Ok, so I got this phone call from the mother of a bride who is looking for someone to do her wedding cake in AUGUST. She says that she needs a cke for about 80 people and that her friend saw my cakes and she will be at my house in 8 MINUTES to look at some pictures!!!!!
My husband and I raced around tidying things up and she came and wants a 3 tier square cake with buttercream icing ( because her daughter hates Fondant) and her colors are black gold and ivory. She wants the top tier to be covered in roses and around each layer as well. But she wants buttercream roses because the daughter wants EVERYTHING to be edible. I told her it may not stand up to the heat etc..... and she definately does not want any other kind of flower.
Then she tells me how she was a cake decorator for 25 yrs and just doesn't have time to do this cake. She wanted to nkow if I had a picture of what she wanted. I'm just starting my business and I've only done a few weddings but nothing the way she wants it.
She works for the oilfield and is leaving town on Monday and doesn't know when she will be back before the wedding. She said she will send me a picture or pictures via email and let me know what she wants.
She wants a 14" a 10" and a 6" with b/c and edible roses and I quoted her $325. Does that sound too cheap? Should I do this cake? Nothing is in writing and she hasn't paid the deposit to hold the date.....
We are also taking our kids on our first family vacation from July 3rd to the 17th.
Also if she changes her mind and wants the fondant/gumpaste roses what should I charge her then???? I kinda felt a little intimidated and pressured, especially when she started in with how her family is a bunch of really picky eaters and they can taste crap from a mile away..... so the cake has to be good.
Sorry this is so long but I'm not sure what to do.
WOW!!! That lady sounds like she was trying to intimidate you. I think I would've been too. I think $325 sounds reasonable for that. I would definitely charge more for fondant or especially gumpaste roses. Roses are really tough to do and you deserve to get paid for the time you are going to have to put into making them.
On the subject of calling and saying I will be there in a few minutes.... I have had that happen to me in the last month. Thank goodness school is out and the house is clean otherwise I would have been really embarrassed!
1) I'm sorry, ma'am, but I do consults only by appointment. My first available time is:
2) Thank you for asking me to do your cake, BUT before I can hold the date, I will need a 50% deposit by XX (date) and payment in full 1 week prior to the wedding.
3) I'll be glad to do my best to make the cake you desire, BUT I will need what ever photos for inspiration at least 6 weeks before the wedding.
4) Please remember, you are contracting for a (xyz) type of cake. Changes can be made up to 4 weeks before the wedding, free of charge. Changes made 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding will cost an additional $x. NO changes can be made within 2 weeks of the wedding.
personally i think $325 is a bargin, esspecially since i see you are in Canada. Thats like twice as much cake as she needs. And if she has been decorating for so long then she should know that.
as far as the crap issue, i would have been fuming, I would have already been hot over an 8 minute notice for showing up (but i would have probably not been home when she got there) So i would have told her that i don't serve crap and if she thinks i would, then perhaps she needs to go elsewhere.
O M G 
See...that's why I don't answer my phone if I don't know the number. Then that way people can leave a message saying whatever it is. And I can get my thoughts, books, whatever together & be prepared when I return their call.
I think that was so rude of her to 1) say she'd be there in 8 min (how did she know that you were even home or didn't have plans or weren't with another customer or entertaining?! and 2) the "crap" comment - I would've told her she could leave now.
I would DEFINITELY make sure you collect payment ahead of time & write up a contract about everything - especially changes. Did she even give you an exact date yet?
Good luck!!
i think this woman could be trouble. i don't think i would take her as a customer. she was rude for coming to your place without making an appointment. she will be out of town before the wedding. she insulted you by saying family can smell c*** a mile away. i smell TROUBLE......... 
i think this woman could be trouble. i don't think i would take her as a customer. she was rude for coming to your place without making an appointment. she will be out of town before the wedding. she insulted you by saying family can smell c*** a mile away. i smell TROUBLE.........
ok mother of the bride that decorated cakes for 25 years but has no time to do her daughter's wedding? She's crazy I don't think anyone like that exist I have only been cake decorating for one year and my DD is only 8 and I cannot wait to make her cake no matter how usy I am. They sound like they will be the people that say the cake was dry
She could be trouble but I would give her the benefit of the doubt. Make sure when she emails you that you need a deposit right away to secure the date and dont take no for an answer. Also, let her know that its non-refundable if she cancels without a two weeks notice. Some people just werent brought up with any manners. She probably doesnt even realize that she is being rude.
But just make sure you dont let her get away with anything and charge for everything.
I like what Doug pointed out.If she did this for 25 years then atleast she should have had an idea about making an appointment.And I understand your side ,as I am also very new to the paid projects ,and want to accept all ,but my husband keeps me from doing that .
Yeahhhhh I think I'd probably turn her down too. She already sounds like she will refuse to be satisfied, since she is a "decorator" and probably thinks she can "do it better" or "make it taste better". Whats going to happen is you are going to have a miserable time and then she is going to complain and want some money back at the end.
I never take last minute appts at my house...I always set up a time. Had she set up an appt, you could have also made her a little tasting cake so she could know ahead if she was getting "crap" (meaning so no complaints at the wedding if her refined taste buds were not satisfied) so its her own fault if she has a problem with the cake. Also I am not embarrassed to ask for photos...I tell the customer if they have something specific in mind, I need to see a picture.
If you decide to take the project on, I'd definitely get half the money now and the other half two weeks before the wedding. If she is serious, she'll pay very soon...if not, I'd just tell her you can't take her project.
Your price is actually on the low side With this in mind if this lady works for the oilfields you and I both know she can afford the cake. If they decide to go with fondant then up the price for sure. The more decorations the more it's going to cost.
Doug had some great advice too! Just keep a level head and don't stress over this lady and it will all be fine!
I've been doing cakes for longer than that....just did my oldest daughter's wedding cake.....this lady may have another job now, which I can understand if she does and doesn't want to mess with the cake and everything else the Mother of the Bride has to do.....but for your sake, you need to have a contract set up with her. Have it all in writing if you decide to mess with her at all. She sounds like she could be trouble, etc., and you need to make sure she pays a deposit to even hold that date. You could end up holding it and she bail out at the last minute on you and you pass on a chance to do another cake that date. Your right on with the price, maybe a bit low....and for sure if she goes with fondant, etc, charge more. Good luck with it though. Sometimes there isn't a "bridezilla" but a "MOMZILLA"!!!
WOW!! Can we say "pushy!"
Good luck is about all I can say!
Boy, reading through this, I just realized...SHE is picking out the cake??=( I have a feeling the daughter doesn't get much say in any of her wedding and that mom is very controlling=( Jen
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