Hi everyone-
I just got my first (outside) wedding cake order (yea!). The cake will be five tiers some stacked, some seperated with pillars. In between are fresh flower to match the wedding parties with an arrangement on the top tier. I quoted her $3/serving for the cake alone. Was I suppose to charge for the flowers as well then work it out with her florist? I have a little breathing room as she is still in the process of picking out a florist. I had told her if the florist brought what she wanted for the cake, I would arrange them on and around the cake, but my husband said I should be handling all that. What do you do?
Thanks!
I leave it up to the bride to make arrangements with the florist, of course with my number available if the florist should need to get a hold of me/ask me questions. This way the flowers are the same as what are being used for the rest of the wedding, and that it doesn't come down on me if the florist has to substitute for another flower at the last minute (which happened for my wedding, and of course I didn't care either way but I am sure there are brides that would go bonkers, lol). I would to explain to the florist the tier sizes so that you aren't trying to arrange huge roses ontop of a small tier or too large flowers if there is only a couple inches between tiers etc. I would also do a sketch about where she wants flowers placed where, this could help the florist also know what sized flowers/how many would be needed.
I always have the bride provide the flowers and I will apply them to the cake usually for only $25
mpc
www.mypastrychef.com
JamesSweetie and I do it the exact same way for the exact same reasons. My brides are responsible for any artificial or live flowers for their cake. I tell them the reasoon is (1) this helps ensure all of the flowers match (2) if they are ordering more flowers, the florist may volume price for them (3) if the florist has to switch flowers at the last minute for whatever reasoin, the flowers will STILL match.
I tell them to just have the florist leave them on the cake table or in the reception area and I will take care of putting them on the cake.
Thank you both very much. This is what I had thought, but just wanted to make sure what was proper ettiquette. The bride is paying four figures for this cake which shocked the heck out of me and my husband. She is ordering for 300 guest which is why it is so much, but is still paying half of what she was about to pay with her pervious baker. So to me, it's the sale of the year but to her it's the bargain of the year. In any event, I don't want to loose this job over not doing something I should be doing.
Isn't this website great?!
From a bride who used fresh flowers, I provided them from my florist and for some of the same reasons mentioned already. I wanted my roses (gardenias,etc) to be the same type and size used in the arrangements. My flowers almost all had deep colors so I didn't want a pink or butter yellow to sneak its way onto my cake. Plus, this was back in a day when the baker repeatedly questioned why anyone would want to put real flowers between the tiers, "you can't eat them".
You did the right thing. If you have the brides provide the flowers, theres no questions later of having the right ones available. I always have the florist's phone #'s with me at cake set ups in case questions arise, or the flowers aren't there when I am. If you talk to the florist, I find this makes everything run smoothly as to what time you need the flowers there for the cake set up and types you will be using. Good Luck with your Cake!
I charge $15.00 to arrange any flowers the florist leaves for me, or I charge them $30.00 and I'll provide the flowers for them, as long as they are a variety and no roses. If they wanted a specialty flower, or something specific, then I would insist they have the florist provide. I find that most florists do not like to handle the cake flower arrangements though!? I think they're afraid they might damage the cake!
..... I find that most florists do not like to handle the cake flower arrangements though!? I think they're afraid they might damage the cake!
hahahaha! Yeah, I find most florists are RELIEVED to hear that *I* ( 
) will put the flowers on my cake.
I am a bit compulsive about this because it will be me that is sued if any of the cake flowers have been treated with poisonous chemicals, which is much more common these days with most florist flowers coming from Ecuador. In past years, most came from California who does an excellent job in regulating agricultural products.
I grow over 200 different roses, lillies, lilacs, peonies, daffodils, tulips, hydrangeas, azeleas, bouganvilla, and various greens. They are organically grown, and if possible, I prefer to use them for cakes. I charge $2.50 per flower. If I can't supply the flowers she wants, I advise the use of gumpaste flowers.
I will allow a bride to arrange for her own flowers if I can speak with her florist and if she will sign a release that says she supplied the flowers.
In addition to having the client coordinate the fresh flowers with their florist, I require that the flowers are delivered to our pastry shop the morning of the wedding (if they want me to arrange the flowers on the cake). That way I know what I have to work with and I don't have to wait around for the florist at the reception site. If they can't have the flowers delivered to our shop, then it becomes the responsibility of the florist to arrange the flowers on the cake.
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