Hi!! I am fairly new to the wedding cake arena, as my business opened back in December. With summer weddings quickly approaching, all my consultations have ran smoothly; however, I have one bride requesting a "sample" design cake prior to signing a contract. She wants a 6-8" fondant covered, fondant "film" strip (it's a 1950's Hollywood feel), scroll work (from molds) along with top hat... which I already have a top hat cake she has viewed during a recent bridal faire. Her consultant is informing her this is 'normal'. Wasn't "normal" for me when I married nearly 7 years ago.. but wasn't sure about modern brides, especially since none of my other brides have requested one.
Thanks for the help!
~Jaime

No, that's not NORMAL, but it is NUTS!!!

Clearly dimwit bride is confusing a few small cake samples (for taste and combo ideas only) with the idea of receiving--for free, I'd guess??--a miniature version of her desired wedding cake!

If you WANT to do it, go ahead, but charge her accordingly--no discounts, no freebies, etc. If you don't want to do it, explain to her that a tasting sample will in no way, shape, or form, resemble a real wedding cake--that it may be a few fillings and/or icing flavors to smear on a couple of different flavors of cupcakes.

These brides just get dumber every day...........

Rae

No, I don't think it is normal. I've never had anyone ask me for a sample cake. If she wants one, that's fine, tell her you can make her one at XX price (whatever your per-serving price X the cake sample size she wants). If she doesn't think she wants to pay for your time to make her a sample cake so she can decide if she likes your work, then I wouldn't be worried at all about losing her as a client. Some people!

It almost sounds like she's trying to get a free cake for an event...maybe her bridal shower? That seems crazy to me. Seriously, you need a 2-tier cake to see if you like how my cake tastes? Don't think so!

I've had brides request a "smaller scaled sample" of their wedding cake BEFORE the wedding (I think to make sure I was up to the task) I charged my regular prices.

In this BTB's cake she's getting 3d cakes right?? So charge her your normal 3-D prices!

If a bride told me that her wedding consultant told her that was the norm I would tell her she needed a new consultant because that person does not know what they are talking about, and if they don't know the wedding business well enough to know that that isn't the norm then he/she also probably doesn't really know much about the wedding industry at all. You are the professional not the bride. Tell her it is not normal in this business, because if it were you would have already offered. And since it isn't, that if she wants a "demo" cake then she is going to have to pay for it in full at time of order, and that your price per serving is $X.XX and the sample cake will serve a minimum of 50 since that is the smallest size you can possibly do for the design she has chosen (even if it isn't). Then proceed to tell her that what is customary is AFTER a booking fee is paid, you will draw her a mock up of the design on paper, for her to look at.

Hey Mr Builder, I'd like you to build my new house. Your portfolio and reputation are great. But I'm still not sure. Please build me a playhouse for my kids, complete with carved accents and a letterbox free of charge. (So I can rip you off).

Not normal here or anywhere. If you had to decide between 5 providers, you have 5 free cakes? Don't think so!

She is just unbelievably rude. Unbelievably.

Lol, I laughed when i saw this bride's request! I agree with all the others: Not normal at all! Even if it were some kind of "normal" I wouldn't do it! If she's paying for it, that's totally different and then I'd do that. But she'd better pay for it and pay well! It sounds like a lot of work.

I had this happen once- mother of the groom asked. I told her sure, that will be $XXX. Her eyes bugged out and she shut up really fast. NOT NORMAL!!!
Your cakes are beyond great, so there is NO reason she shouldn't trust you to do her wedding cake. Some people's kids.
Is the dj required to play for their bridal shower? Limo driver needs to take them to lunch? How about the florist- does she need to weed their garden? Sheesh!

I had a corporate client ask for a sample cake once, for a weird design that they wanted. They paid my regular price for it, and then ordered the "real" one bigger than the sample.

But "normal"? HE!! NO.

[email protected] lady that did my hair for my wedding included the "practice" with the cost of the REAL hairdo, and make up was included too lol. I'm sure it was the same price as though I had arranged for all 3 separately........actually, maybe it was more lol

I have people ask me if I'll do that, and I tell them no. It sure wouldn't be included in the price of the wedding cake if I did it. I'd charge her extra for it, too.

Thanks all.... I didn't think this was 'normal'!!

Well, I went to the consult and not only did they ask for a sample cake, which I politely informed them that I would be happy to make a cake for such-n-such a price, but the consultant threw this at me..... "We are about $6000 over budget on the whole wedding. We were wondering if you could bake us the Hollywood themed fondant cake with hat topper for the reception, but I have a friend who will make the kitchen cakes to make up the difference in servings a tad cheaper??"

Really??? Am I hearing you right??? They want to use my design to show everyone and serve 80 people with... but then use someone else's sheet cakes to serve the remaining 60 guests.... all the while the guests would think they are eating my cake. What if it tasted bad? too dry?? And this was a wedding consultant asking me!!!!

If you are sssooo over budget with the whole wedding, then please tell me why you feel you need to cut back and start saving on the cake????? We were talking only $300-$400 - which is pennies compared to the $6000 the couple over spent on someone elses services. AAGGGHHHH!!!

Can you tell I am just a tad frustrated!! Rant is over!! Thanks for listening!!!

OMG. Run like the wind. They get a sketch of the cake, not a sample of the cake.

Never, ever let your cake be served beside someone else's cake. Ever. Especially if it's a grocery, big box store or unknown baker.

$6000 dollars over budget on a wedding for only 150 guests?????????????

So let me guess...........she spent $5999 plus tax on a dress that she just couldn't live without and now everyone is supposed to cut her a major break because it's her big day...........

OMG--what champagne tastes on a WATER budget.

Send her packing. What a whack job!

Rae

Don't even hand her the sketch, show it to her, but keep it until she has paid the non-refundable deposit

NEXT! And make sure you keep that sketch and do it as a dummy for your business.. sounds like a neat design and those crazy people don't deserve it!

People have some nerve. Like it's your problem they've overspent!

Give her the number to the grocery store bakery. She can get a real nice cake there for, like, $33.00.

Or maybe she can talk them into a freebie, too. It'll be good advertising!

Sometimes you just have the urge to ask folks:

"What planet do you come from?"

And I'm SURE the wedding consultant was the first in line to volunteer to cut HER fees to get them back under budget? Run away from this one!