Okay, my dilemma is that I am doing a small wedding cake for 80. Probably 3 tiers which will be placed on a floating tier stand which I will not be providing or setting up. The cakes will be picked up from me and so really, its no different than an order for 3 party cakes.

The cake design is very simple, buttercream with some gumpaste leaves which I would charge extra for. I always hear that wedding cakes are priced by the slice but in this case, should I just charge for 3 party cakes instead? (This is my first wedding cake which I agreed to since it is very simple and smaller scale) -- THanks!!!!

$2/slice X 80 = $160

3 party cakes @ $50/each = $150

Thanks but I should have been more specific I guess. Here's the difference...

$2/slice=$160 total

or....if I price them as individual party cakes...

$25 8" tier + $50 12" tier + $18 6" tier= $93 total (not including gumpaste work)---


i know which price i like better! but i feel a little torn since its a simple cake, she's doing all the legwork and providing stand and everything.

your party cake prices seem low.

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split the difference? $130

By the slice.

always by the slice if she comes back to you and states its to high then you have leg room to offer her a break. but if you do not the next wedding cake could be here friend who wants more than basic for the same price as your party cakes always quote high!

No matter what, I always charge per serving costs for wedding cakes. My reasoning is that I think you work extra hard to make wedding cakes look absolutely perfect, so they should cost more. Not that I don't spend time making party cakes look nice, but there's something extra special about a wedding cake.

I'd still charge $160 for a buttercream wedding cake for 80, plus extra for the leaves. A party cake (with min. 2x2in size servings) for 80 would be $180 from me, don't undervalue yourself! The brownie wedding tier cake I just did (in my gallery), was for 120, plus a 6in top cake for the bride and groom, and I charged $245 for that. Don't underestimate how much work a cake will be - that cake & brownies took me nearly 2 full days of work, and the ingredients were not cheap (2.5kg bittersweet chocolate, nearly 3 kgs butter etc etc), then you are still going to be using your utilities to make your cake.

Charge what you normally would for a wedding cake by the slice. Just my 2cts!

i agree...charge by the slice.

by the slice /I charge for party size if it is only 1 cake but you have 3. I just took an order for 75 sevings in 3 tiers and charged by the slice $3.00 per

Tomay is right.... you might give one person "a break" in price, but she's going to tell all of her friends what a great deal she got and then you have folks calling you with ".....but you gave HER a price of blah blah blah." Weddings....by the slice....always.

Price as though she'll tell all of her friends and they'll place an identical order. How much do you want to do the cake for each time after this?

And, as others said, price "high' or per slice and you'll have room to come down if you want to.

I also charge by the slice for any wedding cake. My prices start at $1.75 per serving for a plain, bc iced cake, and go up from there. With gumpaste, royal iced flowers, etc., I charge $2.50 per serving. Fondant is $3.50 per serving. No matter how simple the design may be, you need to consider your baking/decorating time, your electricity, supply costs, and the labor involved. I'm in no way shape or fashion saying to OVER charge, but what we do is much more personal and involved than just a run-of-the-mill grocery store bakery cake. Good luck!

Amy

I've done weddings as small as 50 servings, and I charge by the slice. I think it's "expected" to charge by the slice on wedding cakes.

But....you're the one doing this, you can charge however you want.


Good Luck!

I am doing a wedding for 30 people - they want 3 tiers. I am charging $200 (they have gumpaste flowers too)

I've got this dilemma too but for an even smaller cake! They will be having about 8 people at the wedding - it's kinda last minute b/c the groom's tour of duty in Iraq has been extended and he'll miss his actual wedding date that they had planned - so they're just getting close family together and getting married.... ANYWAY.... I want to do this design.... I've tried contacting the poster, but haven't gotten anything back from them.... How much would you all charge for this cake??

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=favpics&cat=0&pos=-40302


Also I 'm doing a layer of choc. & a layer of vanilla - any "time tested" recipes would be greatly appreciated! Oh and i"m using cookies & cream filling from the whimsical bakehouse book (never done it before). Also if anyone has transporting advice - yeah this is my first wedding cake and although it's tiny, it's still a wedding cake and I want to do a good job....

Thanks! Hope I'm not hogging the thread w/ these questions!

Oops one more question - would you do an 8 in & 6 in like in the photo, or a 10 in & 8 in? (remember about 8 people at the wedding)

PerryStCakes.... $200!.....wow! I'm moving to your part of the country!

I would charge by the slice. It does not matter how small or how simple. I agree if you give her a bargain price, you can bet she will tell someone, and that someone may be your next customer. Be steadfast, if she balks at the price, conviently remind her that you use only quality ingredients and your cakes are fresh baked, your icings are made from scratch, and you take pride in presenting a custom cake. She can be assured that she will have a nice cake.

Imartsy,

The sizes you make would depend on if bride wanted to save the top tier. Also, if you're using cookies&cream filling doesn't that have to be refrigerated? Only asking cause you didn't mention if you're doing buttercream or a fondant covering so I just wanted to remind that fondant shouldn't be refrigerated. Charge by the slice and by the amount of servings you are making. Hope this helps.