I just talked to a rental place here in town and they charge $40/weekend for an 18" cake plateau. When you have to rent that, how do you tell a bride they have to pay to rent the plateau? When you own the plateaus, do you still charge a rental fee for your plateau?

You need to charge a deposit and have a contract wrote up. You also need to state how long they have to return your items. They should give you the deposit when they finish paying for the cake. The deposit should cover what items they are "borrowing". Have a list of them in the contract and be specific.

Good Luck!!

I just had the same thing for my first wedding cake. Bride wanted a fancy stand for a square cake...I didn't have. Called around found one that was big enough for the cake at a local party rental store for $35.00 for the weekend. I wrote the stand rental "extra" in the contract as well as the terms for returning the stand. Worked out really well and I didn't have to invest $$$$ in a stand and it was beautiful.

I just waited until someone wanted to use one, and then bought it. I charged them a rental fee of $30. It cost me $130 to purchase. I know that it will take me a while to re-coup that money, but it is so beautiful that I don't think it will be a problem! I love it, even if no one ever uses it again!

I have a wedding end of May she wants a 3 tier and a 5 tier both with plateaus so I just ordered 16" and 21" after shipping and exchange $250. ooch
But I also have a wedding in Aug she asked for one so I figured I better buy them since there isn't any rental places that have them.

I have been looking at them cakes by sam has some really good prices.

18" is $99
.

http://cakesbysam.com/store/cart.php?target=category&category_id=248

Go to www.weddingcakestands.com/homeplateau.htm

Prices are alittle cheaper my 21in was $95.
$85 for 18'

Go to www.weddingcakestands.com/homeplateau.htm

Prices are alittle cheaper my 21in was $95.
$85 for 18'

ive ordered from here too, prices were the best i found, service was next to none. i emailed my order, within the hour he telephoned me to say my order was shipped and i recieved it 2 days later. i highly recommend them.

He called me back within 5 min of my online order I had only ordered 1 plateau and talked with him an decided to order the other one since I could save on the shipping I live in Canada so the shipping isn't free. He helped me save alittle also wanted to make sure I would recieve them since I work and UPS would be delivering I called UPS to find out what to do if I wasn't home then phoned him back to let him know what they would do he was alittle concerned. Wonderful service