I appreciate the input on this, and I also want to let you in on the background with this church and my family. We are louisiana evacuees and the house we are living in is their church house, and they haven't asked us for a single thing so i'm being lenient on THIS cake, BUT I think I will write up a price sheet based on the serving on a flyer with business cards so that these people will know what the REAL prices are. What do you think of that idea?
I think the idea of a general price sheet along with your business cards (set in a place people will actually get to see and take them, of course) is a PERFECT solution to this!! 
The church will know just how great of a deal they're getting, plus potential customers will be clear on your pricing. Donating cakes to churches or other organizations, etc. is a really great thing to do, IMO, and it also generates more business for you in the long run. But being clear, even if indirectly, about the fact that you're donating or discounting the cake for them specially is really important. And in your case, it sounds like you want to be charitable to the church, at least in some small way, as they have been to you and your family. I would be the same way, actually. If it were me in your shoes, I would probably just offer to do the cake for the cost of the ingredients this one time, or discount it at the least - but also make sure that whomever it is that you're dealing with on this knows it's not ok to go telling everyone that! lol 
Then you will have to explain your prices when people start ordering... 
Phew...thanks jenn for understanding, now, the price sheet..do you think that that is inappropriate at a bridal shower (it's basically the whole church invited after the church service on sunday so i definitely want to GET THEM as far as seeing it, but I don't want to insult the bride to be either. It took me forever to convince the older lady that ordered it that brides actually DO GET CHOCOLATE CAKES NOWADAYS..LOL...so I need to figur out where to place this price sheet.
, I was going to do a simple white wedding cake recipe with either buttercream frosting and a few flowers and shells (they are getting married bermuda)
Whoa! Hang on!
These church folks can afford to fly to Bermuda to get married? I suppose the airlines are giving them a special church rate, and so is the Bermuda hotel? Or is it just you who's supposed not just to not make a profit, but to lose money servicing their wedding?
Have them buy your ingredients instead of paying you, then.
Those figures sound a little steep to me, but things cost differently in Canada than they do here, I guess. I could do the same cake (8'/2 layer) for around $10/US....but would probably charge $30, depending on decorations.
You should be able to get the ingredients for a basic cake for less than $30, even for one that feeds that many, as long as there's nothing super special going into it, IMO.
I use the price matrix, and that is even going to a cheaper grocery store. I also live right next to Toronto, where things cost more anyways. I'm not sure how much food costs in the U.S. but you can't even get a lb of butter for less then about $3.50 here, powder sugar is 1.89 a kg(about 8 cups) at the bulk store. The $17 I quoted includes the cake board and cake box as well, since I wouldn't want it transported in the car and everything without being properly stored and covered.
I think you should charge whatever you feel comfortable with, but just don't shortchange yourself. I think we all get that guilt for charging a certain price, even when the cake is worth so much more. I know at least where I am located, you would be very hard pressed to be able to make a cake for that many people for that price. As long as you feel comfortable with what you are charging thats all that matters.
Awwww, thank you!! 
I'm almost afraid to ask now( I know a bit off topic )...how much does it cost you for a lb of butter?
Goodness, Jamessweetie, groceries are more expensive up there! 
But I also order the majority of my ingredients from a wholesale supplier, not all ingredients, but most. I should have pointed that out because it does make a bit of difference...so sorry And I didn't include the cost of the board/box, that would bring my 8' cost up to $12, so only a $5 difference, really, in what it takes us cost wise to make the same cake. A pound of butter at my grocery store was $2.79 yesterday...but it's been fluctuating ever since all of the hurricanes.
Yeah boxes and boards can get to be pricey, I think I could get them a little cheaper at the bulk store, I just entered the amount I knew they were at the baking store.
