What If The Bride Has No Clue?
Decorating By CakesUnleashed Updated 15 May 2009 , 1:23am by cylstrial
Last weekend, I had a cake tasting with a bride and groom and it was a very weird experience:
Originally, when the bride and I spoke on the phone a few months ago, we spent a good part of 20 minutes chatting about cake ideas that would compliment and incorporate the Enchanted Forest Wedding theme. So, I was very excited to do this cake.
After our telephone conversation, I sent her sketches, vivid written descriptions, etc., via email and we conversed from there and she was thrilled with my ideas. It was as if we had it all planned and she just needed to figure out what flavors she wanted.
So, you can imagine my surprise, when at that cake tasting, she states that she has NO CLUE as to what she wants. She said, "I have an idea but it is still foggy." What!!??!!?? Then I freaked out for a minute - Did I send the email to the wrong customer? Did I mix up clients? So I asked her (holding my breath), "Well, I have the sketches that I had scanned and sent you and I have all the emails printed out, should we go over these again?" The gal said, "Ooohhh, yeah! I remember now!" Phew! I let out my held breath and started talking and referencing the sketches.
Then, out of the blue, she says, "Yeah! But I still don't know what I want to do." Again.......Whhhaaaattt!?!?!?!?! Trying to not look at her like she's crazy, I say, "Well, why don't you tell me what you are thinking as it sounds like you've changed your mind."
The bride then starts describing the vision of a cake that SHE wanted:
"Oh, this just came to me. I want a white covered fondant three tiered cake with a heavy branch on it like it fell off a tree. The branch will look like it is laying on the cake. On the branch will be bright red gerbera daisies and white lilies and green ferns on it."
Hmmmmm................I think not.
So, I asked her if I could have artistic liberty with her design and tried to tell her that the branch would look better if it were growing (winding) up the cake rather than laying on top and down the cake. Also, the whole gerbera daisies, lilies, ferns, etc., weren't really what would match the whole Enchanted Forest theme (she claimed that was still the theme!).
She couldn't not vision what I brought up so we just moved onto the tasting where she couldn't decide which flavors to choose and even when I told her she could have all three ---- she still couldn't make a decision.
I ended up leaving with the THOUGHT of running as fast as I could, yelling behind my back, "Hell no! I don't want your cake order!" But, I just ended up saying, "When you have a clearer vision of what cake you desire, let me know and we can go from there!"
Unfortunately, she wrote me an email today. Here is what she wrote:
"It was really great to finally meet you and your cakes/fillings are
wonderful! I cant wait to eat lots of cake!
Would you be able to send me a price breakdown for this?
150 cupcakes
1/2 butter layer with chocolate buttercream filling, topped with
buttercream (red coloring) and decor
1/2 chocolate marble with buttercream filling, topped with buttercream
(white coloring) and decor
2 tier lemon chip picnic with cream cheese filling, topped with fondant
(white color) and decor
2 tier cake will be the top of all cupcakes on cupcake tray. one large
cupcake tower yahoo!
The red coloring on the butter layer and white on the chocolate, will help
determine which is what flavor.
decor- TBD, I will send you some pictures, I am still working on that, but
I just wanted to send you this information for now.
I think what I am trying to get with the enchante forest, is less enchanted
(although keep the pixy dust) and more forest. I want something thats a
cascade of flowers leaves and sticks or twigs, even pinecones. Flowers,
leaves, sticks do not need to be connected. almost like a pile tossed onto
the cake. Does this help, I will send some pictures later this week.
Grooms cake. He likes mountain biking, aquarium plants and video games.
The safe way to go would be a mountain with him riding down or something.
Its good, but not WOW! So then I thought of a Lord of the Rinds ring. You
know, "One ring to Rule them all" but people might think thats dumb. so
now Im stumped. I want something thats WOW, but not dumb. Do you have any
ideas?
Let me know if you have any questions.,
Thank you for your patience with my indecisiveness!!!"
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????? Should I run for the hills? Or, am I over-reacting? Gosh! I've never been through this before. Puhleeeze, help me!
Be a salesman and just talk her into something, one thing. Convince her that is what she wants, since she obviously has no idea.
I like the part where she says he likes aquarium PLANTS. But apparently not fish. Is this a new hobby I've just missed out on?
