Never Made A Large Wedding Cake Before!
Decorating By cncgirl00 Updated 27 Sep 2006 , 10:55pm by debbie2881
I was asked to make a wedding cake for family as a gift. I told the mother of the bride that I could make a small one but I that I was still learning and that it wouldn't be anything fancy. Now the bride want 5 tiers, satellite cakes, stairways, and a fountain! I know that I won't be able to please them, no matter how hard I work on this thing. How do I handle this without making enemies? I've only made one wedding cake( for my wedding) and the family knows this. Here's a pic of my wedding cake.
Okay first of all, they ASKED you to make the cake as a gift? That's rude.
Anyway, now that I got that out of my system, if you don't feel comfortable with it and aren't comfortable with taking the risk- don't do it. But if you want to try, it would be a good experience. If you want to do this as a business, then you have to make that first big cake sometime, LOL!!! 
Does she need that much cake? You could do dummies for most of it if not.
This is a great place for help, so if you end up doing it, there will be plenty of people willing to give you great advice!
If you really feel uncomfortable making the cake for them, I would tell them. If the only stopping you from making the cake is the fear that you have never done it before, Just take a deep breath and tell yourself that you can do it. 
Just take it one step at a time, one cake at a time. And plan really well.
Like golfgirl said, IF you decide to go ahead and make the cake, there are plenty of people here to give you advice and encouraging words. 
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
I agree. You should tell them that as much as you would love to make the cake for them, you are not ready to make a cake like she described. And that you fear she might not be happy with the results and you care about her too much to make her a less than fabulous cake on her wedding day.
Yikes thats a big expensive order for a FREE cake jeeze I just think some people have nerve. well that said lol I agree if your not comfortable just explain to them that you are new at this and wouldnt mind doing something on a smaller scale just be firm.
Thanks for the replies. They don't need this much cake. A normal 3 tier would probably be too much. I've searched this site and found some beautiful 3 tier cakes. I'm going to show them the pics and see what they think. Hopefully, they will find something they like. I could probably make a large cake but buying all that stuff is more than I can afford right now.
I could probably make a large cake but buying all that stuff is more than I can afford right now.
If you have to buy this stuff jsut to make their cake, and they are family, maybe they would be willing to help you out with the cost of the fountain, etc.
Also, there was another 40% coupon for Michael's in this last sunday's paper. That would also be a big help to you.
Okay first of all, they ASKED you to make the cake as a gift? That's rude.
That's what I'm thinking.
One way to do it is have them buy EVERYTHING you will need for the cake and give your time as the gift. They're still getting a great bargain.
Or set a max number of servings that you will do as a gift and charge for any more than what YOU say you will give her.
Don't feel that you're being cheap to do this, they're the ones being cheap if you look at what a wedding cake will cost them.
I had to reply to this because I just went thru this with my SIL's wedding. I was told that I was making the cake. Not asked, told! 
Oh and that it could be my gift.
I wasn't worried about decorating or anything, just irritated beyond belief at my in-laws, who know I'm trying to build my cake business but never order from me, and now tell me to bring cake Anyway, told to make cake for 150 people, 3 tiers, each a different flavor and filling, with chocolate seashells that "HAVE to look real". Spent over $120 on supplies and ingredients. Dh and I are on a really tight budget right now, so buying all the stuff was not fun.
And then only 70 people showed up!!! There was so much leftover cake and I cut HUGE slices! GRRRR... But I digress...
Here's my opinion, for what it is worth -
If you are not comfortable making the cake because of the skill level involved, tell them that. Say as much as you love for this to be your gift, you'd hate for the bride to be disappointed in the cake. Then give them the names of some other decorators or bakeries.
If you do want to do the cake, then suggest that they buy all the ingredients (make a very specific list) and tell them that all the time and energy that goes in to the cake will be your gift.
I did make a point of tell my SIL (within earshot of the other in-laws) that had she been a customer who ordered the cake, I would have charged at least $2 a slice plus an extra $75 for the shells. Just wanted her to know that her brother (my DH) loves her so much we were giving her $375 wedding gift. I said it as nicely as I could 
I know it can be hard to stand up to family. Good luck and let us know what happens.
I had to reply to this because I just went thru this with my SIL's wedding. I was told that I was making the cake. Not asked, told!
Oh and that it could be my gift. I wasn't worried about decorating or anything, just irritated beyond belief at my in-laws, who know I'm trying to build my cake business but never order from me, and now tell me to bring cake
Anyway, told to make cake for 150 people, 3 tiers, each a different flavor and filling, with chocolate seashells that "HAVE to look real". Spent over $120 on supplies and ingredients. Dh and I are on a really tight budget right now, so buying all the stuff was not fun. And then only 70 people showed up!!! There was so much leftover cake and I cut HUGE slices! GRRRR...
But I digress...
You were TOLD that you were making the cake???? And you went with it???? 
Oh my! You were a much better person than I would have been in that situation. I would have ended up with lots of life long enemies!!!
I showed the family some pics from this site and I think they decided on a 3 tier cake with 2 extra 1/2 sheet cakes in different flavors. Also, they decided to buy a chocolate fountain to put elsewhere instead of a fountain within the cake. Now, I believe this is within my budget and experience level. Thanks for all your help and ideas.
I'm glad you've found a solution that you're happy with - it IS very hard when family and friends expect cakes. I've gone and got myself into a stupid situation as when I was very new I made everyopne birthday and Christmas cakes as practice and to build up my portfolio - now it's expected to the extent that no-one in my close family or friends buys birthday cakes anymore as they just expect one from me. I imagine lots of us are in this situation 
since someone mentioned the coupon at michaels i got my flyer today and there is another 40% off for this coming week.
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