The Smallest Bottom Tier You Would Do.

Decorating By Pyro Updated 16 Jun 2013 , 1:08am by ajwonka

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Pyro Posted 13 Jun 2013 , 11:40am
post #1 of 16

Well I'll start by saying I don't do tiered magic yet. But I was wondering. When clients come in with requests for multiple tiers, what makes you determine if they get the " you're crazy " look?

 

( Let's say you owned everything possible to make any size and shape )

 

What is the smallest bottom tier for a multi tiered cake in your opinion ? Or what is the minimum servings you will accept to build 3 tiers or more. If someone wants a tiered cake for 30 people, do you force their opinion so they get a 9' cake or you get them a 4'-5'-6' like they want, even if it may look wonky to some people.

 

On the opposite spectrum, how high. Let's say someone want's 145 servings. You could bake a 9'-11'-13' rounds, but what if the client asked for 4'-5'-6'-7'-8'-9'-10' ( serves 145 ) do they get the crazy look ? Of course the later would require more work and a higher price tag, but would you try to get away with doing the 9'-11'-13'?

 

Feel free to chance servings / shapes / sizes or whatever. I'm not trying to " price that cake " here haha I'm wondering when you would be like, No.

 

Oh and let's pretend you showed them dummies representing what they are thinking about and they still think it's awesome.

15 replies
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Dayti Posted 13 Jun 2013 , 11:48am
post #2 of 16

I will go no smaller than a 6" and 8" for a tiered cake, and I sell it as 30 portions. I am not faffing around with 4" cakes to make a 3 tier...if they want 3 tiers, they have to go 6, 8, 10" with me. Unless they offer me a limitless budget of course...

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Relznik Posted 13 Jun 2013 , 12:54pm
post #3 of 16

A 9" round is usually significantly cheaper than a 2 tier cake to give the same number of portions...

 

...  that's usually the deciding factor for my customers!

 

According to my portions chart, a 9" round will give approximately 27 'party portions' (ie 2" x 1" x depth of cake).

 

A 4" + 6" + 8" cake will give around 34 portions.

 

There's at least £50 (approx $75) difference between them, though!!!! icon_wink.gif
 

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AZCouture Posted 13 Jun 2013 , 2:53pm
post #4 of 16

I do small tiered cakes often. Smallest bottom tier I've done is a 5", so it was a 3-4-5. But it was a specific request. I do 4-6-8's a lot, I've done 5-6-7's...they're fun if you're into that kind of thing. Average price for the smallest ones is about $275. They're cute and fun, but they aren't any less work than a three tier that serves twice as many. You're still baking, icing, decorating 3 tiers of cake. It should not be any cheaper.

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AZCouture Posted 13 Jun 2013 , 2:56pm
post #5 of 16

Actually, they're about $300 and up. I looked and haven't had a three tier of any size for less than that in 2 years.

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motherofgrace Posted 13 Jun 2013 , 5:22pm
post #6 of 16

smallest I have done is a 2 tier 4 and 6 :)

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AZCouture Posted 13 Jun 2013 , 5:51pm
post #7 of 16

AAnd they're so stinkin' cute!

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Pyro Posted 15 Jun 2013 , 9:12am
post #8 of 16

5am on a Saturday, where's my bed!?

 

But seriously, I love the look of smaller versions of cakes and pastries, I really enjoy doing things small. Assuming the price reflected the product, I really wouldn't have an issue with any size or shape.

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Chellescakes Posted 15 Jun 2013 , 10:41am
post #9 of 16

I personally love a seven , five three . But have used a five and a three as a bottom tier. I have tins all the way down to one and a half . 

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AnnieCahill Posted 15 Jun 2013 , 10:56am
post #10 of 16

How the F do you guys ice a cake that dang small?  I think I would go nuts doing something that tiny. LOL!

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AZCouture Posted 15 Jun 2013 , 4:29pm
post #11 of 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pyro 

5am on a Saturday, where's my bed!?

 

But seriously, I love the look of smaller versions of cakes and pastries, I really enjoy doing things small. Assuming the price reflected the product, I really wouldn't have an issue with any size or shape.

Exactly. They are not cheap, or priced per serving. 

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AZCouture Posted 15 Jun 2013 , 4:31pm
post #12 of 16

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuma_couture_cakes/8176445276/

 

This has a 7" for a bottom tier. There's another thread about not doing tiers that are less than 2" difference, and I always respectfully (sometimes not-oops) disagree with. It doesn't work with every design, but it does with some. This is a 4-5-6-7.

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AZCouture Posted 15 Jun 2013 , 4:37pm
post #13 of 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pyro 

 but what if the client asked for 4'-5'-6'-7'-8'-9'-10' ( serves 145 ) do they get the crazy look ? 

 

 

I've done that! Here it is--

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuma_couture_cakes/5583963950/sizes/l/

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motherofgrace Posted 15 Jun 2013 , 4:47pm
post #14 of 16

I love those!

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Pyro Posted 15 Jun 2013 , 8:20pm
post #15 of 16
Quote:

 

Wicked haha !

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ajwonka Posted 16 Jun 2013 , 1:08am
post #16 of 16

AI use SPS to stack tiers so the top tier is the limiting factor. With a top tier of 6", the smallest 2-tier we off is 6"/8". Using less than 2" diameter between tiers isn't visually appealing, IMO.

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