Be a salesman and just talk her into something, one thing. Convince her that is what she wants, since she obviously has no idea.
Do this! I've had to do it a few times; if you are confident enough, and/or persuasive enough it works like a charm! You just need to figure out how to 'work' this bride. 
Please do not convince her to do what you think she wants,she'll only come back crying after that you messed up her wedding.Don't do the cake,if she doesn't know what she wants then she probably wouldn't like what she'll get.
RUN BABY RUN. Or prepare to take the blame, cos it's coming.
sounds like she wants lots of things. Just remind her that she can only have one and try to pin that down. Sounds to me like she is impressionable and forms her opinions around what other people think. If you do something gorgeous (which I'm sure you will) and guests comment how beautiful it is, then she will think so too.
I'll save you some trouble. It all comes down to this...
"Would you be able to send me a price breakdown for this?"
She's not sure because she doesn't know how much her ideas are going to cost and is waiting to see if you come up with a price in her budget.
So if you're not sure you want her as a client, I say it should cost her an enchantingly high price sprinkled with fairy dust on top and some gold leaf for good measure. Ha! JMHO!
I'll save you some trouble. It all comes down to this...
"Would you be able to send me a price breakdown for this?"
She's not sure because she doesn't know how much her ideas are going to cost and is waiting to see if you come up with a price in her budget.
So if you're not sure you want her as a client, I say it should cost her an enchantingly high price sprinkled with fairy dust on top and some gold leaf for good measure. Ha!
JMHO!
Does she have a dollar figure that she needs to keep this under? If she's planning 200 people wiht a budget of $250, then you don't even need to waste your time.
"How much do you want to spend .... here's what you can have for that."
I can kind of envision the cake with stuff piled on top it, and I don't think I hate it. Kind of like the cakes that have the full gumpaste flowers on top and they kind of trickle out as it gets to the bottom. Just using forest kind of things, adding some sparkle into it. I would do it all in gumpaste/fondant, so it would be a pretty pricy cake for all of those sculpted items.
This Martha Stewart cake has been done a lot http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/forest-weddings?lnc=6b1c139b22b1d110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=lpg_inspiration&lpgStart=1¤tslide=2¤tChapter=1#ms-global-breadcrumbs
I wouldn't necessarily run, but help her figure out something she loves. I've had a couple of clients like this, and I end up just pulling out my laptop and looking through cake pictures online with them. It helps me see what they are drawn to so that they can LOVE their cake.
I do agree that asking her what she wants to spend is important in the process
IMHO- it wouldn't matter what you did for this girl, she will not be pleased. Sometimes, it's just not worth it. I would explain to her that you have given her every idea you could think of and that maybe it's just not going to work. Be polite and possibly refer her to another baker. Honestly, she sounds a little psychotic! I'm not sure I could comfortably work with someone this indecisive. Good luck with that!
I don't know if I would run just yet, maybe give her one more chance to work with your ideas. If that doesn't work then you probably need to walk (ok run) from this one. It sounds like she really doesn't have a clue.
Or you could quote her a price of 1,000,002 dollars and 2 cents. Of course always ading your 2cents! Haha
WOW<> I would also ask for a budget and then plan a few designs around that with her thoughts for inspiration. Send them to her with a design confirmation deadline of xx days/weeks to decided. Include a gentle reminder that if she has not selected a design by said date, you will not be able to make her cake. No apology nor sad tidings, just NO CAKE>
Include a gentle reminder that if she has not selected a design by said date, you will not be able to make her cake. No apology nor sad tidings, just NO CAKE>
"If you don't know what you want, then neither do I."
OR
"You can't decide? Oh good, that means *I* get to pick the design and YOU don't get to complain about it." 
But, I just ended up saying, "When you have a clearer vision of what cake you desire, let me know and we can go from there!"
I like how you responded. I would not be so quick to write her off. Some people really just can't make up their minds. YOu haven't accepted any deposits or signed any contracts yet, right? I'd just keep the date open and let her know the ball is in her court.
I'm curious why you have gone so far as to send sketches and vivid descriptions of the cake. I only do that when I've gotten a firm commitment - usually 50% deposit. That way they cannot turn around, take my sketches and have a cheaper decorator copy it. Also saves me the trouble of working hard without knowing if I'll get paid for it or not. ditto with the tasting. Was it paid and deductible from future orders?
