It seems to be fairly common practice in my area to offer a complimentary top tier with a wedding cake to freeze. Or if they want to include it in the servings, to offer a free duplicate on the first anniversary. I now have a bride asking for the "cutting" cake at the top of the cupcake tower to be complimentary. This is different as it is obviously not to be frozen, and cupcakes are much cheaper around here that wedding cake slices (about 1/2 price). Do you offer the cake topper on cupcake tower for free? Do you offer a complimentary anniversary tier with cupcakes?

Thanks for any advice,
Natalie

I offer the cutting cake at a slightly reduced rate, but not free. And it's a plain bcream iced cake. Decorating it costs extra.

If you're going to offer these things as complimentary, you should build the cost of them into your total price...so nothing is really complimentary, they just think it is. I'd bet most bakers do it that way.

Absolutely build it into your cost. Also, I would set parameters on the decorating (plain iced two later 6" cake with a simple border). If they want more decorating, they should pay a charge.

Thanks all. I got myself into this pickle because I already agreed to a price per cupcake (to meet that of a local respected store-front bakery) that doesn't really cover a "free" top tier. I never agreed to make it complimentary, so I'll just have to stick to the price and hope for the best. Live and learn...

I do a lot of cupcakes weddings that have a 6" cake used as the "cutting cake" or anniversary cake. I charge them my normal prices because the cake is always decorated to match the cupcakes. No one is going to buy a plain cake to sit on top of the cupcake stand. That would look stupid.

Now, if she wants a plain cake boxed and put in the back (not decorated, strickly for anniversary purposes only) then I would throw it in (assuming my usual practice was to offer a free anniversary cake). I would have about $8 and 20 minutes in the cake - big deal.

The only thing we offer complimentary is the smash cake for a first birthday! (4' round BC)Everything is added into the cost whether they cut it, keep it, or serve it!

I do cute smash cakes that take over an hour, so I don't offer them for free. I love my smash cakes! lol

I don't offer anything for free, except I will let people borrow my plateaus if they give me a deposit check and order their wedding cake from me. I am thinking of renting them out, but the other cake place in the area lets people borrow. ....but their prices are higher than I want to charge, so I guess it is built in. (like their free top tiers, EVERYTIME! Even if it is an 8" sq.) I am thinking of nickel and diming people, and only charge them for what they want. That way I don't have to pad prices in other areas....