I didn't realize that things were so much cheaper there, in that case it could be possible to make a cake that large for under $30(though still probably not for a lot of profit, but at least it would cover ingredients hopefully). I should take arianne up on her offer to load up on groceries if I'm ever in the states! lol
Go for it..both you and Jenn T are welcome..i'm in Georgia so COME ON DOWN (or sideways if you're JennT) Thankfully i'm in dairy land and butter is about $2.60 (not much cheaper than Jenn's grocery). The boards i've got, and the boxes I can get at a local bakery for $.25 a piece and they are plain white (I don't tell them what it's for..lol). I'm not going to start ordering the boxes bulk until I start getting more regular orders. Oh, but the best part of the whole thing is I don't have to drive the cake anywhere because the church is RIGHT next door..we share a playground..lol. so it doesn't have to go far, and these people love free sweets so i'm pretty sure they'll finish it off.
omg, you get the boards and boxes for $.25????? 
A 10" covered round board is $3.25 and a 10 x 10 plain white cake box is $1.50 here! blah no wonder it costs me so much to make a cake, lol
No, the boards are definitely not $.25 just the boxes. The boards I get at walmart of all places in a six pack and they are around $5.00 for 6 13x19 and the 10" rounds were about the same for I think 7 in a pack? I cover the boards myself. The only craft store that is relatively close is in Rome, ga. about 20 minutes from here and it is a Michaels, and surprisingly, for a craft store like Michaels, they don't carry alot of wilton accessories which sucks. I'm going to have to work with what i have..and hope for the best.
Some people don't think of what goes into a cake and that maybe you are doing this because you enojoy it, but don't want end up bankrupt from it! $50-is a great deal. You did a fabulous job! I would hate to be rude to the church lady, but I would just smile and say -WOW! That is a really good deal, I would definetly continue to get my cakes from them. Explain that you put a lot of care and details into your cakes-and that you just can't beat that price. you get what you pay for!!!
thanks lisa,
i've gotten over it now, because looking back at all the work i did with those, they were well worth the $50.00, plus I didn't have the mother call and complain so I guess everything went off without a hitch. I also know what you mean by sabatoging (sp) ourselves with low prices
Phew...thanks jenn for understanding, now, the price sheet..do you think that that is inappropriate at a bridal shower (it's basically the whole church invited after the church service on sunday so i definitely want to GET THEM as far as seeing it, but I don't want to insult the bride to be either. It took me forever to convince the older lady that ordered it that brides actually DO GET CHOCOLATE CAKES NOWADAYS..LOL...so I need to figur out where to place this price sheet.
I meant to answer to this the other day...lol...sorry
Well, in this case, I don't think it's necessarily inappropriate. It's not like it's a private shower at someone's home. If you are in any way worried about offending the bride-to-be, I would just ask her if she would mind. Chances are that she probably would be happy to let you place some cards and price/info sheets somewhere...she'll probably even tell people where they are, etc. especially if she's happy with the cake. I'm sure the church knows you & your family are trying to get back on your feet financially, after Katrina...and they're aware that ya'll are living in the parsonage...I seriously don't think it would be much of an offense to anyone, unless they're just snobs! lol 
I wouldn't put it on the cake table, though. Is there a table just outside the room the shower will be in? Or a table near the entrance/exit of the church where they place things like bulletins, newsletters, etc....where people generally look for church info? A bulletin board? Another suggestion is to maybe make it more of a brochure or flyer type thing with some pictures of your cakes and descriptions of flavors/fillings, etc. instead of strictly a price sheet. Not too fancy, but something just a little more visual than only a listing of sizes and prices? If nothing else, it will come across as more 'professional' to some people. Just a few suggestions...hope they help! 
Thank you guys, you are all great, and I appreciate the comments on my work..As far as the bridal shower cake, they've moved the party up to saturday (they told me this last night), and the church lady says "it's not a big deal, just a sheet cake"...WHY DIDN'T SHE SAY THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE? They still don't know exactly how many people are going to be there, so you know what I don't care..they don't even know the grooms name, so I can't write anything on the cake. I'm just going to ice a double layer 13x9 white (that's the biggest pan I have that's a sheet cake and also the size they would get at the grocery), and put some buttercream roses and other flowers on it, and call it good..they'll either have enough cake, or they won't..if they can't tell me how many people, I can't help them. I know that sounds rude, but this is moronic, and for $30.00 that's what they're getting..
