakes. I'm also registering next week for Spring classes. And the stress! OMG, the stress! After reading all y'alls horror stories, I'm scared to death to make a wedding cake! I need some ice cream.

Congratulations. Itâs a wonderful opportunity. Maybe you could have an agreement to do only one or two cakes a week.

That's wonderful and I've looked at your photos and I'm sure you won't have a problem. Beautiful cakes.

congrats!!! Youll do great, youve gotten a break most of us hobby bakers dream about!

Congrats!!!!

Thanks guys! I'm still in shock today. If the owner agrees to rent out the kitchen to me, I still have soooo much to do to get legal! I'm still not sure I want to handle bridezillas though.

glendaleAZ, 1-2 cakes a week is exactly what I had in mind...at least to start off with.

Pinch, Pinch!!! Looks like you're not dreaming!! What a great opportunity! You'll do great! Practice makes perfect!

Its like your signature says...~I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.~ Well girl he has given you the opportunity so take it and be grateful. Good Luck!!

By the way I am so jealous!!!

I think this would be a great opportunity. Not only do you not have to transport your cakes, the venue probably only has a couple weddings each weekend anyway. You could also do the big cakes for the parties. Plus what's better than having your own kitchen, with all of your supplies, etc. right there close by, just in case there was a problem. You'd be great. If Seguin were closer I'd tell you it was too hard and you should let me take the position instead lol.

You'll do great. Good luck and congratulations. We should all have friends like this.

Amy, remember when I said I hoped your kindness would come back to you....well there you go! That is truely a blessing!!! You have been given a wondeful opportunity! If you feel its a bit overwhelming maybe you could talk to them about a trial period, maybe you could get to the point where this is your full time!! Good Luck and God Bless!

Amy,

Keep us posted.

Tammy

I will!

Congratulations. What a huge OPPORTUNITY! I wish something like this would land in my lap! Totally cool for you and I wish you all the best. Keeping my fingers crossed it works out.

Oh wow, what an opportunity to be blessed and to bless others with your gifted hands! Read that statement of yours again, and believe it.... God will not give you more than you can handle!!!!! He doesn't call you to be equipped, but He equips those He calls... even in cake business.... best wishes!

Hold yourself accountable to your signature line... and remember acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your paths. I just finished looking at your pictures and you do wonderful work.. Blessings

Looked at your cake photos and believe me you have nothing to worry about you are good. You will make beautiful wedding cakes. Cong. and good luck.

Well I finally heard back! The owner has agreed to let me use the kitchen. I'm going to meet with my friend after Jan. 10th (her wedding date) to discuss details. So I guess I really do need to get licensed now! I hope it all works out. ::crossing fingers::

You'll do just fine! I'm jealous...LOL! I am up on Canyon Lake. I draw the line at New Braunfels however! But I have been trying to get a cake club going up here. I don't mind driving to NB...How about you...do you live in Seguin?

Wow, Amy - you lucky dog! What an amazing opportunity. You'll do great. Have faith in yourself and just take everything one step at a time.

Nope, I live in San Antonio, near Bulverde. I'm not sure of all the specifics, but I believe this venue caters, but doesn't do cakes. I would be the main cake decorator for the venue, but of course the brides could go elsewhere. At least that's how I think this is going to work. I'm a little nervous though since I have two babies and I'm going back to school, so we're really going to have to discuss all details before I fully commit. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew and end up doing badly in school or with the cakes.

Congratulations

What a great Opportunity,

Yes I am very Jealous.

This is the opportunity I am waiting for.

I too live in a town where it is very hard to become a Homebaker.

Congrats, Again and do your best God is always there for you

You sure have a *big* decision to make since you have those 2 little ones *&* school! Most of use would super jump at the chance you are being given........but certainly we can understand if it doesn't work you at this time.
~I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.

This quote of yours doesn't always mean everything that comes down the pike is from God &/or for you to handle.........sometimes it means we need to step back & pray & wait for God to answer yes or no.

Then you live really close (well as close as one can up here in the country...LOL) It is great when you can get a venue to back you up! Orders tend to book more easily. I go as far as 1604 & 281 area for my cakes where SA is concerned, All of Bulverde, Spring Branch, Canyon Lake, Fischer, Blanco and New Braunfels, I'll even go to San Marcos and if the order is large enough to Kyle/Buda. But I just have an issue with Seguin...my grandmother is buried in that Guadelupe Cemetary right there on 46. So I really don't like going through Seguin, it is way too sad for me, eventhough it has been 17 years since her death. It just is hard

cakesdivine, I sure know what you mean. I recently moved about 2 miles away from a house my friend died in. It's been 4 or 5 years but it's still bad just to see the house. I will go out of my way to avoid the area but sometimes it's impossible.

Amy, that's my dream, now give it back!! I'm in Az, in the valley. I have family further north in Az (Show Low) that we don't see to often. When I was up in July for a reunion I found out my aunt was the Event Coordinator at the local golf course. She gets to help plan all the parties, including WEDDINGS. It made me dream that if I lived up there, or she lived down here, she could get me jobs. Sigh.

I think others had the right idea saying just take a few cakes at a time. Once you're really into your school schedule, you can see if you can juggle it all. I'm sure the venue was doing something before you came along, so it's not like you'll be in a lurch if it doesn't work out and you give it up. Just don't take on more orders than you can handle, and learn it after the fact (oh wait, that's me).

Good luck!!!

Oh my goodness Amy, I am so excited for you! If anyone deserves this type of a break it is you. Your friend (in the truest sense) obviously sees what I saw in you. Your work is wonderful and you have the best attitude about your work and of the people around you. I am so very, very happy for you. You will do great!

Thanks everyone! I'm really excited! Also a little hesitant, but only because school is my main focus at this point. I will be graduating from junior college this summer and transferring to a university in the fall. I'm also not in a great place financially. We'll see though. Maybe it won't cost much up front and I will just have a few orders!

This is actually a brand new venue, so yeah... I'm hoping the fact that it's new will mean less orders at first.

Anyway, I'm going to pray and see what happens.

Amy,

Rather than have a set rental rate for the month or hour, until cakes are consistantly coming each week, maybe give them a percentage of your profit (not your gross) until both businesses start bringing in the biz. Sort of you scratch my back I'll scratch yours thing.

I am blessed that the Church I work for during the day has a commercial kitchen - 3 large ovens, 2 freezers one is sub 0, 2 refrigerators, commercial dishwasher and 3 sink, huge island counterspace and then tons of surrounding counterspace...The pastor (my boss) told me to use the kitchen anytime I want no charge...so that's what I do until I can get my shop built.

Congrats Amy! I'm so happy for you. This really is the boost you needed since you've been through so much. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Ok - the way this all happened, totally divine! Glad you're going for it. The adrenaline from being nervous will just give your cakes an extra edge lol!

I found a really great book that had a section that gave really good pointers about dealing with brides and taking orders etc. It's called Start a Cake decorating Business Today. I think it's by Paula Spencer.

Congrats!