Pricing On Individual Table Wedding Cakes
Decorating By valstupendo Updated 13 Mar 2007 , 2:34am by cakesbyjess
A client emailed me and asked for a quote on a two tier wedding cake (no detailed info), and also an 8 person dessert cake for each table! But she isn't sure yet how many tables there will be, so she just wanted a rough quote or 'each' one?? I tried my best and told her my starting price for 2 tier cakes, but for the individual table cakes... I just quoted her at $25-$35 each? Does that sound right? I figured, they're going to have to match the wedding cake in 'some' way, and so they will be fancier than just a plain old cake, probably filled and covered with fondant maybe with a decoration in the center or something... for dessert would be bigger pieces, and to package and transport each one..... I took all these things into consideration... do you think I charged her right? I mean, if an average wedding reception has like 10 tables, that's $200-$300 right there just for the table cakes!! Then the 2 tier cake on top? Should I have given her a discount because she's ordering so many? I've never had an inquiry like this before. Anyone else here had to do something like this? If so.. does anyone have any tips they'd like to share?? I'm always up for something new and challenging... but I'm starting to think maybe this is over my head?? help! 
I have seen others post the amount you quoted up to $65 per table. I am not sure but here's a bump for you. 
No discount!!! These cakes are a PITA and I pretty much won't do them. YOu're right .... longer baking time, more expense in boxes, bigger transportation problem, longer time to set up than just a 3 tier cake, more aspirin when your head, hands and feet start to ache, blah blah blah.
You don't give a discount just because someone buys a "lot" of something. You give a discount because their order is of such a volume that it enables you to save either in raw materials, because you can buy in bulk, or you save in production time (i.e. my cookies sheets will hold 20 cookies, so baking just 10 or 12 actually costs me in productivity time). When their order enables you to save on YOUR costs, then you pass that savings on to them with a lower price. NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ORDER A "LOT" OF CAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Especially cakes that are a "lot" of extra work!
This is basic business logic.
I've only done this one time, I charged $20.00 per 8" table cake with basket weave & then $2.25 per serving for the small 2 tier cake. Hope this helps a little.
I've done several weddings like this, where there is an 8" round cake at each table (as the centerpiece). I charge my "party cake --- non-wedding cake --- price" for each of those cakes, and then depending on how many tables there are, I tack on a $50 - $100 "special prep" charge (since I double up the cake boards, wrap them, etc.) to the total. It's basically my PITA charge, because, like another poster said, they are kind of a PITA!!! 
Oh, and I agree with other posters ... NO DISCOUNT!! It's really more work for you than a regular wedding cake. 
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