Do you charge more per serving for a wedding cake compared to a typical birthday cake? I'm assuming yes, beacuse wedding cakes are more involved & have more cost in structural purposes. Just wondering what others do.
Also, what % of a wedding order should I ask for a deposit?
Thanks for any help!!

I do tend to charge more, because of the time and the structure. I charge at least $2.50 per serving, plus $35 for delivery/setup, plus $50 if i need to stay and serve. I ask for half the cost of the cake 30 days prior to the event and the other half 7 days prior to the event. $50 non-refundable fee if cancelled within 7 days, because i have probably started making purchases and definitely tied up my schedule a week before the wedding. Not to mention the thought and planning i've already put into the cake. For party cakes, i usually do $1-1.50 per serving depending on design.

Wedding cakes are more work?

A birthday mom will tie up more of my time on a $75 cake than a bride will on a $400 cake.

A 3 tier cake for a birthday, will all kinds of ornate design is NOT less work than a 3 tier cake for a wedding that is just iced with ribbon wrapped around the base.

When I buy my eggs, if I tell my supplier I'm using htem for a birthday cake, and not a wedding cake, it's amazing but he DOESN'T give me a discount on them.

When I run the electricity for the oven, the meter doesnt run slower because it's a birthday cake in the oven and not a wedding cake.

Same ingredient costs, same amount of time to bake and ice it, same value of talent to decorate it.

I can't see where calling it a birthday cake saves me any money at all. Ergo, why should it be cheaper when I push it across the counter?

Same cake .... same work .... same price.

Wow, thanks for the quick advice!

"Same ingredient costs, same amount of time to bake and ice it, same value of talent to decorate it."

ditto


same price

Same work, same price

I guess I assumed a single layer sheet cake when I heard the term "party cake". i should say i would charge more for a tiered cake with structural support than i would for a single layer sheet cake.

All cakes are priced the same. The difference is that I charge an Equipment Fee for tiered cakes. Delivery is $50 minimum and I wouldn't stay and cut the cake for any amount of $$. That's chillin' at home with the feet up time. However, someone upthread has waaaaay too lax payment policies. Around these parts, it can take 3 weeks for a check to clear my bnk and the customer's bank. Therefore, 25% down, non-refundable for ANY reason, and final payment 3 weeks in advance.

I charge all my cakes per serving depending on how much work involved no matter what occasion its for.

It doesn't matter if its stacked, pillared, carved, or single layer...I price pretty much for the detail involved in the cake.

Party cakes are more PIA than wedding cakes.... but you can get more for a wedding cake, the money is in the budget for it. Sounds harsh, but it's true. That said, tiered cakes are tiered cakes @ the same price per serving regardless of event. Single cakes are a lesser price point, but a bunch of singles (for use as satellite cakes) is the same as tiered.

I price the same, I just have party cakes pricing starting at a lower scale, for example for 20 people versus 100. I'm more strict with my time, it doesn't take several meetings to plan a party cake unless its on the scale of a wedding. Weddings are large productions and sometimes you have to coordinate with a lot of vendors.

cakeforte, I have one meeting with my brides and I've never had a need to coordinate with any other vendor. The only thing I do is if I'm going into a venue I've never been before, I'll call the day before to tell them what time I will be there.

Yeah I was wondering about that (the large productions and vendors???)...to me, a cake is a cake....the design totally depends on the customer, and so does the price. I've done simple weddings and fancy first birthdays...and each gets charged accordingly.