My cousin calls today, her friend is getting married on Aug 27, and needs a 3-tier wedding cake. Now I like this cousin she always pay when she orders a cake and she sd she will guarantee payment on this one, she knows how I work. The bride wants servings for 100, red velvet with cream cheese frosting. The reception will be outside. ( I told not responsible if weather is hot and icing melts) she understands and will advise them according. I told her normally I charge $2.25 per for wedding cake, but would charge her $1.85. She wants me to get a top piece (to be reimbursed) and deliver. Her friend's color scheme is red and white. After I thought briefly about it I told her red velvet is expensive to make, but I will give her definite answer tomorrow, and why such short notice? What do you guys think. This particular cousin doesn't expect things for free and I don't mind working with her. But 2 wks??????? I really don't want to do that much work and not see much of a profit. I am going to add $20 delivery. HELP ME GET OUT OF THIS OR CONVINCE ME TO DO IT.

The huge problem I see is the frosting. I wouldn't want my cake melting outside. I would say if it were me that you either keep it inside where it's cool, or find someone else to do it.

$1.85 is a pretty low price for a wedding cake.

But the important thing is what do you want to do? Do you need the money, or is it really worth the stress?

ok i did a wediding cake with one week notice and it came out awful. its in my pics. however if you think you can do it why not try. figure out how much it will cost you to do it and see what your profit will be. only then can you make the right choice

The way I see it, 2 weeks for a wedding cake is not a lot of time, especially if you are giving a break on the price (for the cousin or the bride?)..... however, if you have nothing better to do, or no other orders, think of it as practice, or advertisement. Out of the 100 or so people there, think of how many people will consider ordering from you?

Debbi

The cream cheese icing would be a problem for me....I don't like making it unless I know for sure it will stay cool, the thought that someone may get sick because it sat outside too long in the heat freaks me out......but if it's something you really want to do then do it. If I don't really want to do a cake, I usually don't do as well on it, so maybe the first thing you need to decide is if you really, really want to do it and then go from there.

In my area, it isn't unusual to get so little notice, and I can only charge about $1.50/serving as a starting price (for buttercream icing) if I want to stay competitive with friggin' Wal-Mart!

(I cannot believe a bride would ever even consider getting her wedding cake from Wal-Mart anyway, but to have to charge a comparable price for a unique piece of art is just plain insulting! But I have to if I want any business at all! ok, enough ranting on that...sorry, I got off topic )

Anyway, I just finished a wedding cake this past weekend that I only had two week's notice on, and about three weeks before that I had a wedding cake to do with only one week's notice (that one was for a cousin). Lucky for these people that I quit my full time job about a year ago in hopes of pursuing my cake business!

I say go ahead and do it if you can manage it and really want to do it, but make it a point to tell your cousin to let this bride know that normally you require more notice. That way when people ask for details on who did the cake, the bride won't be like, "...and I only had to give her two week's notice!"

PS. You said red velvet is expensive to make but also consider that cream cheese icing. It's also more expensive to make than plain buttercream (at least it is around here), and I think it's more to difficult to work with (as far as getting it smooth goes).

Cakes-r-us,

I'm a pretty good judge of character & from your post it does not look like you want to do this cake. If I'm right about it.. Then I would advise you to say no. It you don't feel good about doing it then don't do it. You shouldn't go into this already having doubts. Not a good thing.

I did a wedding cake last weekend for a couple who only asked me to do their cake 3 wks in advance. I got full payment before the wedding so that made me feel better about it. I would want payment up front. No if &'s or buts about it. I'm sure they have planned the wedding for awhile they just didn't do very good planning on the wedding cake. That's not your problem. Their problem might give you a problem. Just look at it that way too. Good & Bad.

Good luck on making your decision!! Remember you are making it not them! Good luck!!

You are too nice, cakes-r-us!! lol Around here, whether a professional bakery or an in-home baker, they don't give discounts when they get such short notice....in fact, they almost always charge a fee for the rush which I've heard can be as much as $150.00!!! I, personally, would NOT give a discount in this situation, but I understand that it's a friend of a relative & can't say that I wouldn't give in myself if confronted with the same thing!! lol

I agree with the others about the cream cheese icing & it being left outdoors too long. (However - I did happen to see in another thread a recipe for a Crusting Cream Cheese Icing...you may want to run a search for that!) I would find out where the reception will be & call the location & speak with their in-house coordinator...ask them if it would be possible for you to set up the cake just at the last minute to cut down on how long the cake will be exposed to heat/humidity.

