I first took cake-decorating classes in March, finished all three Wilton courses by May, and have been going to town on my cakes ever since. At this point, I've taken and filled probably 50 orders or so. I've not had mishaps, everyone is THRILLED with my cakes, and I'm going strong.

So, recently, I ran into a wedding coordinator who I know whose talent (as a cake decorator) I respect greatly. She is doing a wedding and after some discussion, it was decided that she and the bride wanted me to do the cake. I was THRILLED! She asked me (via email) to work up my price and get it to her.

I did a lot of price-checking in my area. I found prices ranging from $2.25 to $4.50 per serving (I guess Walmart does $1.50 per serving -- but I heard that second-hand). I quoted $2.00 per serving...I know I can do great work, but I am still new and only have done one wedding cake so far.

I got an email back that said she was looking for someone to do the cake for cost, but not "dismissing" me altogether. I was taken aback a bit. I don't remember her telling me this ever (but I can't say that she didn't -- I have shortterm memory problems). I will be taking a vacation day from my "real" job which is valued at about $155.00 based on my salary in order to do this cake. I simply cannot justify a $155.00 vacation day for a cake with no "profit."

I want to do this -- to work with this coordinator, to get more experience, and to create a beautiful cake (oh, it is a 5-tier cake for 300 people). I am willing to negotiate on price, but how do I avoid being a fool and doing it for too little? I don't want the bride to tell people that I do cakes for only $X.XX. Has anyone else experienced this? Can you help me?

Stand your ground. You may not get the job, but you'll respect yourself more and you may gain her respect in the the long run.

Is she being the wedding coordinator "at cost"? Not likely. If she wants a cake done at cost, maybe she should do it herself.

Just my 2 cents.

I don't think this coordinator is playing fair with you. I think she wants the cake at cost to then resell it to her bride.

how unfair is this? As a cake decorator herself she should KNOW better!

I would pass on this, it sounds too shady to be good for you.

And as a good coordinator, she is supposed to get YOU and the BRIDE together and YOU TWO hash out your price.

As one of her vendors you then are supposed to kick back a percentage, so the more you can charge the bigger her cut....

so..in my opinion...something is shady here....

ummm, something sounds terribly wrong here. I would take the above advice given.

I guess I would explain the circumstances to the coordinator. I definitely wouldn't do it for cost. I would tell her you've checked area pricing and find that your price quote gives her the bargain she is looking for and you the opportunity to work with her. Please remember that wedding coordinators are there to help the bride get the best deal. She is looking out for the bride and her professional reputation, not you. Sometimes you have to pass on some situations and personally I think this is one of them. Her statement that she isn't dismissing you entirely is laughable as I don't know too many people who would do a cake for cost. It isn't cost effective for you either. Have you talked to the bride directly? I would stand my ground and at a minimum charge the $2.00 per slice for a basic buttercream iced with simple decorations. If she questions your reasoning ask her if she works for free and if so how does she pay her bills. Expect to be treated like a professional and you will be. You are setting a precedent and if you become known as someone who can be talked down in price it will be hard to charge the amount that you are really worth with subsequent customers.

I agree with Risque...something seems not right here. I mean the wedding is for 300 people plus a wedding coordinator was hired and then they want a cake for cost?! Suddenly they ran out of money for the cake or what? I know that some caterers may add more to the price of the cake but usually only after the cake decorator had set the price. That way the cake decorator will have her profit and the caterers will have their piece too. Please do not do this cake for cost. Your cakes are really nice and in no way you are a newbie in this. YOu should somehow make some money out of this even if it just covers the vacation day that you will take. If you let her do this to you now she might do this again in the future.

I agree with everyone else. Don't do the cake at cost. It doesn't make sense. You can get wedding cake experience some other way--like by doing one for someone who will pay you for your work!

Set your price, be firm on it, and if this lady passes on it, maybe it's a good thing,

You absolutely should not charge less than $2/serving. In fact, only charge that little if it's a very simple design.

Good luck to you!

Thanks everyone, for your advice.

It is a fairly simple cake -- buttercream icing with a couple of rows of buttercream "beads" on each tier and a fondant plaque with the couple's initials on one tier. I'm very confident in my ability to do it.

I've not yet met and/or talked with the bride. Apparently, the bride is also a cake-decorator and wanted to do the cake herself originally, but the coordinator talked her out of doing it herself. Maybe they just want to cut costs on the cake (but I don't fully understand).

I have emailed the coordinator with some of my concerns. We'll see what happens.

Run fast! If you start by giving a deal you will regret this in the long run. As far as cost I only do that for brothers and sisters and a friend or two.

