Bride Wants To Bake And Wants Me To Decorate?!?!
Business By cherim1000 Updated 18 Sep 2007 , 5:48pm by krazykat_14
i don't think you really have time to make this cake plus there are all the other issues people mentioned however I note you said it is for your boss's brother so if you feel obligated to do it I have some suggestions on how to minimize the pain 
I wouldn't cover any of the cakes in royal icing I have never done it before but I have a book that says you have to do it in several thin layers and it has to dry for hours in between each layer - too much hassle
She said she wants shades of green - you could cover the cakes in a pale green eg. mint or sage etc and then use 2 ribbons one wider and fairly dark and one narrower and lighter then wrap the narrower ribbon over the wider ribbon around the bottom of the cake - now you have 3 shades of green with minimal effort.
I don't think the flowers have to be green you can throw some green leaves or some green ribbon loops to tie it all in. I would recommend doing 2 or 3 larger flowers on top of the cake instead of lots of smaller ones - it looks dramatic and saves work.
I would then tell her this is the only type of design you can do in the time available and she can take it or leave it. Then ask your boss for some time off to work on it - its his brother wedding after all
HTH
For liability reasons I would'nt do it either as was mentioned if someone gets sick its on you. My insurance wouldn,t cover me.
absolutely not!!!! she baked it, let her decorate it, run as fast as you can from this one....nothing but trouble, if something goes wrong with the cake, she will blame you for everything your reputation will be destroyed.......get out quick!!!!!!1
Kakeladi said:
Years ago a lady catered a wedding (including the cake). Some family member of the bridal couple brought in a dish of potatoe salad (as I remember)....
She did the catering out of her home with no insurance, license etc. She LOST EVERYTHING: Her home, her 'business', her life.
Kakeladi
Those people sued the cater lady and she lost everything?!!!!!! How horrible. What a horrid thing! And the Bridal couple didn't come to her defense or the creep that made the salad???
What is wrong with folks?
*waits for IndyDeb to see this and see what she has to say*
If this were me I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
Potential for food poisioning, mold, and Lord only knows what conditions these cakes were cooked in cleanliness wise.
There isn't a legal clause in all the world to cover the potential for lawsuits here.
If I did this at all I'd be baking completely from scratch in my klitchen where I have 100% control. I'm not a control freak until it comes to my cakes. Then and only then look out because I'm worse than a bear with a new cub. 
Jamaican Black Cake is a heavy fruit cake, made with rum or wine or brandy...I wouldn't worry about bacteria so much. I wonder what it's "shelf life" is though...
http://www.recipesource.com/baked-goods/desserts/cakes/31/rec3137.html
My main question is why did her baker cancel? Or did I miss it in an answer somewhere? Everyone has emergencies. Things happen. Remember that old saying "Life happens when you make plans"
IF I were asked to do this, I would charge as if I had baked it myself, as others have suggested.
I thought a very rich fruit cake, which has been soaked in alcohol can be made weeks in advance of the date its needed. It does need to be well wrapped and stored in a cool dry place though.
You need to see the cakes and check their condition and how they have been stored asap before you make any decisions.
If all looks ok on inspection and you decide to ice (fondant) the cakes and make some sugar flowers, you should work out what you would want to charge per slice and go from there. Since its VERY short notice, she should expect to pay almost full price for this cake as if you did it all.
On discussion with her about the flowers, think about what you could offer her in the timescales she has allowed you and do it to suit you.
Could you also, when you present her with the invoice, have a few lines on there which state you are responsible for the icing and decorations on the cake, but in no way liable for the cake itself.
The bride must sign this to agree and you both have a copy, that way you will have covered yourself.
If you decide to go ahead - good luck! Let us know. 
I don't see the liability here...it's not your food product and just because you decorate it doesn't make it your food product. If I had time I would do it just to help her out but I would tell her the gumpaste flowers have to be scaled down quite a bit with such short notice.
Whew! I didn't expect so many replies, but thanks for everyone's advice! Sorry for my delayed response, I sent that on my way to teach my class yesterday and I didn't get hom until late, now I'm up and about and checking on things and here I am! OK, here are a few more notes.
