Am I Ready For Weddings?

Business By ladybug03 Updated 12 Dec 2006 , 5:53pm by mypastrychef

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ladybug03 Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 4:15am
post #1 of 17

Anyone care to check out my pics and/or website and give their honest opinion? I'm ready to hear the good, bad and the ugly icon_biggrin.gif !

I THINK I could do a wedding...but after checking out some cc'ers websites I'm feeling WAAAAAY unworthy!

Thanks!

16 replies
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Doug Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 4:19am
post #2 of 17

oh most definitely you ARE ready!

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modthyrth Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 5:57am
post #3 of 17

That's a complicated question. Your cakes are lovely, and I think you could certainly make a lovely stacked wedding-type cake. But are you ready for weddings is a completely different question.

Are you ready for a bride changing her mind a thousand times, despite the fact that your contract clearly states that all decisions are final two weeks before delivery? Are you ready for a bride freaking out because "it's the wrong shade of off-white!!!"? Are you ready for the idiots who think that your time and skill is worth nothing, and that they should only have to pay for maybe what the materials cost you because "the whole wedding industry is a sham and wedding cakes are the biggest rip off of all."?


I f-ing hate brides. I have enough grief with them in my business, and I don't even have to deal with them on their wedding day. I love cakes, but as fun as making wedding cakes sounds, I'll never do it. I applaud those of you who do it--nay, I bow at your feet.

I've made wedding cakes for friends. I LOVE a fabulous stacked cake that stretches my creativity and ability. But am I ready for wedding cakes? There's not enough xanax in the world. icon_wink.gif

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patticakesnc Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 6:06am
post #4 of 17

modthyrth it sounds like you have had some really bad experiences with brides. I know how you feel. I use to sell wedding gowns. Bridezillas are the worst. They will make you cry and feel so unworthy of anything.

As far as you ladybug. Talent wise I think yes! But remember what modthyrth said. You really have to have a lot of tolerance and some thick skin to work with brides.

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mypastrychef Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 6:08am
post #5 of 17

I suggest you delete the following from your website;


Dear Bride-To-Be,
I like to be up front about all things cake...so here's a slice of my thoughts: Wedding cakes are an ancient tradition and as much fun to admire as they are to eat! I am confidant that I can work with you to make a cake that is perfect for your wedding. I have been decorating cakes for over 10 years, however I've yet to do an actual wedding cake for a bride. If it were my wedding, I would want to know this information!


Why don't you make some display cakes for show and tell and let the brides decide whether or not they want to hire you. Your website is negative! You need to be positive all the way. If you want to design wedding cakes you have to start somewhere. Your cakes look fine and will only get better the next time you do one.

Girl!! get out there! you wedding cake diva!! Ha Ha

Lora

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Sugarflowers Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 6:10am
post #6 of 17

I agree that you have the talent to make beautiful wedding cakes, but modthryth has made some good points. There is a LOT more to doing weddings than just the cake. Some of her reasons are why I am no longer doing wedding cakes.

There are legal issues, meaning have a GOOD contract. Make duplicates of EVERY contract. One for them, one for you. It must be signed and dated. Even if you do absolutely everything right, for some reason people believe that you really can't have done that much work. It's only cake, right? icon_confused.gif

If you use your own cake stands and other equipment, are you ready to fight to get them back? People always have an excuse for not getting things back to you at the specified time or why it's damaged and you should return their deposit anyway.

Your letter to the bride is negative and a bit long. Most brides won't read more than two paragraphs. Personally, I don't think you need to have the serving amounts listed on your site. That will bite you in the butt if the cake doesn't serve EXACTLY that amount when they cut the pieces too big.

Have more pictures than text. Most people are visual and not into reading. You can promote yourself in a more positive way during the consultation. Your customers don't need to know how many wedding cakes you have done.

If you can handle the people, the cake will be the easiest part.

Say a prayer, and let God lead you.

Michele

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nglez09 Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 6:17am
post #7 of 17

Decoration-wise yes. But that's only a small part of the whole thing.

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mypastrychef Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 6:30am
post #8 of 17

I have been decorating for 30yrs and in business for 11yrs and have done thousands of wedding cakes with no contracts. I use a standard cake order form with all the cake info and a skech of what I will be designing and attach any photos,etc.

After I get the deposit, and as I'm writing no refunds on the order, I verbally explain that I will not refund her money under any condition. I give the bride a copy. I have had no serious problems. Maybe one a year tries really hard to pitch a tandrum thinking that will work.

There will be cancellations! Just get prepared for it, it's part of any business. But you take their money assuming that day is now booked and if you turn away other business you can't call them up and say I can make your cake now. If you explain all this to your bride they don't have any ligitimate ignorant excuse.