And definitely drop a hint about the short notice being unusual, like cakesoncall recommended...so those referrals you get from this cake don't think they can call you on a wednesday for a cake on saturday!! lol It seems like a pretty simple cake to do, but if I were in your shoes & decided to do it, I'd take all my supplies with me & try to be prepared for any mishaps.

GOOD LUCK!

I think the problem may be that you feel a little bit taken for granted!!?? If they keep the design simple then it really isn't a big deal how many weeks notice you have as long as you have a day to make icing and bake and a second day to decorate and deliver. BUT, they don't need to know this! Tell them that you have quite a few cakes that week and you want to do it for them so you'll switch some things around and work it in for $3.00 a slice, payment in full up front!

They're taking advantage of your good nature and the fact that you'll do it for them... I'm with the others on this one, get your payment up front so you're out the money for this cake... also, I'd let all the family/extended family know, that I would not do another wedding cake on such short notice again .. tell them you require a miniumum 3 month notice or you won't do a cake for any of them ...

good luck on the cake .. I know how you feel about the cream cheese and the heat and then red velvet on top of it all .. sheesh .. post the pics!!! and best of luck with it all

IN MY OPINION ON THE PRICE, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND CHARGE HER THE FULL PRICE YOU USUALLY CHARGE FOR THE LATE FEE. TELL HER THAT THIS WHAT I AM CHARGING YOU AND THIS IS A LATE FEE OF SORTS. I HOPE THAT WHAT I SAID CAME ACROSS THE RIGHT WAY! I AM SOOO TIRED. WE JUST GOT HOME FROM THE BEACH!!! I WOULD CHARGE FULL PRICESINCE YOU ARE USING CREAM CHEESE!! HOPE IT WORKS OUT WELL FOR YOU.

Thanks for all the replies. I feel rushed just thinking about it. And I always overprice when I don't want to do a cake. Maybe its just the "cousin" thats asking that made me say I would do it. But I don't really want to do it, not at the price I quoted, and not if it's going to be sitting outside. I think I will call her back and get out of it. I asked about the design and its up to me just red/white. I'm stressed.

First thing I would do, talk to the bride herself. I personnaly really like getting referals from family, BUT i dont' like going through family to do a cake order. I would rather talk to the customer directly-expecially for a wedding cake! This way, you don't get the emotional envolvement of the family-and you can make sure nothing gets lost in translation to the bride. Just another suggestion. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Leily

Good Luck to you,
My two cents, you should not have discounted the price, I agree with the others, you should charge for the convenience. Also making a wedding cake is very stressful and if you don't feel right about it then you should not do it. It won't hurt to talk with the bride and find out exactly what she wants before you agree to it. If the cakes she wants is relatively simple then it should be okay, if she want ornate decorations then you may have to turn her down. You don't want to get too stressed over this.

Don't be so stressed about this. If your cousin loves you then he/she will respect you for being honest. You'll do fine telling them!! Your friends on CC got your back!!! The best thing is that you have grown from this & next time it will be easier to say no! What a wonderful thing!!

Don't you just love how ppl think we can pop a cake out of an oven like a magican does a rabbit out of his hat!!!!
They just don't get what all we have to put into a cake to get it like they want them...ugh..
If you decide to do it.... I'd charge your top price... and if the weather's an issue have them sign a contract of some kind not holding you responsible if something happens to the cake...
Good Luck
cakegal

Did you know that at Walmart you can buy a Wedding cake with food stamps!!! That just makes me soo mad! I learned that while working there! I do not have a problem with people getting them (food stamps) if they need them but to use them to purchase a wedding cake at our expense just ticks me off! Anyway about your topic I understand she is your cousin but why are you doing the cake for soo cheap if it is a last minute notice that is more stress on you.

Meme: Are you kidding??? A wedding cake with food stamps??

