My First Bridal Consultation Was A Success!
Business By momsandraven Updated 15 Jun 2006 , 5:10am by Jenn123
I've done several wedding cakes, but they've all been for people I knew. Tonight I had my first bridal consultation for a stranger! WOOT!! I had asked if they were interested in tasting some flavors, since the MoB has seen a few of my cakes, but never tasted them. They said yes, and they were definitely looking for a white cake. The MoB, bride, and groom all came.
So, I made a plain white cake, an almond white cake, and my signature flavor-a white caramel cake. They were all 4" rounds, not filled, and iced with BC. Then in small dishes w/spoons, I put out some strawberry filling, a white chocolate mousse, and some chocolate hazelnut BC. I gave each of them a slice of each cake, and let them spoon the fillings onto their plates so that they could sample any combination together that they wanted. I served them on my china, and offered coffee, tea or milk to help wash down the cake.
Then, when they had pretty much decided on a combination, we started talking about the cake decoration, sizes/serving #, and colors. I had a couple of Wilton Wedding cake books sitting out for them to look through for ideas, and showed them a few of the cakes that I've done recently that I thought was similar to what they wanted.
When all was said and done, I got a $50 deposit, and the balance due in full 2 weeks before the wedding. I'm so excited and had so much fun!!! 
Hey, congratulations on your first "outside the family" client! Tell us all about it - how did they find you? What did they finally order?
In my opinion, anyone who knows who Beverly Sills is enough to quote her deserves successful consultations.
Now, how about sharing some of those recipes with the rest of us. White Caramel Cake and Chocolate Hazelnut BC, huh? (hint, hint!)
Congrats, again!
Theresa 
That is sooooooooo cool!!! Congratulations. It sounds like you were extremely professional with them. I'm impressed. Just from what you have said here I'd get you to do my Wedding Cake if I weren't already married and a Cake Decorator
Lazy_Susan
LOL, you guys are crackin' me up. Of course I'll share. 
Here's the chocolate Hazelnut BC:
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 2/3 cup confectioners sugar
6 Tbsp Butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
5 - 8 drops Lorain Choc. Hazelnut oil, depending on how strong you want the hazelnut
Milk to thin to desired consistency (4-6Tbsp or so)
Recipe makes approx. 2 cups
Here's the white caramel cake, I'm almost embarassed it's so easy!
White cake mix
2Tbsp Vanilla Caramel flavored non-dairy creamer
your favorite 'doctor'-ing ingredients for the white cake mix.
It is amazing what an impact the creamer has on the flavor. I just add it right in with the cake mix before I add the wet ingredients.
Thanks for the encouragement everyone! The MoB heard of me from a co-worker, who had just picked up a Blue's Clues cake last week. The co-worker was actually my first paid order over a year ago, and a friend of a friend referral.
I have been praying for God to bring me success if this business is His will for me, and in the last month, I've had as many orders as I can handle (without ANY advertising at all!) His power truly blows me away, and I just feel like I need to acknowledge His greatness!
Oh, Theresa, thanks for the comments on my signature line. I stumbled across the quote at my favorite quote site, www.thinkexist.com, and was inspired to learn more about her. Fascinating woman!!
Well far be it for me to keep you awake! LOL They ordered the white caramel cake with strawberry filling. The colors of the wedding are pale yellow and periwinkle, with mostly hydrangeas for the flowers. The cake is a very simple design, smooth w/swiss dots and flower petals scattered around the base and a little bit around each tier. (Their florist will leave me a bowl of petals.) They ordered a stacked cake to serve 116, and (2) 1/2 sheet cakes w/no decoration, just frosted.
Oops, my bad. It's LorAnn cake flavor oil, just went and looked at the bottle. Jenn, I buy it from a local cake decorating supply store, but if you go to www.lorannoil.com they have a link to find local retailers. You can also get the oils at www.kitchenkrafts.com.
Glad I can return the favor after all of the tips you gave me about my airbrush!!
BEST WISHES and remember to bring some backup petals, just in case.
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