Feeling Guilty About Wedding Cake $
Decorating By beachcakes Updated 22 May 2006 , 8:19pm by wendysue
Back in Dec. a friend's sister asked if I'd do her wedding cake for her. At first I tried to get out of it b/c I'd never done one before. A few months later she tells me she wants me to do it and i tell her ok i'll be fair with the price, as I've never done this before and was just a hobbyist. (I've since sold a few).
It's a 16-12-8-6 white cake torted w/ choc filling for 150, stacked, fondant-covered, with white choc. seashells, lustre dusted. She has her own topper. She just called me at work to discuss the details (I had never given her a price as I was trying to figure it all out). So I told her $325.
Now I feel really guilty about that price being high! I bake from scratch, so the ingredients cost a little more, also I have to have fondant shipped and need about 25 lbs of it. Also the Merckens for the seashells had to be shipped, and there were various molds and 16" pan I had to get. The filling is planned to be whipped chocolate ganache.
She kind of hesitated when I told her the price and now I'm afraid I insulted her or something. Her sister got married last May and had a lady do it for $300 (initally quoted $400) for 100 people, but it was three tier, BC with piped decorations and fresh flowers (not included in the price).
I think the price you quoted her was quite generous considering I think all your materials will take up most of the money. I don't think people realize how much it costs and the time spent to do the cake, they just figure it is just a cake shouldn't be that much. I wouldn't come down on your price and if she questions you explain to her all the costs invovled and if she doesn't understand then I wouldn't worry about it and let her find someone that will do it for that amount of money.
I think you gave a fair price ... you hjave to think about the time involved in preparing a wedding cake... so much involved... You shouldn't be unfair on yourself... A wedding cake is fairly more exspensive than any other specialty cake... look around the internet and you will see just how costly they can be...
I wish you all the best! Tina
I think your being more than generous with the price...If it's too much for her tell her you can change the design to fit their budget. Make a small buttercream wedding cake with sheet cakes with extra servings. Sounds like she wants a champagne wedding on a beer budget. That shouldn't be your problem, it's hers. I wouldn't lower the price, change the cake design!! She's going to try to take advantage of you because you said you've never done a wedding cake before. You'll soon find out how much work this cake will be!!
I think you charged a more than fair price. A friend and I are working on our first wedding cake (to be delivered Friday) and have bought at least $150 in supplies and have been working on the accents a couple hours each night for the last week. The cake is for my friend's friend and so we are only charging for supplies. But we sat and figured it out that with all that she wanted on this cake we would probably be close to $500 if we were to charge her full price.
Your price is fair. Not only for the supplies, ingredients, shipping costs, but your time is priceless! Considering how much goes into the design (I mean the stuff besides the basic look), but your knowledge! Your price is a bargain don't back down! But just a word of advice. if you decide to adjust your cost, present it as a discount or gift or something, so she will know what your work is worth and that she is still getting a PROFESSIONAL CAKE!
I'm just getting into cake decorating but I am speaking from experience as a newlywed. She is getting a fabulous deal. You could easily charge twice that amount and not feel guilty. I had a cake made for 150 people. It was a 10", 8", and 6" (with the 6" being our aniversary layer). It was more than enough with nice-sized pieces. Your cake is even larger. I had a buttercream frosting, not fondant. Very simple but elegant. Fresh flowers that my florist (not my baker) supplied. Our cake was included in our reception package deal, but I know that the baker usually charges much more than the $2.00 a slice. She should not feel offended...she should be jumping for joy!! Fantastic deal!! Good luck!
Hi
Don't feel guilt. Especiall sinde that cake will fee just under 200. I start my fondant cakes at $4.00 per serving and you are also adding chocolate shells luster dusted and all. She has to know that that is an amazing price and just wants you to do it for less. the price you are quoting is barely enough to cover costs, never mind time. She should be so thankful that she has a friend like you.
Good luck
bestest
Dawn
Thanks everyone for your comments! My friend's sister didn't say anything about the price, there was one of those "silent pauses" after i told her. Maybe I'm just paranoid. She's not trying to get something for nothing, I don't think. This is both of their second marriage, they're in their early 40s, but for both of them this is their first "real" wedding. So they're having the dress, the bridesmaids, the band, the cake, at the private club she manages...
I have no idea what people charge around here for wedding cake, but I'm assuming it's WAY more than $2. per serving. Restaurants get $8-12 for a slice of cake after dinner.
I just don't want her to think I'm taking advantage of the situation. If it were for someone else, I think I'd have to charge at least $500, if not more.
I'm excited to be doing my first wedding cake, but nervous at the same time!
Thanks everyone for your comments! My friend's sister didn't say anything about the price, there was one of those "silent pauses" after i told her. Maybe I'm just paranoid. She's not trying to get something for nothing, I don't think. This is both of their second marriage, they're in their early 40s, but for both of them this is their first "real" wedding. So they're having the dress, the bridesmaids, the band, the cake, at the private club she manages...
I have no idea what people charge around here for wedding cake, but I'm assuming it's WAY more than $2. per serving. Restaurants get $8-12 for a slice of cake after dinner.
I just don't want her to think I'm taking advantage of the situation. If it were for someone else, I think I'd have to charge at least $500, if not more.
I'm excited to be doing my first wedding cake, but nervous at the same time!
She is getting a bargain.... if it is too much show her how she can cut costs
One she is ordering a bigger cake than she needs That cake is more than 150 servings
fondant and fancy fillings cost extra..... DO NOT go lower infact you are far to low. figure out your costs and subtract that from the cost and then see how much you are making or LOSING per hour.
If she wants a cheap cake send her to Walmart.
I definitely wouldn't feel bad! I thought I may have to do a cake last weekend for around 150 people myself, so I stalked out the Publix bakery department to see what they would charge. $319 would get you a cake to feed "100-150" while one to serve 150-200 would cost $419, and these prices are just for basic buttercream and minimal decorations..
So charging $325 for a 150-person 4 tierd cake covered in fondant is very reasonable!! 
I agree you are way low on this one. If her sister got a cake for 100 that cost $300 she paid $3/serving. You are charging $2.16. I would let her know regular price for a cake of that calibar is $500.
I would charge at least $3/serving for something like this and baking from scratch costs a lot more.
I don't think you've overcharged at all. Even if this is your first cake. She's asking for quite a lot and it's a bigger cake than her sister paid the $300 for. If she has any doubts about what this cake should cost she'll no doubt do some research of her own and find that you're more than reasonable. If she has never priced cakes that would explain her hesitation. Wedding cakes are expensive and many people don't learn this until they go to pay for one. If it helps her to understand the pricing you might break it down for her so she can see what your costs are and what you pay yourself per hour. Maybe even call another bakery in town and get a quote for a cake as you've described to us here and see what their best estimate is, then show your customer what a bargain she's getting. 
If she later says she can't swing $325 maybe suggest another type of cake to her, one without fondant for example. Good luck! Be sure to post a picture when done!
I'm still a student and my book "The Wedding Cake" states that a slice of wedding cake costs $5.00 and this book doesn't include any fondant cakes. Don't feel guilty. I'm just finding out that this is a really fun, rewarding but very exhausting, mentally draining and tiring profession not to mention the mess, oh God the mess....and you should get what is due to you.
Goo Luck!
Oh and wish me luck with my finals coming up in June. Yikes!
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