A while back I placed an ad offering my free services to people to expand my portfolio. I am not selling cakes yet and dont want to until i feel confident with my portfolio. I am charging for materials. Well today I received a request for a July wedding cake. I suggested that we meet at a coffee shop to see if we click so i can show her my portfolio and look over pics of ideas. Now, how would u go about handling this? What would you take with you to meet this person? Should i print out cake ideas in color and create a little album of that too or would books be fine? Magazines? I am weary of using "how to" books because this doesnt seem very professional. What kinds of questions should I be prepared to ask and answer? If I decide to go forward should I get a contract that says I will be reinbursed for all materials bought even if she changes her mind? Thoughts appreciated!

HI There!
I hold my wedding tasting/meetings in my home. I am sure to have a quiet place to talk and get to know each other.

First of all, you should always have any photos that you have done, so that she can see some of your work if possible. I also have all of the wilton wedding magazines and other from Europe and Austaila.

You will want to tell her to bring any photos of cakes that she is interested in. If she has not picked anything yet, then you must get busy with the questions to try and figure our her like and dislikes. Also, it would be very important to get some information on the reception location. Does it have high ceilings? How may people will there be, what kind of lighting etc.

The ceiling matters because you may wan to offer a tiered cake rather than a stacked or visa versa.

Just a few thoughts. please e-mail me and let me know if I can help you at all.

Thanks and good luck!

Hello hello. Awww thanks so much. The reason I want to hold a meeting outside of my home first is because I got this business by placing an ad on craigslist. This is sort of a popular board in the US. Because I am offering my services for free, I want to see if we click. After our first meeting, I will hold a tasting at my home for her. Because I am just starting off I do not have many magazines so dunno what to do about that....


I appreciate your comments!


-S

I got married last year and met with the decorator at a coffee shop. She was a friend of a friend (who was doing my flowers) who had done this for 20 years. She brought her portfolio, plus I had already met with a bakery, so I thought I had an idea of what I wanted. (I had not gotten into my cake hobby at this point). I had a lot of questions re fondant vs. buttercream vs. whipped cream and cream cheese frosting, and types of fillings; time for set-up, return of plates, tulle, etc. I never had a tasting sample; my daughter vouched for the quality. No contract, either, but that's because we had a mutual friend, but this may not have been in her best interest. I gave her a deposit and we paid the balance on the wedding day, but I would suggest you get paid in full two weeks before the wedding. She did a great job! Do you know any florists/caterers who could recommend you to others? This might me a good "in" for future business. Post your cake when you're done!

Oh, one more thing: I had a lot of questions re fresh flowers vs. gumpaste and royal icing. Also, she was kind enough to provide a plastic cake box for the anniversary cake. I wrapped the box twice in plastic wrap, twice in foil, then double-wrapped it in plastic grocery bags! It tasted great a year later!

I also hold my cake tastings in a coffee shop. I bake a 5" round each of vanilla white and chocolate cake and box them in seperate boxes. I arrive early to place a slice of each on their own plastic dessert plates w/ fork, knife, & napkin. I carry these utensils in a ziplock freezer bag. I have a great business binder which has plenty of room for my Wilton Wedding Books, Modern Bride Magazines, pricing & serving information, event calender, address organizer, my contracts, portfolio pictures, you name it. This is also where I put the ziplock bag of utensils/plates so that I'm only walking in with two cake boxes and a binder (my sister also comes to help as she and I do business together).

By the time the bride arrives, her place is set with two plates to taste as well as the rest of the sample boxed to take home with her (compelete with silver ribbon). She's, of course, delighted to see this and then I volunteer to buy her a drink. I've only done this a few of these, but the bride has always remarked on what a great impression we made and ordered right then.

Oh, I forgot! Wow I'm writing a lot, sorry! The deposit is $50.00 to hold the date (applied toward the final balance) and I make copies of the contract/cake sketch then mail them their copy. Also, get your money two weeks before the wedding or no cake. Ok...I think that's it...

Susecita, please don't be discouraged. Keep going. Remember the wedding is not until July and you have lots of time to practice the cake. Please post a picture when you are done so we can see your handiwork!

Thanks guys for the help! I guess that since Im not charging for my services, I can charge a $20 dollars fee or something that I can put towards the materials I buy. Being a lawyer's attorney I like to have everything on paper ;op
I truly appreciate your suggestions. I am humbled to be part of this community.

-S

I really like the idea of baking the 5 in. and sending it on the way. Who knows the bride could have a best friend who is also getting married around the same time and there is another possible business oppourtuiny. My best friend and I got married 2 months apart and we got all the same people..lol....it was a blast....

All really great suggestions! I would also bring:

Wedding cake contract - if you have one
calculator
cutting guide that lists anticipated servings per cake (so you know what they want will feed how many)
blank paper or drawing tablet
colored pencils or crayons (for sketching in case the bride doesn't have a photo)

DelightsByE


I like your tip that's good info to have, I would have never thought to have those things handy I have been ask to make a wedding cake for Sept. it's a freind of a friend and I though to myself what should I have on hand for this meeting and you just answered my question. Thanks
Molly2

I can't get over that the coffee shop wouldn't mind you bringing food in for a tasting . . . lol

All great ideas!! I was just wondering about the coffee shop. They don't mind that you bring in cake and serve to a possible client? Did you ask permission or how does that work? Just wondering! I love the idea of meeting on neutral ground.

~Luraleigh~

I dont know much about this except how I would feel if I were the bride.

Personally, in cases like this, I would not know what questions to ask. If the -baker set down with an "Ok, what do you want to know" attitude, I would probably jsut walk out, I have done this in furniture stores many times. Have in your head what order this meeting is going to follow, and stick to it. As a bride she is faced with so many choices right now, she will be relieved to have someone who will make it as easy as possiable on her.
huggs
Val

I suggest no "over-doing it" on the extra pictures. Try to get a sense of what she wants and find a few on the internet/magzines that you feel comfortable with. If you have too many choices you will blow her mind and the meeting will take forever!

Who pays for coffee??

Good point shelain22 -

From the first minute or so of this meeting you're going to be able to tell whether this bride needs direction, or needs to DO the directing. You need to be prepared for either scenario. I've faced both. It helps to make sure you have everything at your fingertips to answer any question that gets thrown at you.

It helps also to bring along a few bridal magazines that have a lot of cakes in them. I've found that more often than not, a bride who says she doesn't know what she's looking for, just hasn't found it yet. Through photos or conversation, odds are she's going to GET that idea - QUICK. And suddenly she knows EXACTLY what she wants (and if this gets taken a step too far, well then you've got a bona fide Bridezilla on your hands... )