You have no commitment to her until she decides on what she wants and puts down a deposit. She better shape up or ship out.
Last weekend, I had a cake tasting with a bride and groom and it was a very weird experience:
Originally, when the bride and I spoke on the phone a few months ago, we spent a good part of 20 minutes chatting about cake ideas that would compliment and incorporate the Enchanted Forest Wedding theme. So, I was very excited to do this cake.
After our telephone conversation, I sent her sketches, vivid written descriptions, etc., via email and we conversed from there and she was thrilled with my ideas. It was as if we had it all planned and she just needed to figure out what flavors she wanted.
So, you can imagine my surprise, when at that cake tasting, she states that she has NO CLUE as to what she wants. She said, "I have an idea but it is still foggy." What!!??!!?? Then I freaked out for a minute - Did I send the email to the wrong customer? Did I mix up clients? So I asked her (holding my breath), "Well, I have the sketches that I had scanned and sent you and I have all the emails printed out, should we go over these again?" The gal said, "Ooohhh, yeah! I remember now!" Phew! I let out my held breath and started talking and referencing the sketches.
Then, out of the blue, she says, "Yeah! But I still don't know what I want to do." Again.......Whhhaaaattt!?!?!?!?! Trying to not look at her like she's crazy, I say, "Well, why don't you tell me what you are thinking as it sounds like you've changed your mind."
The bride then starts describing the vision of a cake that SHE wanted:
"Oh, this just came to me. I want a white covered fondant three tiered cake with a heavy branch on it like it fell off a tree. The branch will look like it is laying on the cake. On the branch will be bright red gerbera daisies and white lilies and green ferns on it."
Hmmmmm................I think not.
So, I asked her if I could have artistic liberty with her design and tried to tell her that the branch would look better if it were growing (winding) up the cake rather than laying on top and down the cake. Also, the whole gerbera daisies, lilies, ferns, etc., weren't really what would match the whole Enchanted Forest theme (she claimed that was still the theme!).
She couldn't not vision what I brought up so we just moved onto the tasting where she couldn't decide which flavors to choose and even when I told her she could have all three ---- she still couldn't make a decision.
I ended up leaving with the THOUGHT of running as fast as I could, yelling behind my back, "Hell no! I don't want your cake order!" But, I just ended up saying, "When you have a clearer vision of what cake you desire, let me know and we can go from there!"
Unfortunately, she wrote me an email today. Here is what she wrote:
"It was really great to finally meet you and your cakes/fillings are
wonderful! I cant wait to eat lots of cake!
Would you be able to send me a price breakdown for this?
150 cupcakes
1/2 butter layer with chocolate buttercream filling, topped with
buttercream (red coloring) and decor
1/2 chocolate marble with buttercream filling, topped with buttercream
(white coloring) and decor
2 tier lemon chip picnic with cream cheese filling, topped with fondant
(white color) and decor
2 tier cake will be the top of all cupcakes on cupcake tray. one large
cupcake tower yahoo!
The red coloring on the butter layer and white on the chocolate, will help
determine which is what flavor.
decor- TBD, I will send you some pictures, I am still working on that, but
I just wanted to send you this information for now.
I think what I am trying to get with the enchante forest, is less enchanted
(although keep the pixy dust) and more forest. I want something thats a
cascade of flowers leaves and sticks or twigs, even pinecones. Flowers,
leaves, sticks do not need to be connected. almost like a pile tossed onto
the cake. Does this help, I will send some pictures later this week.
Grooms cake. He likes mountain biking, aquarium plants and video games.
The safe way to go would be a mountain with him riding down or something.
Its good, but not WOW! So then I thought of a Lord of the Rinds ring. You
know, "One ring to Rule them all" but people might think thats dumb. so
now Im stumped. I want something thats WOW, but not dumb. Do you have any
ideas?
Let me know if you have any questions.,
Thank you for your patience with my indecisiveness!!!"
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????? Should I run for the hills? Or, am I over-reacting? Gosh! I've never been through this before. Puhleeeze, help me!
Help me out here. I didn't speak to her so that whole element is missing. But she wants 150 cupcake with a 2-tier on top certain flavors, fillings colors--probably like chocolate 'sticks' & stuff tossed around with ferns & whatever.