Anyhow what is the contract for? I'm gonna do my part, If they don't pay they don't get a cake, right? I charge enough on deposits if they don't bring equipment back I just made money on that, too.

Thanks for letting me share
Lora

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ladybug03 Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 3:01pm
post #9 of 17

I love it! You all are so good at sharing the "real stuff".

I'll be making some changes to my website and maybe do some more complicated dummies to post pictures of.

Also, thanks for the warnings about the stress of brides. I've read lots of posts in the forums about the dangers of the bridzillas etc...other posts have helped me create a contract that will hopefully cover most issues.

If I'm going to start, I must jump in somewhere...so hopefully it will be with a good one!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

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valora387 Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 11:20pm
post #10 of 17

I just wanted to let you know that I think your cakes are beautiful. IMO, your technical skills are ready for wedding cakes. Good luck!

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mypastrychef Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 4:28am
post #11 of 17

Good work...I see you already took that page off your website.

Always be confident!

Lora

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Mamas Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 4:51am
post #12 of 17

You have some of the greatest advice I have ever read here! They are dead on. I just recently did my first wedding cake. Its in my pictures. My partner baked the cake and with the help of a local florist I frosted and covered the cake in fondant. After two days of baking (becasue of a few mishaps) I have to say the most nerve racking thing about it was the bride wanting to get the cake for free and then having to wait around for quite a while to get paid. We only did it as a precaution and really didn't think we would need it but after hearing some of the stories on here DON'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT A CONTRACT.

Don't let anyone talk you into doing a wedding cake you are unsure how to execute. Steer the designs to what you already know and are already comfortable with and by no means tell anyone that you have never done a wedding cake before. I hereby announce that the cake with the roses on top is a wedding cake. Poof! See now you have done wedding cakes before! We know what you mean by saying you have never done a wedding cake before but potential brides will freak out and not come anywhere near you with a ten foot pole.

Go get 'em tiger you are more than ready!

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ladybug03 Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 3:24pm
post #13 of 17

Okay, so now I'm attaching the bridal contract I've made. It's a combo of several found through CC...care to take a gander and give your two cents?

It's a PDF file, so should open up with Adobe Acrobat.

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Sugarflowers Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 5:50pm
post #14 of 17

So far so good, except....the poisoning of your guests warning. You might want to re-word this to contamination caused by the flowers. Also, I hope your cakes are edible. Unless someone is ordering dummy cake, edible is implied. icon_smile.gif

Instead of a $25 deposit for equipment, make the deposit the amount to cover your equipment. There are too many ways this paragraph could be used against you. Even though you have a stipulation about the possibility of the equipment costing more, it's likely that this will be an item of contention.

Don't forget to let them know, in a nice way, NO MONEY, NO CAKE.

I think you've got the idea. It just needs a little adjusting.

This is only my opinion, so your welcome to ignore it if you want. icon_smile.gif

Michele

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ladybug03 Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 9:22pm
post #15 of 17

Thanks Sugarflowers...yeah, guess I don't want them to even think the guests could possibly be poisioned! Ha, ha.

I appreciate your opinion...no ignoring necessary! I'm going to go tweak it right now icon_smile.gif

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cupcake Posted 12 Dec 2006 , 8:32am
post #16 of 17

I have to agree with mypastrychef, for me I do not do contracts. I also use a cake order form with attached sketches.I let the bride know what I require as far as deposits, and payments. I have literally done over a thousand weddings and have never had one problem with equipment return, or non payment. Its very simple, no money, no cake. I do not collect on the day of the wedding. Now I do live in a rural area, and perhaps if you are in a metropolitan area, contracts might be advisable, simply because those people have probably gone to several places to check out cakes and other services, and those places probably do contracts, however I work on all referals, through someone I have done work for, and most of them have not been to another bakery, so perhaps my situation may be a little different then most. I would recommend you checking out your area, you might be able to decide on what is best for you.

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mypastrychef Posted 12 Dec 2006 , 5:53pm
post #17 of 17

Yeah, seriously I don't understand the need for a contract. Who does the contract protect? If anyone needed it I would think it would be for the bride, they have the most at risk by paying for a cake and expecting the decorator to show up with a cake and all they were told would be there at the reception when they arrive.

I only provide a cake if I have been paid! And I must be paid in full 2 weeks ahead of the wedding.

And I charge a lot for any equipment which ensures they bring it back. Most of the time I don't care if they bring the equipment back. If it is not returned I already sold it for retail and plus I have made mucho money on it from all the previous times I rented the equipment. And it is nice to be able to replace your equipment with new.

But I know many of you feel more secure and business like with a contract and you should continue.

Lora

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