OK I haven't a clue what to do. I haven't charged for a wedding cake in years. I found out today that something happened and my boss' brother's baker won't be doing their wedding cake next weekened, so guess who will be doing it!?! I teach cake decorating and do tons of decorating, so I know what I'm doing, I just don't have a cake decorating business. Anyway, the kicker is that she has already baked the cake, it's a Jamaican black cake, 5 tiers - yes, FIVE TIERS! 6", 8", 10", 12", 14" all 4" high. It is traditional to ice this cake with royal icing... which is strange enough - the cake is also soaking wet with port wine - but I think that she also wants fondant. I also believe that she wants an arrangement of gum paste flowers on top with smaller bundles of flowers here and there on the cake. I say, "I think" and "I believe" because she's really not sure what she wants. We just spoke on the phone today and I am going to meet with her tomorrow for the 1st time... and the wedding is next weekend... and I work full time PLUS teach cake decorating 3 nights a week! Just shoot me. Anyway, any ideas as to how much I should charge for this mess? Just a ballpark. I live in NJ if that helps. I will probably do some roses, callas, stephanotis and a few orchids for the flowers. Her theme is "shades of green". I don't know what that means yet or how it will fit into the cake that she wants. I'm also unsure of what kind of green flowers I can make but I know that she wants flowers. She said that she has green ribbon to wrap around the tiers.

Thanks for any help!
Cheri

My thinking would be to figure out what your time is worth, how long it will take you to decorate the cake and go from there. Sorry, not much help.

Will anything stick to a "wet mess" like that?
I am afraid for you...
No wonder her baker pulled out!

Would $5000 be to low?

I strongly recommend against decorating a cake someone else has baked. Aside from safety and cleanliness issues the cakes could be lopsided or crumbly or not the same height. But since she's already baked all those cakes, it's your call. I would ask to see the cakes to see if they are in good shape. Also since it's such short notice you may have to explain that it will have to be simply decorated. I'm not sure how much to charge. Good luck!

i've only heard horror stories resulting scenarios like this.

not that i encourage you to do so... but, hydrangeas can be green. it would look lovely with shades of creams and white floral.

though, i think i would decline to do the cakes...liability issues with you not being the baker.

Never, Never, Never!

That cake is going to have "your name" on it, and if it tastes bad, it is going to reflect on your talent.

I have a close friend who is a master decorator of reknown, who was asked by another decorator who pretends reknown, to do a half job like the one you described.

She turned it down for the reason I mentioned above. It was a wise move on her part.

Theresa

Run Forrest Run!

Truthfully....I would charge her the same as if you had baked the cakes considering they are giving you only a weeks notice to do this. This puts all of your plans ( if you have any) on hold to do this plus working 2 jobs besides. I am not sure off hand how many servings that is but I would charge no less than 4.00 per serving. Don't cheat yourself just because the cake is already baked. I mean YOU are doing them a favor by finishing this cake so they should pay for that privledge and pay well. Who else could they get on such short notice to do this....uh probably no one....So I would charge a minimum of a 1000.00 for this cake... jmo

Teri

Don't do it!

2 words... no...way
This has nightmare written allllllllllllll over it. If you do decide to do it I agree with charging the same price but honestly your name is on this thing, You have no idea where or under what conditons she cooked it or what ingredients she used, if everyone gets sick from it, it's on your head.
This to me is waaaaayyyy scary

How about if you tell her you won't be able to use her cakes but she can ice them and serve them if she wants but you will make a small two or three tiered cake for display? But I know some decorators don't like having another cake there since it still reflects on them if it's bad. How many buts was that?

Just asking....
But if the Bride baked it...if folks got the pukes wouldn't it be on the Brides head?
But then on the other hand...If she ALREADY baked it and the wedding is next week....

Hmmmmmm
Maybe you should run...or make her sign something that says if someone pukes it lays directly in front of the chick in the fluffy white dress.
Make a BIG sign that proudly says
"BAKED with love by Chick in Fluffy White Dress"

Just trying to help by showing you all the angles. Are you thoroughly confused yet?

