So Why Is It That We Charge Differenty For Wedding Cakes?
Decorating By SweetDreams Updated 8 Jul 2006 , 2:58am by peajay66
I just had a moment to actually sit and think quietly today (without the kids asking constant questions or requesting something) and i was thinking why it was that many of us (myself included) charge different prices for a party cake compared to a wedding cake. If it is the same cake that i am baking, the same amount of time to make and decorate it, why am i charging more just because it is for a wedding?
For an example. I made a graduation cake for my sister (i could not upload this one for some reason. Still not sure why it will not upload) that fed 90. It was a 3 tier cake that took me 13 hours to make. It was all covered in buttercream with a lot of MMF accents and some edible images. I would have charged about $140 for the cake (only paying myself about $6 per hour). If you took the same 3 tier cake that fed 90 and now called it for a wedding, my charge would have been $247 ($2.75 per serving)for the same amount of work and same tasting cake.
I guess i am confusing myself or just questioning what the big difference is in charge from one kind of occasion to all the others. It actually does not seem fair that i am acutually charging more for the same work, the same cake and on top of that, each person is getting a smaller piece.
Help!! I am at a loss for pricing anymore! What do you all think?
Is it that i should be charging more for my everyday occasion cakes? What do you do when you have someone that orders occasion cakes for one price then goes to order a wedding cake (maybe same size as they have ordered before but now for a differnt price?)
Sorry so long, i am just having a confusing ethical brain fart! 
P.S. I usually price my cakes cost+ time for occasion cakes and Per slice for wedding cakes. Not sure why, just seemed right compared to what others were charging at the time.
I charge the same for a tiered cake whether it's a wedding or a celebration cake. One price for tiered one for other then tiered. Not more for wedding less for celebration. More for the tiered due to the work involved in doweling, stacking, etc.
Debbie
Mostly I think it's because of the occasion. You can get a satin prom dress cleaned a lot cheaper that a white satin wedding gown. People are willing to pay more when it comes to a wedding, so the market charges more.
Maybe you should be asking...so why are you charging LESS for your party cakes? 
I've pondered this exacxt same line of though and decided to charge per serving for everything, period, for the same reasons.
I want to specialize in wedding and stacked cakes anyway, so if they want a smaller cake and mine are too expensive, then they can save their money and my time and get a Costco cake. I'd rather do one cake for $650.00 than 26 cakes for $25.00 each, wouldn't you?
Like DH always tells me, "Only say yes to the really good stuff."
Well, I am doing my first wedding cake in August of this year. My wedding cake prices are quite higher than party cakes. I think this is due to the set up, delivery etc. I also make my wedding cakes differently. They are two layers torted and filled. So you end up with four cake layers and 3 filling layers. I let them choose two fillings for each cake if they want. Where as my party cakes are just 2 layers filled.So 2 layers cake one layer filling. I don't usually put gumpaste flowers on party cakes. Party cakes tend to be less work and less elaborate decoration. Also they are not as much stress. Well thats my reasoning, but I guess if you are giving the same exact product for party cakes as you are for wedding cakes you might want to charge less. But, if people are willing to pay more for a wedding cake because that is what the market says they should do, why not charge more?
I charge wedding cake rates for ANY tiered or stacked cake. If you're going to the extra trouble of doweling, etc you should get a higher price IMO. I also use Wilton's party cake serving chart for all my cakes since I've heard of instances where the person(s) serving the wedding cake cut large slices and they ran out of cake. (I use this as a selling tool when consulting with brides!)
I do charge differently for wedding cakes but it's because of what comes with it vs a party cake. I have wrestled with this question many times and still do. I'm hoping to find the best fit. As for the difference in pricing with weddings I do 4 layers of cake and 3 of filling, free delivery and set up (w/in a certain area), tasting, etc. Party cakes get 2 layers of cake, 1 filling, must be pick up (except large tiered ones), etc. I guess I'm saying that there is a difference in the product and service. I don't know if it will work, I may have to change but it seems okay. Regardless, do what works for you and you feel good about.
Thanks everyone,
your answers really helped straighten things out! It does make sense to charge a different price for flat cakes vs tiered cakes no matter what the occasion is. I do spend a lot of time even on my flat cakes though. I also see your points that for a wedding you are using 4 layers of cake with 3 layers of filling vs 2 layers of cake/1 layer filling for party cakes.
I have not actually done a wedding cake yet, but i would like to get my pricing straightened out before hand so i don't sound like i have no idea what i am talking about or what my reasoning is for what the price is.
Homecook,
I also want to get to the point where i only do wedding cakes and specialty cakes but for now, i just want to do cakes. I would love to just take on one or two bigger, more costly cakes per week but i also know that when i do not have cakes to do, i get bored and those people that i would be turning down with a small order (just to wait for the good stuff)are also people who eventually will come to you for a big order if they like what you do.
For now, i just can't say no to someones order unless they are a crazy maniac or they want me to do a cake for costco prices.
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