I wanted to know wheather or not I charge a seperate fee for silk flowers or should that be included in the cake price, and should the flowers be returned?


Do you make your floral arrangemnets or do you purchase from the store? Again is that a seperate fee or is it included with the cake price?


Thanks in advance

Since I don't consider myself a floral designer, if the person insisted on silk flowers, I would have them just bring them to me, as they wish them to be on the cake, and I'll plop them on top for free. In other words, if you want a garland running down the side, bring me a garland. Don't bring me a sack of stems!

If they want silk flowers I would have them bring them to me. BUT if they just didn't want to deal w/it and left it up to you....you should charge them for the purchase price of the flowers at least.....some silk flowers can be pretty expensive!!

I've done one with silk for my MIL, and I just bought a giant bag of stems to play with and used what I needed, returned what I didn't use, and charged her the additional amount I spent on the silks (it was like $75.00).

I have a bride who wants white silk lilies on a cake next month, and she's 100 miles away and doesn't sound like she knows what she wants, so I will do the same for her. Wish I could master gumpaste lilies, but I don't think she has the $ for that anyway.

I just did a cake with fresh roses on it (30 of them) for another bride who said "as long as they're red", and I charged her by the slice, plus charged her extra for the roses. I know there are people who charge for the flowers AND the time to arrange them, but I consider that part of the finished product so I'd build it into the cost if possible to avoid having a separate charge for this and that: flowers, arranging, delivery and set up, etc.

Another one I did, the florist stuck the roses on completely after I'd set it up--which changed the cake quite a bit, but it was what the bride wanted.

If brides are picky or have specific flowers, then I'd want them to have their florist provide the flowers. So far I've been really lucky and have had such relaxed brides that I almost wish I could get someone to order who has a VERY definite idea of what she wants. Mine are always like, "I just want white with red." No idea of style or design whatsoever; they just sort of leave it to me...and I'm not very imaginative that way...

For the silk flowers, if they want you to pick them up, arrange them, etc, then a flat fee for that. Plus a deposit for the silk flowers themselves, that way, if they are not returned, you're not out of $$$ because they have been paid for. They're so expensive and sometimes they want to keep them.