Bride Wants This Cake...i Have A Q~
Decorating By melysa Updated 11 Apr 2007 , 11:46pm by snarkybaker
i have a request for a crooked wedding cake - this is the picture that was given to me (i dont know the decorator origin-sorry)
http://www.wedlok.com/uploads/weddingcake.jpg
the wedding is in october, so she wants fall flowers or fall leaves . I will NOT be making them from gumpaste (i am drawing the line 
). so she will need to get them from a florist. The cake needs to feed 100- so based on round cakes of 6,8,10,12, i get 110 wedding servings, saving the top tier (serving 10). ok- we're meeting in a couple of weeks for details and i want to be prepared.t his is only my second real wedding (dont count my own 
) since getting involved in decorating. This is an aquaintence, and was at the last wedding where i did the cake. I do not mind a little flexibility with the price since i know her - and she likely knows i did the last cake at cost (for a very GOOD friend), BUT i went through so much to get the last one done, that i dont want to give this one away. its too much work. so- anyway, back to my point. i want to be prepared and professionally present my work, the cost etc and be confident in what i ask for. thing is- i think 3$ a slice is MORE than fair, but they are young, not a lot of money etc....oh the dilema.i dont want to do this for nothing, but i dont want to be unfair either. PLEASE give your honest opinion on what this cake should go for, as well what MY SPECIFIC skill level presents- is my work worth your quote? (HONESTY PLEASE- I AM A BIG GIRL). I am in texas where cake averages 2.25-6.00. THis will be covered in satin ice fondant. likely have fillings (fruit, ganache, cream, etc) and be a more complex cake flavor, so my cost will be about 1.40 a serving. my guess is about 25+ hours.
I think $3.00 a serving is more than fair - despite your particular skill level! When you consider all the work involved I think they're getting it at a steal - really! If they gasp at that price maybe they need to reconsider the cake design.
I may not be the best person to answer this however - I truly believe that most cakes decorated at home (whether for friends or not) are WAY underpriced! 
i FEEL like $3 a serving is too little....
I agree, especially for that design!! Glad it's not just me, sometimes I think maybe I'm too cheap - or too greedy. Honestly way underpriced and if they go out and price other designer cakes (at home bakery or not) they would jump at the price - I know I sure would!!!
$1.40 x 3 = $4.20 a serving.
so, yes, $3 is on the low side
now another way to figure it:
$1.40 x 100 = $140
25 hours x $6 = $150
so thats $290 or just about $3/serving which means you're making MINIMUM wage.
more realistic is $10/hour for your time especially for a cake that will need so much careful work to assemble.
that kind of crooked cake is challenging and will take more than 25 hours all told.
(and do be careful of the fillings so the tiers don't slide when put on an angle)
@ $3 you're being very generous to them
@ $4 you're at break even
@ $5 you're finally into the true profit zone.
@ $5 you're finally into the true profit zone.
ok, so NOT fishing for compliments i swear, just wondering if my abilities match this price- i "think" so , but dont want to come across as arrogant and greedy- ya know?
thank you both ,by the way for posting, these price question threads usually are hard to answer.
keep it coming anyone else who has an honest opinion...
Doug always has the best way of figuring out things!!!! 
I just got done looking at your photos and I think you could definetly charge $5 per serving! You have very beautiful work and that looks like a complicated cake! If they don't like that price HELP them with another design. That way they will know you are trying to give them the best deal and will still want you to do the cake!
I agree with Doug, your skill level (judging by your gallery) is exceptional. Decorating and filling aside that is a complicated cake that will need serious structural integrity. I don't know much about wedding cakes but I would pay $400 easy.
Just had to add my 2 cents...
I have made ONE "mad hatter" cake, and it does not look anywhere near as difficult as the one you show. I doubted my 'skills', so I charged $3 a serving, as it was covered in fondant.
It took me at LEAST 25 hours of labor, and I will never do a cake like that again for less than 4 or 5 dollars a serving.
$3 is more than fair, but you are definitely within your rights to charge more!!!
[quote="StaceyC3"]Just had to add my 2 cents...
I have made ONE "mad hatter" cake, and it does not look anywhere near as difficult as the one you show. I doubted my 'skills', so I charged $3 a serving, as it was covered in fondant.