I mean I'm just seeing she wants her vision not the ususal one where the branch clumbs up the side of the cake.
I like her original with the branch thing too.
There must be something wrong w/me--I'm getting her.
It just seems to me that you decided what she wanted and she didn't really want that. She wants it foresty and ferny and twiggy--cuppies and a 2-tier.
But again I did not ever speak with her but I'm not getting your issue from what she wrote. I think she just wants you to tell her you get her vision. More foresty than enchanted. Little mushrooms, logs, a few stray wildflowers (drop flowers) a coupla chocolate rocks, deer poop--oops no wait prolly not that forest-y 
I'll save you some trouble. It all comes down to this...
"Would you be able to send me a price breakdown for this?"
She's not sure because she doesn't know how much her ideas are going to cost and is waiting to see if you come up with a price in her budget.
So if you're not sure you want her as a client, I say it should cost her an enchantingly high price sprinkled with fairy dust on top and some gold leaf for good measure. Ha!
JMHO!Does she have a dollar figure that she needs to keep this under? If she's planning 200 people wiht a budget of $250, then you don't even need to waste your time.
"How much do you want to spend .... here's what you can have for that."
Simples!
Well, as for her design, she said she would find pictures to show you - so let her do the Googling, and don't waste your time trying to figure out what she wants. Tell her to send you a photo or draw you a picture because you are having trouble seeing her vision as she describes it.
I would just be a little patient and force her to figure out what she wants before you go any further.
Now see, this is EXACTLY why I love Cake Central sooooooooo much. All of you had FABULOUS ideas, points, directions and encouragement. All of which I will take into consideration.
Basically, I am going to let her know that I fully understand what she is looking for and will go from there. The less she tells me -- the more creative power and upper-hand I have! So, here's what I plan on quoting her (she can take it or leave it):
$600 For the decorated cupcake tower
$200 For the decorated cake on top of tower
$200 For mountain (BMX) bike theme Groom's cake
That's $1,000 --- If she is willing to shell out the cashola, then we have a deal and I will enchant her a$$ off with the decor! However, if she doesn't want to pay for it then she can go to Safeway and try to make her dream come true. LOL!!!!!!!!
I thank you again for all your valuable opinions, input and assistance. I promise to follow up as things develop.
You guys are AWESOME!!!
Deb
I'd make sure to add a "Confused Bride" fee in there somewhere...You're going to be holding this girl's hand through the whole process if she does hire you.
Okay, here's the email I just sent her back with the contract attached:
Hi Kristen,
It all sounds so exciting! Yes! I totally get the whole idea of ditching the "enchanted" idea and just going with forest. I love it! I agree, a combination of twigs, leaves, flowers, fern, etc. Sweeeeet! I can just picture it now. Are you still going to be getting your own cake topper?
I really have a great vision of a mountain bike cake for your hubby. I can make it a forest mountain biking adventure with him and his bike at the top of a beautiful mountain. The trail will look like a real mountain biking trail. What do you think? Yes! This cake will create the "Wow" factor, that's for sure -- Especially with the guys --- they will be soooooo jealous!! Hee hee hee (Oh, yeah! Please indicate flavor for Groom's cake!)
The cupcakes are a perfect combo and I love the whole tower idea with your beautiful forest cake on top. It will look awesome. The only thing I cannot accomodate you with is the Red Buttercream. That much butter cream will never turn out a TRUE RED. Often it turns out pinkish, at best. That would NOT be flattering to your whole theme. I suggest you keep it white butter cream for all cupcakes with two (distinct) different cupcake toppers that will identify the different flavors --- all sprinkled with the Pixie Dust to match the wedding cake. I will provide two cake flavor legends so that that will look beautiful at the table but will assist the guests with their flavor decisions.
So, if you like my ideas, I have attached the Proposal/Contract for your review. If you agree with all I've indicated, please print two copies. One for your records and one to sign and send to me with the deposit check.
Looking forward to chatting with you.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, what do you think? I thought if I mentioned that the red won't work, we can get around it. --- Fingers Crossed ---
Somtimes I just dont get the bride thing. I had one that wanted her cake to compare with the "antebellum atmosphere for which the cake will be sitting" Oh, and can you put a golfer on top?
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