I have a request from a bride to make her wedding cake......I will of course decorate it. BUT, mother-in-law to be wants to make the gum paste flowers for on it. So, I feel as though I'm doing a half-job. I'm a little discouraged with this order too. Now, I'm going to charge her the same as if I were putting the flowers on it...just because I feel used! To me, it's like buying a perm from the grocery and taking it to a salon and asking them to put it in my hair! People are going to notice the flowers and not my cake! Guess I need to get over it right?
Any words of wisdom from fellow cake decorators?
Why doesnt she make like a centerpiece wit her flowers... and let you make your cake... That way she can arrange her flowers together and make an impact on the bride's table... If she gives you the flowers you know she is gonna be hypacritical about how you place them.... you might non chalantly mention a suggestion like... "oh you know what would be gorgeous if you designed the flowers into a centerpiece for the table.. That would really bring out the cake.." Just something tactful and to get her mind spinning on something like that!. and add how much ppl would comment on the beauty of a gumpaste floral centerpiece... Just a suggestion..... I wouldnt feel cofortable about doing that either and all it would do is add stress on you...
Your situation reminded me of a sign I once saw a sign at a muffler shop that said: You wouldn't bring your own eggs to a diner, so please do not bring your own parts to us!
Your situation reminded me of a sign I once saw a sign at a muffler shop that said: You wouldn't bring your own eggs to a diner, so please do not bring your own parts to us!
Love that quote! You should do what you feel is the right thing. This is your business. You make the rules.
I would feel the same way you do. It's not your creation if her flowers are on top.
M
Im not sure if this is just me....but I am not sure what is the big deal with having the mother make the piece for the cake. It is still going to be your cake and the people are still going to remember the cake....unless they decide to eat the flowers. Yes, you are creative and you need to please yourself but if you do this as a business you also need to please the client and what is a simple flower bouquet in the larger scheme of things? I dunno, it just seems like a silly thing to worry about. You get to shape the flowers at will and put them wherever you want AND if mom is ubber critical about your placing that is her beef and not yours.
Just my 2 cents.
Lots of people make their own toppers or accessories for cakes, it's their way of adding a 'personal' touch. What it comes down to is what the cakes actually taste like, and that is all down to you. You can have the most gorgeous cake in the world however it's the taste that people will remember.
So relax, let the MIL do her thing and you do most important part.
Does the mom do a good job with gumpaste? If so, I don't see the difference in this and, say, adding fresh or silk flowers that someone else has arranged. Now...if she does sloppy work, I'd make darn SURE everyone knew the cake flowers were a "special treat" done by the mom.
It always makes me so happy to hear people say things like "I usually don't LIKE wedding cake, but..." or "That is the BEST-tasting wedding cake I've ever had." Make that your goal and let the mom bask in the glow of compliments on her flowers, and everyone will share in the good feelings.
Maybe it's just the mother in law's way of adding something special for her daughter in law. She may be doing it out of love - but doesn't have time to make the whole cake. I don't know the situation, and I can totally understand your feelings - I'm pretty sensitive about my cakes too - they are creations, babies, and I wouldn't like to have someone else get the glory for it. But maybe if you look for the positive, it may make the negative sting a little less. Yikes, hope it works out for you!!!
While I agree that it's not a big deal for someone to supply a topper, this seems to me to be a little different. Gumpaste flowers are part of the artistic part of the cake, and you are the business person contracted to make the cake. What someone else does with the flowers will have a direct effect on any future business you might generate from this wedding. If her flowers are terrible, instead of "wow, that cake tasted wonderful," you might get, "gee, the cake was good, it's too bad it was decorated so unprofessionally--my mother-in-law could've done better!" LOL
Seriously though, I'd feel as awkward as you do. Not sure how I'd handle that one.
Good luck!!
I have a request from a bride to make her wedding cake......I will of course decorate it. BUT, mother-in-law to be wants to make the gum paste flowers for on it. So, I feel as though I'm doing a half-job. I'm a little discouraged with this order too. Now, I'm going to charge her the same as if I were putting the flowers on it...just because I feel used! To me, it's like buying a perm from the grocery and taking it to a salon and asking them to put it in my hair! People are going to notice the flowers and not my cake! Guess I need to get over it right?
Any words of wisdom from fellow cake decorators?
If it's an arrangement that you find upsetting, why take the job?
If you want to make the entire thing simply be upfront with the bride. Let her know that you do not make wedding cakes and decorate with gumpaste flowers made by other people and you prefer to do everything that's related to the cake. She will either accept that and give you the job or she will find someone else.
On the other hand, you can honor her request but in the back of you mind be resentful about the situation.
So the question becomes, which scenario would you feel best with?
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