1st, I am going to do the cake. A couple of people noted a few things from my original email. It is for my boss. If some random person asked me to do a 5 tier wedding cake in a week, I'd tell them to get bent, never mind the baking it herself thing! LOL Anyway, being that it's my boss, I know what a pickle they are in and I want to help them. I have done one of these black cakes for them before so I know how to do the royal on the wet cake. It's NOT easy, but it's able to be done. You do have to do the super thin layers and let it dry, but the cheater way around waiting for hours is to pop it in the fridge for 5 or 10 minutes. As your putting the thin layer on the next tier, the first one is dry in the fridge and you can go back to it and 2 layers is all you need. The cake is soaked in port wine and is meant to be done well in advance of being served. It's a very sturdy cake that does not go bad easily... and, oddly enough, tastes REALLY good!
I am going to my boss' house today to meet with the sister-in-law-to-be to go over the details of the cake, thank you for the idea of the invoice with the disclaimer. I will draw something up that I can fill in with an amount today as we go over the details of the cake. I am going to pick up the tiers today so that I can ice them this week in my "free time"!.
I am also going to tell my boss today that we are going to have to close the office on Friday. There is simply no way around that. I can make my flowers tonight and tomorrow, make the icing Thursday night then ice the cake on Friday and do any decorating of the tiers Friday then the assemly Saturday.
Regarding the baker in NY, I don't think he cancelled, I think she is not very well organized and she never followed up with him. I'm not 100% sure, but I would be willing to bet that this is the issue. Then she saw the cake that I did last weekend, her jaw dropped (I don't think she thought that a receptionist could actually decorate a wedding cake) and she decided that she wanted me to do it. I just wished that she had come out and asked me that weekend to do it. I could have made the flowers this week. Anyway, can't go back now. One thing that I will do differently this time though is that I will make the icing with meringue powder instead of real egg whites. The egg whites want to deflate too easily and the icing isn't as smooth as the meringue powder royal. It's too sticky or fluffy or too... something. I didn't like it... and it tastes identical to the Wilton recipe of royal. So I'll make that and thin it a bit and go to town. Good Lord! This thing will weigh 200 lbs!
I attached a picture of the cake I did last weekend. It's the Jamaican black cake with royal icing. I realize that the icing looks like crap on it... but it was before I figured out the trick of doing the thin layer and putting it in the fridge. I did another cake later that was as smooth as a baby's behind. Anyway, my flowers made up for the crappy icing on this one.
Take care and thanks for all of your advice!!
Cheri 
This has nightmare written allllllllllllll over it.
I second that!!! It's not worth losing sleep and stressing out over this one!!! I have a 4-tiered wedding cake this evening that had me up and down all night long...horrible dreams of disaster....Ugh!!!
Two words...
NO WAY
JMO,
Amy
Good luck, Cheri! It sounds like you have it all worked out, and I wish you the very best.
Just remember to set extra time for snags, and make sure you have enough of everything (as I'm sure you already do). I hate running out of something last minute, only to find out the store is closed, or I just don't have time to start over. From now on, I stock triple of everything, just in case.. haha
Post a photo when you're done. I'll be anxious to see it.
Good luck, again!!
Holly
Hey Jules -
I don't think most people are assuming it will taste bad - I think the concern is more about liability if it wasn't properly made and kept. But, it's all moot because it seems the OP is going to do it (and maybe has done it already)!
Christy
Yeah, I already knew that I was going to do the cake. I didn't really have a choice being that it's for my boss. My first post was really asking for tips on pricing of a cake that someone else baked but I decorate. It's kind of an odd situation. I appreciate eveyone's advice and it has definitely made me think, and made me decide to make a contract and build in a disclaimer for the bride to sign. I'm not only including the fact that I'm only responsible for the decorations, but also the fact that I was given only a week's notice and very little guidance so that if she's not happy with the decorations she also can't come back and sue me. It will have something like "I understand that given the short notice to the cake decorator, the decor will be decorator's choice." I will come up with something that sounds a little more official though.
