okay well here i go .... i have a MIL who's boyfriends niece is getting married in june or july. Well she says I do cakes, so they asked me if i can do there wedding cake and this will be my first paid one. I say of course as long they tell me what they want, i'll do it. Well, this was almost three months ago and things get haywire lack of communication they don't want to spend over 200 dollars for 14 wedding cakes decorated with bc and flowers and dragees and so far i'm getting a headache from my MIL. She had not said anything to me about the cake since then and to mention she's designing the wedding cake for them so it's much to say they have no say in the cake which i find odd. Well, last time we talked she told me to think about it if i still want to make it b/c the just wanted to pay 200. She never calls me and everytime i bring it up she is too busy. She comes over my house to see her 17 yr. old daughter b/c she practically lives with us and say so let's design the wedding cake. I was in aww 
.... i said i'm make the wedding cake? She says yes that's what i told them. I felt like kicking her @*# 
. now i feel a little better from venting
You need to bypass the MIL and work directly with the couple. Your the cake decorator, not her! 
sheesh nosey, bossy MIL's- can't stand them...I have a MIL that can be that way, so I know how you feel- I've learned to pick my battles with her and let my hubby deal with the most.
O.k. here is ALL you need to get...
$200 is what they're paying you...
1) find out how many this is to feed...
2) what are their colors and a paint swatch of the colors (if they're using David's Bridal, just have them tell you the color and they've got swatches you can get for $1 each, and since this sounds like a headache IL situation, just go get the swatch, it's easier than banging your head)
3) Theme for their reception decorating
4) What time you can set up at the reception site
5) If you have trouble coming up with ideas, post that info here or do a search on webshots.com and you'll get TONS of ideas..
NOTICE -- there wasn't ANYthing in there about the design... For $200 unless it's only to feed 50 people, they are going to get what YOU give them. They are only paying for ingredients at this point if it's above 75 guests and if they want to pay for a Walmart cake and get what they want, they can GO THERE! You won't be out anything because of it..
I know it sounds harsh, but I've hit the point of being tired of the in-laws bossing me around on cakes and griping about this, that, or the next thing. I also take the attitude when it comes to the kitchen of I'll work with your budget, but if you want the main cake for less than $3/slice, you've got to give up something... And trust me, control is a LOT harder thing to give up than extra $$$ for most people. Even though my best designs are when I have full control over the design, it's still hard for people to grasp the concept..
I second CoutureCake's opinion.... Even though this is your first paid wedding cake you don't need to give them the sun, moon and stars for 200 dollars. How many are they having at the wedding? I would not over do it for 200 unless it was YOUR child getting married...
good luck and tell mil to butt out...
Tell you MIL that the price was too low that she quoted her boyfriends niece. Tell her she can make the cake and then you can make the icing and decorate. I hate baking all those cakes. She'll understand after all the ingredients are added and all the time it takes to make all those cakes.
I think CoutureCakes is right, find out how many guests the cake is to feed and then YOU design it from there. Allow only minimal input from the MIL or Bride/Groom as far as color and shape, and if they insist on certain details ~ they will have to pay extra.
I agree with JoanneK.
14 cakes for $200... tell them no way. They won't even get that price at Wal-Mart. I'm not even sure you can buy all the ingredients for $200 not to mention the time it will take to decorate 14 cakes... and that's less $15 per cake - for a wedding.
I have had 3 mothers in law and none of them would have reeled me into something like this. I would tell her just what I could do for $200 just like I would any other customer. This niece isn't even family! Tell your mom's boyfriend to buy her one at Walmart. 
(don't jump onto me, Walmart decorators--I'm just trying to make a point).
Diane
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