I had my first wedding consultation this evening. The guest list will be 250 people. Not including the top cake, how many tiers will that have to be and what size for round pans? Do I double the layers? They want the tiers stacked on each other. I also need to know how much should I charge? I have an idea, but when I think about the price, I get all nervous about it! She has decor bought to put on cake already. Ribbon, flowers, and leaves. (fall 2008 wedding) Also, she wants me to deliver(5-6 miles), and stay and cut the cake. Please Help me! Thanks CCers!!!! 
First, if you are going to "stay" and cut the cake, that means you will be there anywhere from 3-5 hours reading a book until they are ready to cut the cake, so at $25 an hour that's $75 to $125 to cut the cake. If she tries to save money by saying you can leave and come back, it makes no difference in price ..... you are technically "on call" and can't make any other plans. If she is tying up your time, she is paying you for it.
This cake of mine http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=93760 was 5 tier, stacked, for 250. It's a 16/14/12/10/8. They had cake leftover.
I charge $2.50/serving for a la carte wedding cake and that covers cake, delivery and set-up. This price is going up on 9-1-07.
agree with debi, depending on if they want fondant or buttercream i would price it from $625-750, and thats just to provide the cake, not to cut and serve it. dont under charge! not only would that undermine your skills it undermines cake decorators everywhere! be firm in your pricing, definitely dont do anything for less than $500. if she tries to pull the "well i bought all the decorations!" tell her that she can make the cake too if she doesn't want to pay your price for it. 
.... if she tries to pull the "well i bought all the decorations!" tell her that she can make the cake too if she doesn't want to pay your price for it.
My contract states that brides are responsible for providing all florals, so if they are wanting flowers on their cake, they are ALWAYS responsible for buying the decorations, so my response to her would be "Yeah.....so?"
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