Jules - I've not heard of putting glycerine in the royal - do you have a recipe that will help??
Thanks for the kudos Holly. I'll post pics. I made some flowers last night. I'm taking off Wednesday at work, will make a quick trip to the cake shop (the nearest one is 45 mins away) and I'll ice and cover the layers that day. Thursday night I'll finish the flowers. If anything else needs to be done, I'll take off early on Friday. I'll do the assembly and set up with last minute decorations Saturday.
Thanks again for everyone's help and support! This one's a real pain! Good thing my boss is a surgeon. I'm going to have to get a prescription for Ambien today because my eyes were like this 
all night last night.
I'll be in touch! Off to work and to pick up the cake and ribbon!
Cheri
good luck! Please post pics when you are done!!
P.S. I was supposed to meet with the bride on Saturday at 11 to pick up the cake and go over the design. She had not left Brooklyn (at least a 2 hr drive) at 6pm. I told my boss that it was too late at that point. I had already given up an entire day waiting for her, I was not coming out that late only to get home at 10pm or later. My boss is SO pissed at her and the way she is handling this whole thing. She says that her other cake decorator never returned her phone calls, which is total BS since she would have signed a contract and paid a deposit. I think she never secured him in the first place. She seems just that disorganized. Why don't people like this hire a wedding coordinator? Why are these the people who do EVERYTHING themselves? She's doing her own flowers, wanted to do the food and my boss said, NO, since it's at their house.
Anyway, since I waited all day Saturday to meet with her, the cake shop closed and I never made it there. They are closed on Sunday so now I have to wait and go on Wednesday.
Wow, what a nightmare this is turning out to be ... I see a PITA charge coming about.
Is your boss giving you paid days off work to do the cake for them and paying for the cake as well? I hope it all works out for you!
Now that she missed the appointment, your timetable for completing this project is in further jeopardy. I'd politely tell her and your boss your recommendation at this point is for her to go to the local grocery/big box store and pick a cake off the shelf. [She can save her 5 tiers for her anniversary (if she makes it that far).]
Honestly, if she really wanted the Jamaican Black Cake, she would have been more organized. No amount of $$$ is worth the stress you are enduring over this situation. Your boss seems to be able to just say, "No" about the food. Follow his lead.
You've been handed your out. Take it.
If you absolutely feel you can't say, "No," for fear of disappointing your boss, then you take complete and total control of all parts cake and decorating. You bake what's convenient for you, decorate it how you like and she can pay the bill today. She can take it or leave it. It's a power play but bottom line, does she want a cake at her wedding?
Again, if she really wanted her 'dream' cake, she'd have been better organized. Some people have to learn the hard way.
cherim1000,
I have to agree with playing with sugar, if this cake taste bad is going to reflect on you. girl DO NOT DO THIS. I know that money could be 
tight but it will hurt you at the end if the cake is BAD. AND IF THIS CAKE IS BAD ALL THE BLAME WOULD BE ON YOU SO DO NOT DO IT. THIS IS MY RECOMMENDATION 
MICHELLE
CT
Sounds to me like Miss Bride has some self esteem issues. Just who is this Bride trying to impress? No matter how hard a person tries to make it perfect it never is...do the best one can and then have fun, for Pete's sake!! It is just one day after all. Some people have so much fun at the first one they do it over and over!!
Or, is Bridezilla cash poor and that is why she is doing it by herself, which is equally stupid<<<knows this is a POOR choice of word...Just because one is cash poor doesn't mean that one is friend poor!
She wouldn't be doing it ALL herself and be so disorganized to miss time with the decorator of her WEDDING CAKE if she had friends who were helping her and keeping her on track ( if she were scattered)
I agree with Scooby---You have been handed your out, if you want to take it. If you don't. Your price has just gone up!
I said 5 grand to begin with and I stick to that price now. You are going to need a vacation when this is over!
Wish I could help you but my Daughters wedding cake is due Saturday and because of my self esteem issues I am doing everything!!!!!!!!!!!! ROFL
=P Just kidding!! I have a ton of friends helping us!! God has blessed me mightly with putting people around me and then directing me to this website where these folks are so friendly and caring and will help a stranger out!!
