Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A
Wedding cake with cake topper
Hi
I had my first inquiry about a weeding cake a few days ago.
The lady asked about the price of a square wedding cake with a bit of blue on.
I explained that I have the heart cake lace design and I would be using that on a cake this week,I quoted her a price with this on the cake.
Once she had seen the cake lace she then asked about a bride and groom cake topper.I explained that the cost of this would be additional to the price that I had quoted her.
I now am wondering if I am being mean? Is this what other people would do?
I have suggested that She should use a non edible one as my model making skills are not up to a wedding cake standard. Does any one know where these can be purchased at a good price?
Thank you advance for your help.
I have received brilliant advice for this group in the past and I look forward to getting some more!
Rachael
Hi Rachael
You’re not being mean at all. Everything you add on has to be charged for either as a set price or as an hourly rate. As for the bride and groom topper, it depends whether the customer wants traditional toppers or modern. If modern, Paul has lovely tutorials right here on site.
If you want to buy a ready made topper either google ‘bride and groom cake topper’ or have a look here
http://www.confetti.co.uk/shop/wedding-cake-toppers/all-wedding-cake-toppers
It pays to shop around and get best prices, or perhaps the customer can provide their own.
Everything you put on the cake must be charged for including any bought decorations like the cake topper, dowells, boards, boxes and ribbons.
My thoughts for both of you is to keep things simple if this is your first wedding cake. Simple cakes with one big wow statement feature can look spectacular. If your skills are not developed sufficiently yet don’t make a fussy cake which will cause you so much stress. Paul has some lovely simple wedding cakes which would be a knock out at any reception. Just avoid lots of ruffles and ruffle flowers which are time expensive.
Everyone has a first wedding cake experience and it’s nerve wracking! Don’t be afraid to say to the customer if something is beyond your capability. It’s better to do something you can do really well than to try and make something which will disappoint both yourself and the customer. And remember Time is Money!! Good Luck to both xx
I have the sme issue….agreed to my first wedding cake…which has kind of snowballed from a 2 tier, to a 4 tier…..from vintage lace…to ruffles…..maybe ombré ones to boot……oh and maybe add some hand painted gold accents…so my original quote I assume will be changed after every addition made?……at this rate it is far too stressful and don’t think I will ever do another one, x
Hi there, I’ve never been asked to do wedding cake yet but the stress can be bad enough doing birthday cakes etc etc. I was once told that if I don’t value my time then no one else will. Which I have found to be very true. I always watch for the eyebrow reaction when you tell people how much a cake will be. If they both raise you know they are truly shocked at the price. It is a very time consuming thing baking and decorating a cake and your prices should reflect this. I was asked to do a 30th birthday cake last year for my husbands auntie with a girl, tortoise, snake, rabbit and a dog on it all having a picnic and when I said how much I could hear the intake of breath over the phone. I told her to go to a local shop that does hand made cakes and within a couple of days she got back to me telling me my price was very reasonable. She said she would get back to me about the cake. I’m sure her daughter is now 31 !!
Donna
Sensible words donnascakes!