It took me at LEAST 25 hours of labor, and I will never do a cake like that again for less than 4 or 5 dollars a serving.
quote] yes, i have my suspicians about underestimating my time too...hmm.
@ $5 you're finally into the true profit zone.
ok, so NOT fishing for compliments i swear, just wondering if my abilities match this price- i "think" so , but dont want to come across as arrogant and greedy- ya know?
thank you both ,by the way for posting, these price question threads usually are hard to answer.
keep it coming anyone else who has an honest opinion...
In the end it's much easy to go down on the price if your not happy with the final product. Don't sell yourself short - no pun intended!
oh PUUUHHHHLLLLEEEEZZZZZ
you doubt your talent!?!!?!
calla lily illusion cake
bible on indian pillow cake...
etc.
-------
get over the self doubt!!!
and charge at least $5
you know how to make a person laugh! i suppose as a hobby, everyone is timid when first starting out. each time i do make a cake, and stay up ALL night, i tell myself- never do this again, but i love it. regardless of how many simple minded people have NO idea what goes into making their cake special, i love it. i do find myself picking out imperfections and hoping noone will notice, i suppose i strive to be a perfectionist so that i will improve. thank you for pointing out my cakes that stood out to you. i appreciate it. 
makes me feel smug~
oh PUUUHHHHLLLLEEEEZZZZZ
you doubt your talent!?!!?!
calla lily illusion cake
bible on indian pillow cake...
etc.
-------
get over the self doubt!!!
and charge at least $5
I'll second that!! If you charge them $3.00 there will be no sympathy from me when it turns out terrific and you realized just how much you undercharged! Your great - no more selling yourself short - if I were your friend I would be driving over and shaking you - LOL! I think $5.oo is fair - to both you and them. 
To the Original Poster,
I didn't see where you live but in my neck of the woods I charge $5.50 a slice it goes up a dollar if I'm using Fondant.
No one blinks an eye in my neck of the woods but I think it's because of where I live.
Don't go crazy but do not sell yourself short. If you don't charge a livable wage no one else will stand in your corner and do it for you. Take care of yourself.
Good Luck!
melysa:
Your "Stem Illusion" wedding cake is beautiful! Can you use that one as your "starting" point or guide with the price of this one?
well- that one helps a bit, and it doesnt....that was an at cost cake for a good friend. i do know that it cost around 275- had to buy a set of pans, so ingredients were about 200. i also spent 33 hours on it, (including a two tier grooms cake) - the wedding was a saturday afternoon, i spent most of thursday baking, part of friday REBAKING (4 of those blasted cakes stuck in the pans!) out of my one tiny oven and didnt sleep a WINK friday night, worked up until the ceremony- crashed dead asleep on the couch a 6:30 saturday night. so- it was NO LITTLE SACRIFICE!!! so the memory of all that helps put it in perspective as far as not underpricing.
that cala cake also kicked my butt, for my first wedding, i agreed to 5 different cake/flavor combinations. why didnt any one warn me to keep it simple ????
OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHKAY!!!! i am going to take a deep breath, quote $5 a serving and go from there. i suppose if it doesnt work for them, then i can help find something that will fit their budget. i do know that i will NOT do anything for less than 3 a serving, regardless of simplicity . i have a husband, 3 small children an a rescued bait dog that need me!!!! (not to mention housework and myself!) thank you everyone for your encouragment and perspective. i am very appreciative and humbled. seriously.
That cake is a Ron Ben Israel Cake....we all know what he charges!
is that right??? that will give me some leverage then, when i show them print out with his cake and HIS PRICES!!! $500 will sound like a bargain! thanks maryann!
I wouldn't go below three a serving. Having not done a wedding cake for hire yet, I would probably charge about that, just to have the experience. BUt that is just me.
How the heck do you make a cake like that?
Stephanie
i did ONE wedding cake in march, and let me tell you that was ENOUGH "just for the experience" for me!!! SO much work!
You do excellent work. $5 minimum. You know my great aunt told me once when I was selling jewelry(I never asked her to buy thinking she didnt have money-soc sec) well she said never underestimate anyone's pocketbook. Then she wanted to see what I was offering and bought $300 worth of jewelry. Then she said if I want something I get it, if not i'll tell you I don't have the money.
I have always remember that (even learned the same thing in sales training)
So state your price and stick with it. If they want it they will get it or something cheaper.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%