Personally I only decorate cakes I bake myself. You keep referring to "the other baker" when it's the bride to be who baked her cakes. Are you saying this wedding is on the 15th? And the bride didn't make the appointment to give you the cakes AND you now have to wait till Wednesday to go to the cake supply store? I wish you all the luck in the world, I think you're going to need it and more. My advice would be to say no to this but it seems you feel obligated because of your boss. I think I'd discuss this honestly with the boss and pull out before you go mad.
I will never never understand how anyone can wait until the week before a wedding to get the ball going on the cake. I applaud those of you who could pull this together this mess in less than a weeks time. I wouldn't attempt it. I avoid this level of stress myself.
Good luck. I'll be waiting to see the pictures.
You could save yourself some time (unless you have already made them) and buy gumpaste flowers from your cake supply.
I, too, agreed to do a last minute wedding cake for a friend whose baker was unable to complete the order. Fortunately though, I did have a little more notice and I am baking the cake. If nothing else, you certainly can expect brownie points from your boss - possibly in the form of a Christmas bonus??? Just don't undercharge yourself. I think everything will work out just fine - I can't wait to see your pictures.
Just Breathe!!! Relax!!!
Sounds like you have things figured out!
But, are you taking off of work and they are not paying you!? If that were the case I think you should talk to the boss. He IS the boss and you are doing HIM a favor!
Good luck with everything! Please post pics!!
I agree with the last few posters too, since you seem to have it figured out. At least YOU sound organized.
I just wanted to add, as I have been reading through your thread, you make GREAT cakes and probably have a good reputation, even if it is still burgeoning. If you tell your boss you don't think it will work out at this late notice, (because of all the work needed that can't be done in a scant few days) I think all you will be doing is showing your boss that you 1) value your personal time 2) are structured enough to realize what can and cannot get done in a decent way 3) are way too talented to be put to the whim of the B2B that even your boss realizes is scatterbrained.
What I am trying to say is, I really believe after reading through all your comments, that your boss will 100% respect your telling her you are not able to do it.
I agree with the last few posters too, since you seem to have it figured out. At least YOU sound organized.
I just wanted to add, as I have been reading through your thread, you make GREAT cakes and probably have a good reputation, even if it is still burgeoning. If you tell your boss you don't think it will work out at this late notice, (because of all the work needed that can't be done in a scant few days) I think all you will be doing is showing your boss that you 1) value your personal time 2) are structured enough to realize what can and cannot get done in a decent way 3) are way too talented to be put to the whim of the B2B that even your boss realizes is scatterbrained.
What I am trying to say is, I really believe after reading through all your comments, that your boss will 100% respect your telling her you are not able to do it. (BTW I too, am an Admin Asst. so I understand bosses a little)
It sounds like you have your hands full with this one. As for how much to charge the bride, I think you should charge $10/hr. But you can always go lower since it's for your boss. It's what you feel comfortable with. Making the cake decorations is time consuming and involves a lot of work, and you should be compensated accordingly. I recommend calculating your time and providing her a quote before making any additional flowers. You need to find out now if she's going to have an issue with the cost. Definitely taste her cake before doing any work on it. When I level my cakes, I always taste it by taking a pinch or two off the crown that was removed to make sure it's okay. Since you've made this flavor before, you'll know right away whether it's a cake deserving to be served to the guests. I wish you the best of luck!!!
I got the cake today. I'll be able to open them up tonight and really take a look at them. My boss is paying me for the day off. Also, today we sat down to discuss what she could do (my boss' wife) to help me in the stress dept and what is my main source of stress. I explained that not having the time to get to the cake shop was stressing me out so she closed the office and off we went to the cake shop. She paid for all of the materials for the cake. So I charging $500 for labor. She said that she thinks that this is a more than fair price. So we're all set. I just need to talk to the b2b to make sure that she's OK with that price as well. She has still not chatted with me about px. But, she really doesn't have many options at this point. Anyway, I'd better hurry up, I have a class to teach! More later!
Cheri
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