Well, doesn't that just take the cake!

I agree with you, food stamps should be spent on feeding family dinners not wedding cakes and such!

Okay, I'm done ranting....sorry!

Yeah !! As an employee I could not even get a discount on food purchases!!

The only time I have a problem with people getting food stamps is when they stroll through the supermarket jabbering on their cell phone the entire time they're shopping, they're talking on their cell phone in the check-out line in front of me, they're wearing top of the line clothes, expensive jewelry, they take their groceries out and load them into an expensive SUV, truck or Cadillac or Lincoln .... that's my hard-earned taxes at work and if they can afford the stinking cell phone they can by gosh pay for their own groceries ! Too bad they don't have the incentive to do without certain things in order to pay for others like the rest of us do .... my motto" "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without".

AMEN!!

Well said LizAnn

Thank you ! Figured I might catch all sorts of flak. Another thing that really irks me is that what they're paying for with their food stamps/Lone Star Card are ribeyes, sirloins, fresh salmon and I'm standing there with a scrawny chicken !!!!

Yep that drives me crazy. I'm all for help for people who need it, but when you have a shopping cart full of groumet food and I've got walmart brand cereal and frozen chicken, that just doesn't seem right!

[/i]Don't you just love it when the senior citizens can only get about $12.00 in food stamps and the young get from $300.00 plus in my area. Don't Social Services know that older people need more.

I agree, if they can pay a cell phone bill, then they can pay for their food!!!

I use to work at the Health Dept. and it would burn me up hearing the women talking about "I'll be glad when the first of the month comes (welfare check time) so that I can buy my man a new outfit, etc." I never heard them say they were going to buy the child something. The child would be running around looking like a little dirt diver and the mothers would be sitting there looking all diva-fied.

Sorry about getting off the subject but just had to get that in.

I also get the feeling that you don't want to make the cake. If you feel this way, don't do it because you will not be able to give it your best.

Good luck!!![/u]

This is a very touchy subject for me...my mother lives alone and is disabled. She only gets $12.00 per month in food stamps and they cut that down to $8 / month when her disability payment went up by $2.00 per month!!! Isn't that insane?!!
How is someone supposed to live off $8.00 worth ofgroceries for a whole month?!! Then to add insult to injury, THE VERY DAY she got the notice that her stampswere dropping, we go to the Supercenter WalMart and see this (probably teenage) couple with a baby in line in front of us using their food stamp card to buy shrimp and Alcohol mixers (like sweetnsour mix and margarita mix)!!! Then when we get outside, they are loading their groceries into a DENALI!!!!!

Really great system we have here, isn't it???!!!

(Sorry, just had to vent....)

If it were my cousin getting married I would lower the price. Since it is not and the fact that you only have a two week notice, I would charge your full price plus extra delivery. Absolutely require a contract to protect yourself from the heat. Actually the 2.25 price I would probably reconsider. The ingredients for a red velvet/cream cheese frosting is more costly than most cakes. Make sure you make a nice profit. Don't cut yourself short.

Just wondering if you made a decision yet? Hope it turns out for the best. i'd be scared of cream cheese frosting on a red cake in the heat. You might end up with a pink frosted wedding cake!

My mother worked for the federal government for 40 years, retired, then did a very stupid thing and gave my brother a whooooole lot of her money. When she got very ill and needed help, we went to Dept. of Human Services and was told that the total of her SS and her government pension was over the limit by $4.32, therefore she did not qualify for assistance. Our reply was, "This woman worked for 40 years, paid her bills, paid her taxes, played by the rules, and now she's going to fall through the cracks .... yet there are perfectly able people in line outside waiting to receive their welfare checks and they will get them simply because they refuse to work because they know they don't have to??" His reply, "yes"

I have lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, and Crone's disease. I went to the Dept. of Health and Human Services to see if I could get help with my medical bills. (THIS IS NO JOKE.) I completed the application, watched the little video, waited in line for hours, and when I finally got to the window to turn my application in and speak with a counselor.....she asked me "Are you pregnant?" I said no. Then she actually HAD THE NERVE to tell me (word for word) "Maybe you should come back and see us when you get pregnant. There's nothing I can do for you until then."