Ok, I'll try and make this short 
I decorate cakes as a hobby and have never really done much other than birthday cakes but would LOVE to branch out. Just never really had much for opportunities. Well, I have a friend who would love for me to make his daughters Quinceañera cake...knowing that I haven't made anything this extravagent before. Sooo, I'm hoping you guys can help me out! I've taken courses 1 & 2 but not 3 ... the one needed for tiered cakes!
Here is a link to a cake they found on this site that they'd like to use as a "base" to go off of. http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=search&search=Quinceanera&cat=0&pos=45&search=Quinceanera
Here's the changes at this point:
1. They don't want the people or stairway going between the satellite cakes and the main cake... but would still like the satellite cakes.
2. They would like the bottom 3 layers on the main cake to be "dummy cakes"
3. They'd like the sides to be done in basketweave (which I can do)
Here are some starter questions that I have:
1. Is there a good tutorial somewhere explaining the proper way to assemble a tiered cake like this? I'm clueless at this point about how to put them together. Or, is there someone here who is looking to take someone under their wing and help me figure it out? Also, I'm assuming that you'd want to assemble it AT the event location and not beforehand right?
2. Is there a good place to buy the pieces needed? Do they come in kits?
3. Can you figure out what is between the two tiers (glass with red flowers?) I can't figure out exactly what that is
4. I know what a dummy cake is... but I've never seen or done one. What are they made out of? How do I make one? Is there anything I should know about them?
I'm sure I'll have more questions eventually..... this cake needs to be done in early April
Gosh I just remembered an important question!
How do you guys figure out how much to charge for something like this? I'm not a professional by any means.... I want to do part of it out of kindness and for the chance at the practice.... but generally, how much do you think something like this should be "worth"
Well, I can answer a few questions because I do this as a hobby too but I read a lot and practice. So,
1. Dummy cakes are styrofoam circles that are cut to size. You can buy them at a local cake shop or http://www.dallas-foam.com/store/
has them for a lot cheaper supposedly. You cover with buttercream and decorate like you would any other cake then when your done you can scrape it all of and wash it with a wash cloth.
2. If you have a cake supply store near you too they sometimes rent their tiers. If not you can buy them online. Hopefully someone has a goodone for you.
3. The thing between the tiers looks like a fountain.
I hope this helps a little! 
The thing between the layers looks to me like some kind of bowl thing with the flowers inside of it. JMO
The thing between the 2 tiers is the new bowl that Wilton has out now. You fill it with flowers, confetti etc...
Hopefully someone with more experience with dummy cakes can help you with that question. This cake has a lot of leveling needed for sure. I wouldn't know where to begin.
If you don't have all the ladders, fountain, pillars, cake plates, fountain for this cake then it is going to run you into some big money! The fountain alone is $100. This is a lot to think about. I know you can do it but just think about all that too. I wish you lots of luck!!
Wow!! That is good for you!! Do you get to keep it all??? That would be a bonus!! So the middle 3 that are stacked will be dummies? Then that leaves real cake for the smaller top 3 & the 4 at the bottom on the tables? That's kinda 2 wedding cakes in all then. What size will all the cakes be? Go from there & you can figure out the price. Most people charge between $1.50-$5.00 a slice.
Yes, the middle 3 are dummies (I think they look like they are 16, 14, and 12 inch what do you think?)
Then I was thinking it appeared to be maybe 8 inch and 6 inch on top (they are having a $300 custom topper made!)
Then.. the satellites about 10 inch each?
I don't get to keep the fountain but I do get to keep the plates and pillars! This is why I don't plan to charge much for my time and energy
I'll have to go to Wilton's site and see if I can find that bowl!
I just wanted to say good luck hun! That is a beautiful cake you are doing, and cannot wait to see pics after you are done! Jen
As far as pricing, you may have to do a lot of research on this. Since you don't want to charge a lot for it, this will mean an investment on your part for supplies if you don't already have them.
Calculate the price of everything from cake ingredients to structural purchases, like dowels and dummy tiers. You'll have to research the prices in your area or the online store you will be getting the items from. Those are your total fixed costs. Those are the costs you can't avoid. If you already have some of these items, great. Regardless determine how much of it you would charge for. In other words, you may not want to charge them the full price of what you paid for a dummy tier if you are going to keep it instead of letting them keep it. Determine how much you would "rent" them out for in cost #1 instead of the full cost. Does that make sense?
This is cost #1
Then calculate how long it would take you to complete the project, including your research and consultation time. Determine how much you should be paid per hour for your skillset. (piece of advice: DONT UNDERCUT YOURSELF)This could be based on average pay rates in your area. If you will be using any special time-consuming techniques like gumpaste work, tack on that charge.
cost #2
Add up cost #1 and cost #2 and you have your total charge for the cake.
the bowl is the wilton fluted bowl separator set. Hopefully the link below will work.
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=0110B7D8-802D-F658-0FDAF31FF23D6971&fid=0110B7E7-802D-F658-07D6844CCFE1A520
Judi
Have you checked the Articles section on the home page to see if there is anything in there that can help you?
Theresa
Thanks kater, that helps a lot!
Thanks Juds....I love that bowl!
Thanks to EVERYONE so far.... it's sooooo appreciated!!
Playingwithsugar... I did check the articles section but it really confused me ...I tried to find something that would explain how to know when and why you would need wooden dowels and how to do it...etc etc but no luck. I'll do a basic web search too as soon as I have a chance!
http://www.cakecentral.com/article23-Teired-Stacked-Cake-Construction.html
here is the link on stacked or tiered cake construction. You have to go to the bottom of the section of the home page, and click More Articles to find it.
Theresa
I agree Trina, the cakes look like (from top) 6,8, then 12, 14, 16. But I think the satalite ones are 8's. But they could be 10's. I have never done a cake this large. But I've done several 8,12,14 & 8,12,16. The biggest part would be the 6,8 ontop. I would also get plates for the bottom of the satalite cakes. It will sturdy them more. I don't know if I could just sit the pillars on the table like that without any support plate under them. You'll do great!! This cake is a lot of work... give em' a good price! If they are going to buy a $300 topper then they can pay you good!!
Your very welcome. If you have any other questions PM me & I'll try to help~ Your gonna do fine!!
You might try E-Bay for your supplies too.... I've gotten some real DEALS there..... they are right about the plates under the side cakes.... I would NEVER, not even for "dummie" cakes, put them right on the table...all someone would have to do is bump the table and they could come tumbling down... be sure to figure the price of all the table and cake decorations too.... just keep a separate list of those items..... they will understand that it is decorations, and not the cake....... talk to them ahead of time so there are no "surprises" about that cost....... They may already have some things at home they would like to use......you will want some flowers and or ferns,around the fountain,etc....maybe some candles on the table and a pretty cloth if one is not provided....
You are going to have SOOO much fun with this project !!!
Awesome ideas grama_j!! Thanks!
I went to Michaels on Monday when they had a 50% off coupon and got the 8 piece set with two 18 inch plates and six pillars for $20 ... nice! They have their 40% coupons every other week...so I'll be stocking up during those weeks for sure!
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