I know your saying what!!!!....This was our gift to the couple...and I can't say happy because I really don't think they are....long story.... but this was for my husband's brother today and it was our gift to them so we did it for free.......AHHHH!!!! The cake serves 144 and it is a white chocolate butter cake with buttercream icing. Their "theme" was poker and this design is what I came up with. It is my first official wedding cake. I would love for comments and critics along with what you would have charged....THANK YOU!!!! (and good night---I've been up for over 57 hours straight)
I can't attach the picture (says its too big) so it is the "poker" wedding cake in my photos...Anybody know how I can make my pictures smaller in size??????
Thank you very much. Basketweave and the rope border are my favorites. I also did 9 dozen cream cheese mints and 5 dozen petit fours for it as well. In the photo...everything you see, I did and paid for all of it. I also did the delivery, the set up, the cutting, and the tear down, and I'll be taking care of their top tier since he is shipping out in February to Iraq. I am going to put this down as advertising so I really don't get so upset at the fact that me and my husband put in over $200 in materials for it and really didn't get a thank- you for doing it. So....anybody out their know what I should put down as a $$$$ for the advertisement adventure of mine.
Cake: serves 144
Delivery
Set-up
Cutting
Etc...Etc...Etc............. 
Thanks!!!!!
I agree with the things already stated, your cake is beautiful! and tastefuly done.
Maybe you will get your thanks later, as a lot of things are going on with the couple..
if you spent about 200 dollars in supplies..not counting your time...you can multiply by 3 to get your "STARTING RETAIL COST"...$600.00.
Which should be the absolute LOWEST that you would do the job for and that is DONATING your time!
adding the 57 hours..let's see...@ $6.00 an hour..add another 342 to your total....bringing your GRAND TOTAL FOR THE JOB TOO...
$942.00 and that would be a "CONSERVATIVE" pricing!
so if you're going to "advertise" you can quote the price for the total job at $1,000.00 because that will give you space to maneuver down a few dollars ...make someone happy...and not cheat yourself out of money.
HTH..
or if you're pricing the cake by the serving ..you have to deduct all the ingredients for all the other things you made...charge your cake at ..$$$$ mult. by number of servings...
then you can mult all the ingredients for all the other things and add your time..
does that last part make any sense??? lol
I personally charge by serving for tiered cakes (of any kind), and my buttercream decorated cakes start at $3.50 per serving. Because basketweave is a a pet hate of mine, I'd charge $4 a serving for this one so:
144 x $4 = $576
Delivery & set-up = $50
Serving fee = $75
= $700
Then I'd add on for the flowers, a deposit for the pillars and stuff I'd want back. PLUS whatever you spent on the supplies for the petit fours & mints x 3!
So, I think like Risque, you'd be looking around the $1000 mark for a job like this one.
Hope that helps!
Get next issue of American Cake Decorating Magazine it has an article on pricing wedding cakes.
I was interviewed for the article.
They interviewed a few top bakeries in their perspective areas.
Like B Keith, House of Clarendon, Sweet Expressions etc.
lora
Fabulous!!! Not an odd theme, really. What a great idea for those who eloped to Vegas and are having a reception back home! I have one coming up in which gambling is the theme for the groom's cake....I'm making dice cakes for him. Basketweave is my personal favorite technique and you incorporated it great into this cake!
This will be the first cake that I mark as a "favorite"!
? it is very well done ? If they had went somewhere else, then it would not be free. you did a great job on it. I don't understand why they would not be happy .
Beautiful cake! Just great! They were lucky to have you!
Well...it depends on your area in regards to pricing. Definitely in the $500-$700 range as a minimum.
Very pretty cake. You should be very proud. The bride and groom were very lucky to have you do their cake!
Angie
FIRST, just let me say that your cake is spectacular! If that's your first---you're in for LOTS of business! Beautiful work!
SECOND, I agree totally with Risque (yes--it occasionally happens! 
) that's easily a $1000 job. With all that piece work you did on the candies and petit fours---those people SCORED when they got you to do their wedding. Literally. They should be grateful to you for the rest of their LIVES.
THIRD: Never short change yourself on pricing with wedding cakes. There are things you'll spend money on that you'd never think about--until you're using it. Like extra Press N Seal. Extra soap. Extra gas for trips to the supply. Gas. Blah--blahh...blah. But always set a "minimum" you'll take per slice, and never go below that. I recently had a bride and groom (skeezers by the way--glad I didn't do their wedding) turn me down on pricing. In the end--they ended up with a grocery store cake. But you know what? I didn't end up losing my time and personal money on a cake that was worth far more than they were quoted, and far more than they were willing to pay.
FOURTH: Get some rest! 57 hours straight---Girl, are you through yet?! 
--Knox--
I want that as my wedding cake. It is gorgeous!!! Great Job!
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