If someone gets sick from the cake, or chokes on an egg shell in the cake, it's your reputation. And with one week's notice??? No way!!!
Run....run.....run!!!!!
Quote $5,000 to discourage them from USING you!

Hell no!

I'd direct her to a shop in town where she can find gumpaste flowers and petal dust and let her work her magic.

It does stink for her that the previous baker cancelled, however, you need to protect yourself. Sodden cake just sounds like a breeding ground for bacteria if it hasn't been properly stored.

If you feel you must do this, you should charge full price plus an extra charge for the last minute thing. As many others have mentioned, you don't know the safeness of this cake. It may not be a bad idea to draw up a release form for you and her both to sign releasing you from any lability from the cake. Also let her know that at such a short notice the decorations will be simple. Think of your self first. Good luck.

Oh...just have to add:

Next time you go to a restaurant, bring your pre-cooked steak and ask the chef to decorate it for you. You know......mushroom sauce or whatever. Same thing as this cake deal.

Pre cooked steak!!! hella funny!!

There are many ifs, ands, or butts about this one! I think you really need to see ALL the cakes that are baked to make sure they are good and in tact. Then you would need to go from there.

IMO it already sounds like you have doubts about this or you wouldn't be asking us. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate already! It may be that you have too much going on and you are going to be staying up late hours to finish this cake for this person. I wouldn't do it! Too much stress for too short a time.
IF you do do it I would charge $4 per serving still for the time and short notice.

I wouldn't do it, unless...
You ice her cakes but don't decorate them, it sounds like thats asking for trouble. You can do a dummy cake but I would charge full price plus rush fees PLUS charge for icing and transporting her cakes.
That will probably throw her off.

My questions are - why did her baker cancel? How long ago did this happen? Did she have the agreement with the original baker that she was going to make her own cakes? That just sounds odd to me that she has the cakes made and is now trying to find someone to decorate them a week before the wedding. And a week before the wedding she isn't sure what type of decorations she wants. Maybe all this is why the original baker cancelled!

You haven't committed to this -right??? I would be asking her a lot of questions. Don't put your good name on the line for a bridezilla (if that is where this situation is leading to). You may not have a legit business, but if someone gets sick (as menitoned in other posts) they can still come after you personally. Not a good situation to be in. After meeting with her, you could polietly tell her your concerns (lack of time to do a job like you want, you didn't bake the cakes, unsure how any icing with stick to the cake...) You wish her the best of luck...

I don't think I would touch this with a ten foot pole!

Good Luck!

editted to add: By the way - WELCOME to CC - it is the best place to be, I look forward to reading your advice on techniques new or old. The ladies here shoot straight and are very nice.

Okay, after reading these other posts, I am totally rethinkning my first comment and say "RUN AWAY, DON"T DO IT!!!!"

I didn't think it through first and would be scared of serving a bad (as in health wise) cake with your name on it.

Cherim you need to pull out
"Shades of Green" takes on a whole new meaning in this discussion and these ladies know what they are talking about.
Heed their advice, kiddo!!
Good luck
Ronni

Boy this is a real can of worms

Years ago a lady catered a wedding (including the cake). Some family member of the bridal couple brought in a dish of potatoe salad (as I remember). It was a *very* hot weekend. The food was left unrefrigerated for many hours. After the affair ended, the clean up guy took the left-over potato salad home; his family got sick. Apparently others then said they also got sick from eating at the reception.
Guess who ended up being considered at fault? The lady who catered the affair! She was 'in charge' She did the catering out of her home with no insurance, license etc. She LOST EVERYTHING: Her home, her 'business', her life.
*IF* anything were to go wrong and someone get sick you could be held responsible

yes...sometimes we feel sorry for people in binds...and without hesitation we say i can help out....without thinking of down sides....it does sound kinda fishy and i too would heed the warnings of all the girls on here!!!! good luck!!!!!!

Okay, after reading these other posts, I am totally rethinkning my first comment and say "RUN AWAY, DON"T DO IT!!!!"

JUST SAY "NO"

Kakeladi said:

Kakeladi

Those people sued the cater lady and she lost everything?!!!!!! How horrible. What a horrid thing! And the Bridal couple didn't come to her defense or the creep that made the salad???
What is wrong with folks?