Hi...
I have been asked to do a wedding cake for 200 people and I did a break down of what my supplies would cost as well as my time, and delivery. The bride is looking for the cake to be tiered, covered in fondant with the damask print--which I will be using the royal icing smear method on the side. After going back and forth a hundred times with my husband, I came up with a price of $950.00---does this seem outrageous? I looked on line last night at a wedding site and they estimated $1350.00 for a basic cake. I know it's so difficult for everyone here to give a price because we all live in different parts of the world and it may be cheaper to make this cake somewhere else. I am just starting a licensed home business and am not buying things in bulk as of right now, and I work a full time job. To do this cake, I would have to take two days off of work to put it together and deliver--not to mention the time for baking before. I know the bride is hoping for a better price---but I just don't see how it's possible with supplies and being paid for time off from work. I need some advice.....I do appreciate all the help of the CC members----you all are great!!!

I would charge $1400 - I hate that damask stencilling sooooooooooo easy to mess up.

thank you Mikeroweshunny..... I did a trial run on the damask stencil and its really tricky. This bride is also looking for square and round tiered cakes which can also be tricky with the designs! I also forgot to mention that I live in the north east--and our cakes are pretty pricey up this way----nevermind the cake prices, the price of goods alone are expensive!!! I don't think the bride is going to be happy with the price and that is what I'm trying to prepare myself for. thank you again!

I think that is a reasonable price, however, I am in the country also and there is no way people would pay that, even though it is worth every penny. Prices are so regional, so you probably need to see what the prices are like in your area. Good Luck!

I hear ya on the prices of supplies, especially if you don't buy in bulk. I have the same problem. I don't think $950 is too much at all...its probably pretty cheap. I highly doubt the bride will be able to get that style cake cheaper somewhere else! I've done a cake w/ damask & it takes a lot of time to make sure its right. Not sure what state your in but I'm in MA & cakes are pretty prices here. I question my pricing all the time too...its the hardest part of doing cakes. I guess my biggest problem is what to charge for a labor rate? I still don't have a figure & I try to figure what it would be when I'm done w/ a cake & it makes me sick because it doesn't add up to much per hour. Thank God I enjoy doing it. Good Luck!

I think your price is fair expecially for that many people!!

Just to give you a for-instance, my rate for fondant covered cakes was $4.50/serving, so times 200 servings = $900. The design is going to take a bit of time for you, so it's something I was tack on a "Design Fee" .... anything from $25 to $350 depending on the PITA factor involved.

Part of your sales and marketing message to the bride is that she's buying enough cake to feed TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE. My best example that puts it in perspecctive for them is, "A $4 cup of coffee isn't a lot of money ... until you have to buy 200 of them."

that is a GREAT way to put it indydebi

thank you Karen!

KsCakes--I too live in MA--and things are not cheap here by any means! I have read so many articles here from the members of CC and these women are so talented, yet are never really rewarded for their hard work! Oh sure, we love decorating cakes, but lets face it, we are all trying to earn a living!

CWR--you know I often think about what you wrote--how much sleep you'll loose. I don't know about you all, but when I am planning a cake, especially something like this, there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night dreaming about it. I think too because I have a full time job that it's more difficult to really put all of my energies into my cake business. I can relate to all of you too that people do not realize the time and energy that goes into the preparation of these cakes. They feel that these cakes are all whipped together just a few hours before their ceremony! Like someone else mentioned, people see this happen on TV in one hour--they don't realize the real time it takes to put this together!

Indydebi---well put!!! My husband said the same thing about $4.50/serving---he feels I am undercharging! I love the cup of coffee example--and I will use that. Someone else on CC mentioned about people going out to dinner and having a slice of dessert for $4.95 or better---so why wouldn't you pay that for a wedding cake? Most of those desserts are mass produced and frozen---but no one complains about paying the price for that!

I thank all of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to help me---my husband as well thanks you---he knows that way too many of us create such beautiful work and because we love it, we do not always get paid as we should.

thanks again!