I posted this in a different category, but I wanted to make sure to post in this one also, so if anyone could help it would be great! I have an inquiry for an entire dummy cake decorated for a wedding. What do you guys usually charge for a cake dummy with regular buttercream decorations? The sizes are 6, 8, 10, and 12. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.....
TIA
Thea
The only thing missing when you decorate the dummy is the baking of the cake. All the materials, skills, and time are otherwise the same. Plus, you have to add the cost of the dummies themselves.
If you normally charge $2.00 a serving for cake, you probably shouldn't charge less than $1.50 for fake cake. The exception might be, if you get to keep the dummy after the wedding. You could use it for a show piece.
What is the bride sticking the knife into!!!!! Good luck.
Whadda wanna bet it's sheet cakes from WallyWorld and she thinks the "fake" cake will save her a ton!!
After all, it's only frosting & styrofoam. 
I had this same question and it really makes me wonder what the point of the fake cake is? Unless the bride is going to rent one out from the 'Fake Cake Rental Co." 
, then what is the darn point?
Unless the bride is going to rent one out from the 'Fake Cake Rental Co."
Eureka! Wouldnt that be great? Specializing only in dummies? I need to get on that train!
Yeah, I know.....after I wrote that, I went hmmmm. 
A new business idea? Make variety of different styled dummies to rent out and let them get their cheapie cake somewhere else! (or sheet cakes ) but then I thought, how to keep them dustfree? How much to charge? Deposit? What if they damaged one?
Lord, I will try just about anything to potentially make some income!
Yeah, I know.....after I wrote that, I went hmmmm.
A new business idea? Make variety of different styled dummies to rent out and let them get their cheapie cake somewhere else! (or sheet cakes ) but then I thought, how to keep them dustfree? How much to charge? Deposit? What if they damaged one?Lord, I will try just about anything to potentially make some income!
When there is a will, there is a way.
If you frost it, they will come!
OK...I beat you all out on that idea ....here is the proof....look at the last entry on this thread!
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-415334-.html#415334
OK...I beat you all out on that idea
....here is the proof....look at the last entry on this thread!http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-415334-.html#415334
yep! You sure did! Great idea..... I probably read that thread and then thought of it 
. My active sub-concious
So how would you store them so they didn't get all dusty? What would you charge, do you think? I know you could store them in clear bags and I would prbably charge anywhere from $50 - $100 but I am small potatoes compared to you.
I waver between thinking it's tacky to brilliant....not the idea, mind you......the idea is awesome. But we are all here bit$%ing about Wallyworld and Costco cakes and to do this is almost in support of them, ya' know? But then again, I don't do sheet cakes but offer a custom decorated Costco 1/2 sheet for $40 so I guess I am doing it all ready.
To be honest, I just don't care what people think....there are brides out there who would love the idea of getting their beautiful "display" cake for the cost of the sheet cakes + niminal rental fee, etc.... and why shouldn't we be able to provide said service and make a profit ourselves?
I guess I am too realistic to be idealistic and dismiss it as beneath me.....
Well, I want to thank you again for all the information. I spoke with the bride and she does want th 6" to be real so she can cut into it for pictures. No anniversary cake. Then she is doing the 8,10, and 12" as dummy cakes. For real cake she wanted sheet cakes. Believe it or not, she is willing to pay more for the sheet and dummy cakes then for just the real wedding cake. She wants to make sure that the pieces are all cut the same size and that with a sheet cake, she knows that the caterer will cut them evenly. With a round, she is unsure. So, what ever makes her happy. So many things go on in brides minds, amazing!
And hey, dummy cakes are a good idea for renting, as long as you are not in my neighborhood. Plastic bags would work just fine for keeping the dummies dust free if you used royal icing. Otherwise LARGE cake boxes. I would have a hard time renting dummy cakes because I try real hard to make sure the bride gets EXACTLY what she wants for decoration. That would be a ton of dummy cakes needed. Just my thoughts....
that sure is an interesting idea!
You know, when I made my friend's cake for her wedding I was kind of astonished how "ugly" the whole cutting the tiered cake was. I mean, you have this beautiful cake, but you have cardboard between layers and wooden dowels punched through it and have to disassemble the layers to cut them and so on. Just seems so impractical and silly, really.
I can totally see someone wanting the look of a pretty and huge cake for pictures and the"ceremony" part of cutting the first piece and then just leaving the rest of the pretty cake up for viewing in the reception (as it is a centerpiece, right? How many centerpieces do you demolish during an event?) and then taking out yummy cakes that are much more practical to cut and serve for the "real deal".
I think if I were a bride I would still want the yummy cake (and not a cheap costco cake), but the pracicality of a sheet cake would appeal to me too.
Question though - wouldn't the icing chip and crack over time? the display wedding cake in our grocery store, besides being tacky, is falling apart!
melissa
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