OK, i'm finished with my rant, I'm not even sure why it's making me mad...it might just be because i've been obsessing about this cake for a week and a half.
Alright, I'm really finished ranting now, and thanks for listening...
Seriously I don't blame you for the way you feel at all! You were kind enough to even agree to do this cake for such a low price, especially when you are getting back on your feet, and it sounds like they're giving you the run around. And the "its not big deal" comment would have ticked me off...if that was so true, why would she not bake and ice it herself? How difficult could it be to fetch the groom's name, especially if she is paying for the cake? I wonder why she cannot tell you how many people are attending, I am assuming then its going to be a sort of open house type situation. Wouldn't they still need to estimate how many people were coming in the case that they will probably be having some sort of food as well other then the cake?
This sounds either someone taking advantage of your kindness, or could be just another example of the ignorance people have towards what goes into making a cake. (I mean I consider designs weeks ahead of time, most others probably do as well!)
Think happy thoughts while you're doing this one, I am sure it will be beautiful no matter what you choose to do, and it will be over soon!
Thank you JS..she said they have no idea how many people are on the grooms side. He is apparently living in a different state so they don't know him personally. Is a 13x9 considered a sheet cake? I feel so ignorant to cake decorating today for some reason..like i'm losing it..lol. Yesterday, all i did was make a bunch of royal icing roses and drop flowers, to practice and to NOT think about this cake for awhile..maybe i'll just throw some of them on the cake and tell them they'll be crunchy so don't eat em'..lol.
Oh, one more question, do u think I could bake the cakes tomorrow, and still have them fresh (not dried out) for saturday. Actually, that's a good question for you guys. when do you do your baking prior to decorating for an order?
thanks for the support.
Ari
A 9x13 is considered 1/4th a sheet which is about 15-20 servings(this seems to be the general finding when looking at different websites). Could they even give you a rough estimate as to how many? Can they at least say how many are coming from the bride's side so you know how
much you would at least defintely need?
I think the cake would be plenty fresh if you baked tomorrow, just make sure to wrap it well until you decorate it. You could even freeze it depending on when you plan on decorating. I did this with the cake I took to my mother's work on Valentines day. I baked on the Sunday, decorated on the Monday, and delivered on the Tuesday. The cake still tasted awesome. Same deal with the cupcakes I made on sunday and they were still moist and yummy yesterday.
One other factor here is that the church lady is going to pick up the cake and put it in her car which means it can't be too big..maybe 'll just do 2 9x13's and put..GOOD on one and LUCK on the other, or is that too "shady" sounding..lol. Or BEST WISHES..oh who knows. Yes, it is sort of an open house so they really don't know how many people are coming period. If I bake 2 1/4 sheet cakes then that would feed around 50 (small portions), and i'm sure they will have other food there. I'm not going to worry about it anymore..I hate working without a plan and I hate the fact that a second cake SHOULD BE ANOTHER $30 but I'm only doing this ONE TIME, and i'm letting them know that. Thank god i get to do a b-day cake for my best friend (for free as a surprise) so that I can have a little fun and less stress..that'll snap me out of the bad mood mode i'm in.
I cringe when I think about her putting the cake(s) in her car with no one to hold it! If its an open house two 9x13 cakes would probably be a good idea. HUGS to you girl, I know you are probably white knuckling it right now, maybe it would help if you think of how many people will be enjoying your cake, and how I am sure the bride and groom will appreciate you doing this.
Next time you can just politely tell the woman how much it will REALLY cost for the cake, and that you will need to know what dimensions she wants(if she can't give you how many people are coming, she should at least tell you how big she wants the cake), and that you will need X days notice to do it. (and if she can get a $30 cake elsewhere, good for her!).
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