Being Cake decorators I am baffled that they would even consider asking you this??

DO NOT DO THE CAKE!

Simple it may be but don't let them run you down!

I would recommend hitting "reply" on her email, paste this photo into the body of the email, and then press "send".

Piece of cake -- that is hilarious.

OH my GOODNESS..POCAZ...THAT is the BEST response EVER.

WE should adopt that as our CC motto...

just the first part...whenever we get one of those EMAILS!

hahahaha..

oh I'm falling off my chair..what a great way to start my work day!

I have to say that I agree with everyone else. Stand your ground! I work as a photographer and once you set yourself up as doing something for cost or even for free, you've set yourself up to be taken advantage of forever. It's very hard to get yourself out of those situations. Once someone gets something at cost, they'll never want to pay more than cost. Trust me. It's amazing how easy it is for people to take advantage...especially friends. For some reason, they think "well, since we're friends, you should do this for me for free." I swear it's a syndrome...cheapskateitis.

I emailed her with my concerns, telling her I absolutely cannot do it for cost. I've not heard back yet, so we'll have to wait and see what happens. Thanks for the tips!

I just did my first wedding cake for "cost" this weekend.....and I don't recommend it! I literally was up for 36 hours working on these cakes and was feeling incredibly resentful because although they brought over all the ingredients,I had to bake 14 layers....it took me about 16 hours and I was out money considering all the last minute ingredients that you need, my time, electricity, etc...it was a nightmare.

I tried to keep a good attitude through the whole thing since I had agreed to the terms but it was hard. I would NEVER, in a million years, do that again....first wedding or not. Just because you are new doesn't mean you are going to be able to avoid responsibility if it is dry, crooked or falls over. So the stress, anxiety and work is just as hard - so why should you compromise the value of your time?

I think this lady is definitely shady and I agree with the others.....she ain't workin' for free but obviously thinks she has you all figured out and can get you to do so......

In the eternal words of my Aunt Rita, tell her to get hosed!

The "cost" that I am being offered only includes ingredients to my knowledge. I know, depending on how many torted layers there will be, there will be a MINIMUM of 10 layers that I will need to bake, so at least 10 hours of baking time in my gas oven...and with the price of gas, wow-wee...I'm sure that she wasn't planning to compensate me for that.

We'll see what happens when I hear back from her. I have to handle this "delicately," because, while she's not exactly a "friend," she is an acquaintance who I see enough and will continue to see in an upcoming class (and someone I have to return a cake stand to)....and I really like her as a person, too. Yikes!

I'm curious if you'll get a reply, rsaun. I applaud you for setting boundaries around your business and not letting yourself be taken advantage of.

The whole situation really set off alarms for me. The coordinator is a cake decorator? And the bride is also a cake decorator? And they're asking another professional to forgo any of her profit just for the heck of it? Riiiiight. I'd pass even if they came back with a legitimate offer.

As an aside, I have make cakes for the weddings/events of coordinators, florists, photographers, and even another baker in my area. Not one has ever asked for any kind of discount (though I've offered it to them). I've also hired the services of some of these people and never, ever expected to receive any discount price (but have never been charged their full price). It's one thing to be offered a discount; it's entirely another to expect it.

I've also bartered for services which is something entirely different.

Keep us posted on how it goes!

There will be other cakes to do. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of. Your time away from work, away from your family is worth something. I'm pretty sure if you did do the cake you would be unhappy the whole time you were working on it.

It really isn't worth it in the long run to do a wedding cake at cost, unless it was for someone you know personally, and even then it is still stressful!

Well, all's well that ends well...I didn't get the job, because I wouldn't come down to her "final" offer of $1.00 per serving. I am glad I passed it up...I'm afraid the bride might be of the "Bridezilla" sort. Anyway, the wedding coordinator emailed me and said a "family" friend would do it for free. That was fine with me...but I was a might disappointed to not get to do the cake.

Anyway, today, I got an email from a woman who was REFERRED to me by the wedding coordinator. Apparently the wedding coordinator did her daughter's wedding cake a while back, and when she called her to do this wedding for her son, the wedding coordinator was already booked for the day, so she recommended me. I guess I didn't lose out by standing my ground, and I am getting a decent price per serving from this lady...one that the first bride wasn't going to pay.

I'm glad I maintained my stand and that the wedding coordinator and I are still going to work together in some ways...she is a great decorator and teacher and I'm honored that she recommended me to this former client of hers.

It sounds like everything turned out well! Congratulations on the good referral, too.

Yeah! You were professional and so was she. That's awesome. : )