My husband's aunt is getting married next summer, and I asked him if I should offer to make their wedding cake. He seemed leery of the idea, so I thought I'd ask CC.
I've never made a wedding cake for someone else, but I would love the opportunity. I've turned down 2, because they involved traveling several hours in a car with 2 babies by myself, and I didn't have the nerve to attempt it. But this would be close to home, and I would do it for free of course, and not as a gift (unless she insisted).
What do you think, and how would I offer this? Should I just ask her to play my "client" so I can get the experience of interviewing a bride? Or would she then feel pressured to ask me to make it? Probably, huh? Hmmm.....
Well, I don't know her that well, but I thought this might be a way I could get to know her better. I suppose it's a bad idea. Or at least a selfish one! Thanks.
One way you could approach it so that she has an out without feeling like she would hurt your feelings is to tell her when she starts looking for a wedding cake you'd be happy to make her samples to try. make sure to tell her that she needs to try different kinds and pick whatever tastes/looks the best to her-no matter who made it-no hurt feelings whatsoever! That way she doesn't feel pressured to go with you.
I also want to caution about saying you'll give her this and not as a gift. Wedding cakes are an incredible amount of work, time and money. I learned this lesson the hard way when I made my sil's wedding cake-as dh put it "this cost us waaaay more than the $50 we would have put in a card" Now my gift would be 50 slices and you pay for the rest!
Just be sure to make it easy for them to say "no" and not feel awkward about it. You could say something like, "I think I am ready to make a wedding cake, and if you are looking for someone, let me know. But I understand if you want to go with someone more experienced, no pressure."
You could also explain to her your knowledge of cake decorating and tell her you would be happy to help her in the deciding process on what kind of cake she wants. Show some cake books or something too. I took that approach once and when my friend saw that I knew what I was talking about she asked me to make hers without me ever asking.
you should also start practicing making a tier cake, even if its small ones just so you can get the hang of them.
they are a whole 'nother animal!
Your cakes are very pretty - I am sure you would do a great job. Maybe ask her if you could make her shower cake and show her some of your work. That would get the ball rolling and maybe she would ask you to do it. You could do it at cost that way you would not be out the expense and you would gain the experience.
Well, I don't know her that well, but I thought this might be a way I could get to know her better. I suppose it's a bad idea. Or at least a selfish one! Thanks.
why would talking to her about her wedding cake be a selfish idea on your part?
Well, I guess I meant I just really want to make a wedding cake, and to put a bride I don't know well in a possibly awkward position might be selfish of me.
His family know that I do cakes, they've seen them at showers and such - I think I might mention it to my MIL and maybe she could pass the idea along to his aunt.
I know that doing it for free is a big expense, both in time and supplies, but I looked at it as a "school assignment". I can't go to culinary school, so I have to take my classes where I can get them. And this would give me the experience of interviewing a bride, a tasting, and photos for my portfolio. And maybe working with something I haven't tried, like fresh flowers or square tiers.
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