So the phone rings the other day:
"Yah, I hear you make cakes?
We need one for our wedding on Thanksgiving weekend.
All them other places want $350 for a cake for 90 people or so.
$250 is our budget, and we really need you to do it".
It was the Groom...he's an acquaintance of a friend.
*sigh*
I KNOW, I know, I should have said no right off the bat...LOL!
I told him I could do a 3 tier, PLAIN white fondant, 3 tier, marble cake, with chocolate buttercream filling, delivery and set up, they provide the topper, for their budget.
"Red ribbon?" he asks.
Sure, I will get the ribbon, and will give you the receipt.
Lovely 
So the Bride comes over to see pictures of other cakes I've done, and pulls out a picture of the cake *she* wants, for 175-200 people.
Uh-oh.
I'm guessing the Bride and Groom need to work on their communication skills!! 
LOL
Immediately I know that I am not willing to do the cake they want, serving 200 people, 5 tiers, raspberry filling, lots of red fondant hearts, and deliver it on the schedule they want for the price I quoted her soon-to-be husband!
So...I suggested the 5 tier dummy I have, it's covered in white fondant, I will add the red fondant hearts and ribbon, and make sheet cakes for serving, in marble with the raspberry filling for the $250.
"Oh NO!" the Bride exclaims, "I can't have fake cake!!"
Ohhhmmmmm...breathe deeply.
I told her I would get back to her with an adjusted price to reflect the changes.
I'm thinking my thanksgiving weekend is suddenly going to be free to do other things 
i don't think she's in any way a bridezilla...she is just uneducated on what she can get for her budget. that is our job...to educate. give her the updated price with a sincere tone and smile, and she'll start to understand. THEN, and only then, if she starts whining, will she be a bridezilla!! (and you have permission to have a previously arranged date with a turkey!)
.....I guess I just kind of forsee her becoming one. But I could be totally wrong.
My DH, aka the Great Cake Helper, said the EXACT same thing!!
You know, I really think that her DH-to-be basically told her:
"I got that lady to do the cake with the ribbon for $250, hun!
Ain't I great?!"
I think I'll do up the fake cake with the fondant hearts, and a sample of the marble cake with the chocolate buttercream filling for her to try when she comes to get the new price quote.
The sugar will help with the sticker shock
And I'll get to play, design a new cake, without all the torting and leveling and dowelling, and the Bride may just end up being happy with her budget friendly "Fakey Cakey Heart" Cake
I'll keep you posted!!
i don't think she's in any way a bridezilla...she is just uneducated on what she can get for her budget. that is our job...to educate. give her the updated price with a sincere tone and smile, and she'll start to understand. THEN, and only then, if she starts whining, will she be a bridezilla!! (and you have permission to have a previously arranged date with a turkey!)
You are so right, mininvixen
She's never tried any of my cakes, and when I asked what price quotes she got for the picture she had, she just laughed and said that they were "WAY out of my budget!!"
That's when I smiled, showed her the sketch of the cake I quoted her DH2B and said:
"This is the cake that is $250.
I'll have to get back to you on the cake pic you have".
And I know that she's trying to watch costs, but still wants her dream cake.
Which is why I'm happy to compromise with her, but I'm not sure she'll be happy to compromise with me.
Bridezilla? Not yet, but uneducated, yes.
How much am I loving the "Fakey Cakey Heart" title for her cake, though!
I can see a whole Billy Rae Cyrus cake sing along ...
"You can tell my heart, my Fakey Cakey Heart
I just don't think that it is real..
But serve up a slice,
real cheap, fresh and nice,
Now that slab cake has some appeal!"
How much am I loving the "Fakey Cakey Heart" title for her cake, though!
I can see a whole Billy Rae Cyrus cake sing along ...
"You can tell my heart, my Fakey Cakey Heart
I just don't think that it is real..
But serve up a slice,
real cheap, fresh and nice,
Now that slab cake has some appeal!"
Very good! You're quick.
How much am I loving the "Fakey Cakey Heart" title for her cake, though!
I can see a whole Billy Rae Cyrus cake sing along ...
"You can tell my heart, my Fakey Cakey Heart
I just don't think that it is real..
But serve up a slice,
real cheap, fresh and nice,
Now that slab cake has some appeal!"
Very good! You're quick.
LOL! Loving the song! 
Here it is...the Fakey Cakey Heart cake!!
Only, it was real
I caved...well, sorta caved
She wanted 5 tiers, I did 4..
She wanted fabulous flavours and fillings, I said no...
I suggested the chocolate hearts as an alternative to the excessive heart/ribbon and fondant swagging that she originally requested.
So we were able to keep to her budget, plus a little extra for the extra tier, so all was ok.
It was just easier on my head...I *knew* I should have said we were going away!! LOL
I really didn't anticipate how hard it would be putting my name on a cake I don't like...and to have other people tell still more people who made the cake...ugh.
The Bride was there during set-up, and told me where she wanted the hearts...she was so happy
So I'm happy.
Onto the next one!! LOL
Um I am confused you said this cake is for Thanksgiving weekend that is 3 weeks away, why would you do the cake this early?
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