Okay, I finally did it. I went to a local cake shop to get an idea on their prices. First, let me just say I was very nervous! I wanted to see what they had for myself or else I would have just called them. The first thing the lady asked me is what date is my wedding? I didn't want to lie so I told them the date was May 20 or May 21...that I hadn't made up my mind yet! She left me to look at pictures when I told her I was just comparing prices and trying to get an idea of what is available and the prices around town. The husband (it's a husband and wife deal) came out a little later and saw me in the foyer and asked if he could help me with something. He was very inviting and friendly so I mustered up the courage to ask him generic questions such as price per serving for just buttercream icing and minimal decorations. These people make awesome cakes...No, they don't have a website - BUT THEY SHOULD!! Oh, ya'll, the smell of that place as you walked up to the front door was heavenly! I wanted to sample but was too afraid to ask!!

Anyway, these folks are the best of the best around here - they obviously keep up to date with the trends because they had very pretty fondant loopy bow tops and stripes and polka dots on one of their displays. I was surprised that they only charge $1.65 per serving for buttercream (all the normal decorations) and he said it was like an additional $35 charge over the per serving amount for fondant accents such as the large loopy bows on the top tier. I was thinking these folks would charge out the butt, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I will be doing a white cake w/white BC in May and I'm trying to figure out the price to charge the lady. I think that I'm going to charge $1.50 per serving and an additional $25 for the loopy bow on top and the two bows that will sit on the side of the cake (one per tier). I'm glad I found out a basic price around here but it really bothered me to pretend it was for my own wedding...UHHHH, and the fact that I forgot to hide my wedding rings on my hand!!

You could have been renewing your vows!

where are you again girl? I get 2.25 starting out..on bc cakes? I know we are both in Bama. There must be more competition there.

KayDay, that is Montgomery, AL...I was very surprised! There are only 2 or 3 wedding cake places here and one or two in Prattville. I thought that was pretty low myself - like in the range of WalMart or Publix. I thought about starting at $1.75 per serving for basic BC. Maybe the guy was on to me! Maybe he was trying to make sure I undercut myself!! I don't know. I'm going to make phone calls tomorrow.

Oh, Karen, by the way, you haven't answered my PM yet!! What gives?!!

I too tried to scope out the competition, but no one gives prices on the phone. I hate going in and lying...

Anyone know what kind of prices Publix has on weddings?

Okay, I need JennT to be reading this one now! I could get KayDay up in north Alabama and JennT on my south side and I'll just pick a price in the middle!!

Here I am!! lol I'll see if I can go by the one cake shop we have around here sometime tomorrow! (There's lots of places across the bay in Mobile, but I never go there anymore.) Maybe I can get some prices over the phone from the bakeries in Mobile? I don't really have to lie, either, because DH & I actually are going to renew our vows and have the cake and the whole thing...we had a very, very small little wedding so I want to do it up. lol But...it's still about 3 years away before we do that...lol. But I won't be lying!! HA!

Hey, JennT! Good to see you! If you do ask around, this is what I'm looking into.

I need a cake for 150 so this is what I've got so far:

14" square
10" square
(Maybe a 6" square for the top tier if she wants to have something for her first anniversary)

White cake/White Buttercream

One large Loopy Bow on the top
Two large two-loop bows for the side on the bottom tier/tiers

No borders, no other designs.

I got to get out of here for now. I'll talk to you folks later.

Tarina

Ok, Tarina - here's what I've got for you...

A 14", 10", 6" square tiered cake, all bc, no borders or decorations, with bc filling.... $240.00 The big bow topper = $25.00 The 2 small 2-loop bows = $15.00/each Delivery/setup = $65.00 So....all together = $360.00 According to this shop, that cake would serve 120 ppl.

I hope this helps you!

JennT

Wow, JennT, you are awesome!! I went to Publix this weekend and the cake decorator wasn't there but one of the ladies that did just basic cakes gave me a copy of their price list. I'm not sure how to decipher the "code" completely but it doesn't look too hard to figure out if I put a little thought into it. I only looked at it briefly though and thought I would have another chance to look at it but didn't. I may just scan it and PM you with it today if you would like.

How do you figure the cost of fondant as opposed to BC?