Need to vent a little. Last week I received a request for a wedding cake to feed 450. First of all I have made a "Purse" cake for this person not too long ago and it was very large. He seems to be arranging all of his cousin's granduation parties and weddings during the summer. I asked what he did for a living and he told me he was still in high school. The date was suppose to be August 19th and then within a few days was changed to August 12th. They have a very limited budget of $500 for the brides and grooms cake for 450 people. I suggested smaller cakes the size to feed 100 and sheet cakes in the back yadda yadda yadda. We all know that story. That didn't go over very well. The bride wants these huge cakes. I suggested 5 tiers at 16, 14, 12, 10, and 8 with 5 - 8 in cakes surrounding the larger cake. They have come back tonight wanting to eliminate the smaller cakes and make the sizes start with a 22 in cake. They want to change the separator heights to taller than 3 inches. I feel this would be too unstable and too tall. I figure the way I designed it would be over 45 inches tall as it is. I don't know about you all but my oven will only hold a 16 in pan. This kid calls me umpteen times a day. I told him to only e-mail me since I do have other customers and each call is a change.
Does anyone else agree that I should ask him to find someone else that is willing to make a cake that size? The tiers would be 22, 20, 18, 16, 14 or 20, 18, 16, 14, 12 with separators of 6 inches. No way right??
First of all, $500 for a cake serving 450ppl!!!!!! That would be like a dollar a serving!!!! There would be no way I would do that one! And IMHO I think the 6" seperators would definitely be way too unstable! I know when I worked in a pretty popular bakery in my area, we only did a max of 3 tiers I think, and made up the rest in sheet cakes. And the sheet cakes ran about $1.50 a serving.
~Nicole
I would say no way not only to those sizes, but the price?!? They only want to pay $500 for a cake that big? I think your anxiety level alone while stacking those cakes would alone be worth $500. I would have a problem with the top layers because I am not a very tall person (5'5). Also, that would be alot of weight for those bottom pillars. Cake is very heavy, and I don't know how much weight pillars can hold.
Thanks all - I am only 5' 1" so the cake will be almost as tall as I am. I quoted a price of $2.00 per slice for the wedding and $1.50 per slice for the grooms (square chocolate with dipped strawberries to look like they are wearing a tux). The two combined are suppose to feed 450. I am having anxiety attacks because of this one. I really don't think it is worth it but the money makes it very tempting. I am wondering if they will ever be happy.
Suggest Costco.
I agree!!!!
$500 dollars is not near enough for that many people. I would simply tell him for that price he would have to go to a grocery store (if they would even do it for that price).
They sound like they are imagining this big huge wonderfull wedding cake, when they know nothing about it. Tell them that the only safe way of doing it is with the side cakes, if they are unhappy, then tell them your sorry, but you can't agree to it when you know it's going to fall down at the wedding.
You know, you could do the wedding cake with fake cake and make sheetcakes to serve. That way the bride has her gigantic cake, it wouldn't weigh 250 lbs, and it would be more stable. Doing fake cake takes more work, but sometimes it's worth the hassle. Did you ever come up with a better price than $500? It sounds like they want a champagne wedding on a beer budget.
Actually it came out to more like $900 and that is even a bargain here. He told me everyone else he called wanted $3.50 a slice. I have a big birthday package for a 1 year old that same weekend and I am looking so much more forward to make that one. I am beginning to wonder if I really want to make wedding cakes. I have done a few but the stress point I just can't get past.
I definately would not do this cake. Fake layers or not.
YOu could be setting yourself up for some serious heartache if you go against your gut.
Also, $500 for a cake of this size? Heck no... and even if you did dummies, dummies are not really cheap.
Besides, who lets a high schooler make arrangements for their wedding cake?!!!
People need to realize that bigger is not always better.
Sounds like this is a good one to pass byond the usual stress level. Just to make the bigger cakes, you're going to need to use a 1/2 circle pan (the one that makes an 18" is the biggest I've even seen), and that won't help with the sturdiness of the cake. If you do decide to do it though, I agree with the others about the fake cakes. Would take a load off in terms of the stacking. Good luck!
Sarah
I think that you should tell them that those sizes just won't work. I know that I would not do anything larger than a 16 inch cake since my oven and refrigerator will not fit it in.
I was suppose to do a very large stacked wedding cake in September and told them that I could not travel 2 hours in the heat. I offered another style cake...one that I knew that I could travel with. I was so happy when they decided to use someone else to make the cake. A lot less stress for me now.
Tell them what you can do without having a major disaster. I think they are getting a really good deal at 900.00. That will be a lot of work! 
I agree with everyone----no way! give them a realistic price and tell them it will be too tall, so you will have to change the "layout" and if they don't like it, they will find someone else. You will stress yourself too much. It is not worth it. Let us know what happens.
God Bless, Donna
I agree with everyone else that you should probably let this one go, even if they could pay more. Also, you would need to buy a 20 and 18 inch half circle which would run you a total of about 65.00. If you are doing double layers that means 4 oven runs just to make one of the big cakes. I think that you should listen to what your gut is telling you and let it go. In the end, you would probably make about 350.00 on this cake and obviously you would have to deliver and set up based on the size alone. Remember, all money is not good money and sometimes things are more trouble than their worth. It seems that this is one of those times. Focus on the birthday cake and let them find someone else to do it!!!
I think you are right. The "Purse Cake" that I made for this kid for his cousin's graduation party was delivered down a country non-paved road that lasted 5 miles. The Hall where they were having it was not air conditioned and the chocolate flip flops and high heels that I made for it and the chocolate make up for the purse was melting so fast in the 98 degree heat that I couldn't believe it. I just think this one is worth passing on. Thanks to all of you for your support.
It is horrible to turn down that much money. I just e-mailed the kid and apologized and gave him a name of a commercial baker that mass produces and may have an oven to make the cake of his dreams. I am sure they won't be in his budget.
Life is so short. I feel relieved knowing that this nightmare is over. It was a compliment to be asked to do this cake. I will take the compliment and run this time. I will also enjoy making the birthday cake for the one year old much more now. It would have been a crunch to get the package done.
Thanks again for all of the support.
If you are thinking at all about doing this cake, write up a contract with the price Per Slice, and what type of cake you are willing to do, and have no further discussion until the check has cleared for half of the Total. That alone will probably curb the grandiose plans.
You could do 6 10" rounds then start with 14 and go up from there, but no pillars, except maybe the top layer. Make a wooden base to hold the 14" that is 4 1/2 " off the table. Slide the edges of the 10"rnds under the base. It will appear as they are part of the tiered cake. I have a pic somewhere, of a VERY large cake I did that way. It was pretty solid. Let me know if it is something you are interested in seeing and I can try to post it.
If you have a bad feeling about this, go with your gut. Find out who is paying for the cake and deal with that person or the Bride herself if at all possible.
Let us know what happens!
I tried to talk them into the smaller cakes around and the Bride would have nothing to do with it. They don't have a clue.
Best to stick with the one year old. They can't complain. You would probably spend more time worrying about this than it's worth.
Thanks to all for your thoughts on this one. I e-mailed him last night and told him of a mass producer baker that may have the equipment to make such a cake. He responded very well and still wants me to make the groom's cake and gave me another small order for a birthday cake tomorrow. It all turned out just fine.
Again, thanks for all the support.
AlamoSweets, that is great news that he came back with more orders.
Much better to be upfront about what you are willing to do then to try and manage it and in the end everyone being unhappy.
This way he knows your limits and you still are getting the business you are comfortable with.
I am glad to hear you choose relaxation over anxiety For what they were wanting to pay you I don't think you would have felt good about making the cake from the get go.
I was thinking when i read they wanted a cake for 450 and only pay $500
1) That better be a white box cake mix with no extras and only buttercream icing and one border on each cake. No decorations at all.
2) Wal-mart wouldn't even make a cake for that price! and they wanted you to deliver and set up i am assuming?
Glad to hear you will have fun with your other order!
Leily
I don't think I would go near this order fake or not. I agree with what Jenni said...thay look like thay want a champagne wedding on a beer budget. It's your call. I would just worry that this experience may ruin it for you doing any more wedding cakes if this turns into a diaster which it already sounds it heading in that direction. Good luck.
She likely does want all those layers. However, if so, then she has to pay a higher price. Not sure when people started to get the idea that just because they only have a certain budget for cake that means you're supposed to make whatever cake they want for the price.
The way to keep costs down is how you suggested: a smaller display cake and numerours sheet cakes for feeding everyone. That STILL is at least $1000 for the cake though. You'd be crazy to do it for any less. Just a basic buttercream cake with minimal decorations shouldn't go for less than $2/slice. The effort he's talking about should be twice that, and if fondant is involved, that should DOUBLE the per slice cost. The cake you are describing is, in my opinion, should be at least between $4-8 a serving, depending on the finishes involved.
And as far as the high school kid arranging everything - if he's not 18 he can't sign a legally binding contract.
as far as the size of the layers - you can buy a half round pan that likely would fit into your oven - worth checking into, at least.
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