But how come when your "friends" want a cake, they automatically assume they can "pimp it out" with Swarovski crystals and gold leaf and all that jazz...on your dime? But let it be their money, they're like, "Can you B-dazzle it and use Wilton golden yellow instead?" It makes me so sick!

I am loving reading all of your stories!

Well, I didn't get the dreaded "I'm on a budget" line from the actual bride. But, I had done all this moving over the winter and as soon as I was settled her sister was on the phone with me to see if I could do the wedding cake. They were only doing a reception here in town and had gone to some island for the actual wedding. (you know those destination weddings now days ) well...it was quite soon before the reception and I was willing to work with them on such short notice since I knew the sister...even took off work that day (not what I would normally do, but oh well!) and I spoke with the bride for like 30 mins over the phone discussing what she'd like the and prices and I explained a whole bunch of things to her. she was actually very nice and sounded excited. Well, she called her sister crying who called me the next day and said that she didn't want me to do the cake cuz she couldn't afford it. apparently the PARENTS were paying for this reception but were only paying for a certain amount of people for the food (bride left with the rest) and the parents ordered actual PALM TREES for the reception and all this jazzy stuff but couldn't pitch in for the cake and extra food. you got it...palm trees that probably weren't going to last a few months from where I live
so, I guess what they decided to do was call in family early and they were going to make cupcakes. for a 150 guests. in one week. I just laughed! I mean, I couldn't help it! that is such short notice and for so many people! I told the sister I wouldn't have even been doing cupcakes on this short of notice! but they were going to be paying me for the labor and stress of doing the cake and that was a lot of work! oh well! I bet they lived and learned. but, some people and their imaginations for doing things for these weddings really gets to me

I had a bride email me the other day. 1st sentence in the email was Hi, my future husband and I are wanting to go the cheap route with our cake. "Hmmm this isnt going to be good. " We were wanting to go with a cupcake tower for our cake with a mini cake at the top we want 125 cupcakes + the mini cake at the top you to supply the tower set up and everything. I told her very nicely that it really wasnt going to be any cheaper than a regular 3 tiered wedding, infact that it would be the same or more bc of the time involved in decorating 125 individual cupcakes, buy or making the stand and setting up. Needless to say she didnt like my total I gave her and she was shocked that it was so much. She told me she thought it would be around 100.00 for it all since its only cupcakes and a small cake.

There was another thread such as this, where the member was venting because their close friend ordered a cake for someone else, expecting a discount because the friend ordered it.

The advice I gave the person was that if the friend's relative or friend wanted to order the cake, then tell to have them call her directly. That way the details are received directly from the person who is actually ordering the cake, and the person gets the price they would pay if they had contacted you directly in the first place.

Theresa

I could not pass up the opportunity to reply to your story because I experienced a similar situation with a co-worker. My initial reaction was laughter . I don't think people realize how much time is spent preparing and decorating a cake. A co-worker asked me to make a cake for their child's birthday party. They also mentioned that they were on a budget. The child was a fan of wrestling and he chose a well known wrestler as his theme. My co-worker wanted an edible image of the wrestler to be placed on the top of the sheet cake. When I quoted my price (which was the price of the cake and the image) to them, they gave me the "Walmart has it cheaper line" . I told them perhaps they should order their cake from Walmart.

I would recommend Wal-mart to anyone who wants to go he cheap route. I was in Wal-Mart a few weeks ago here in Wasilla and laughed hysterically..to the point my teenagers walked away because they were mortified. I was laughing at the cake display they had...3 separate tiers..all uneven and domed at the top in the ugliest non smooth green and white buttercream. To top it off the dots they put on it were not even and it looked horrible! If you want cheap, you get cheap! If you spend the money for quality items, it is an investment. I may be biased here, but your wedding is that one day that is different from the rest..a day to cherish and hold on too. Do people want a piece of junk as the centerpiece of their wedding? No. But I think that people have an underappreciation of the cost and time involved in it. I made the decision to give the wedding cake in my photos for a friend of a friend. All I asked for was a picture of the cake. The wedding was in November. I still have no picture, or even a thank you from the bride. IT SUCKS!

A long, long time ago, I use to compromise my prices because I'd get the, for example, "I'm a single parent, paying for all the wedding stuff myself" and I'd believe it ... I was niave and gullible and very new in the market ... that was until I got to where the reception was going to be held for one of the wedding cakes I worked for hours upon hours on, and found out it was catered by one of the most expensive companies in the area and the florist that was doing the arrangements/bouquets was the most expensive in the area.... needless to say, when I get what I call the "poor mouth/I have very little money to spare" lines, I just look at them and give them a price with a smile.... if they don't like it, take you business somewhere else. I do not fall for the "limited budget" stuff anymore.

The guy that maintains our spa sent his future DIL over to talk with us about doing a cake on the side. No prewarning, she just shows up. She wants a 3 tier square cake but make it look big, deliver it, serve it, please because your are "friends" with FIL it will be ok for you to do it at home. UHMMM, no. I can pay you $125 and it will be like a spring bonus, right?? I sent her down to the shop to make her purchase. Spa FIl shows up to spring check up on spa. He was upset I would not do the cake. I asked if we were getting a discount on the spa check up, my DH is disabled and I only work PT now, so how about it. He didn't seem to like it that way.

(Spa is medical treatment for DH, not a luxury)

I had a MOB (referred to me by the florist) ask me what I would charge for a 2 tier wedding cake (10 inch and 8 inch layers). I asked how many people do you plan to feed? She says there are 100 guests at the wedding but the cake will be served at a big party we're having later at our home. Can't remember how many were to attend but she would not have had enough cake for everyone, which I told her. She says "I'm going to serve sheet cakes with it." I assume she was planning to purchase these from somewhere else (*cough* Wal-Mart) as she never inquired what I charge for sheet cakes.

Well, I know of this woman's family - they don't have to budget. She even spent quite a bit of time tellling me how she did not want her daughter to marry this man and that she had even offered to purchase a home for her if she would agree not to. So, you can afford to purchase flowers, dress, food, etc. OR a new home but you want a 2 tier cake?

Well, I just told her I don't do 2 tier wedding cakes, it's not worth my time.

Found out later from the florist, a cake was served at the wedding site. The groom's family provided it as a gift to the couple. The groom's sister made some box cakes, bought canned icing, colored it blue (not their color scheme) and slathered it on the cake. Before the ceremony even started, I'm told, the top tier started sliding off the bottom tier. At this point, I'm told, the groom's sister went into the kitchen, got a BUTCHER KNIFE, jammed it through the center of the cake and said, "That'll hold it."

I'm told the MOB cried. And, maybe it's wrong, maybe I'm not as noble as others - but I would have PAID FOR a picture of that cake.

It's my first time to get this so I HAVE to share.

Last week, a coworker comes to me because her son is getting married, quickly, and she wanted to ask me about doing the groom's cake. I asked her what he is interested in and she says he would loved to have a 3D carved Razorback (this is Arkansas.) ....and...get ready....they are on a budget. HA! She said give me the real price so we can throw that out, I did and that was out. I gave her the other prices and we talked about some designs. I asked her how many people did they want to serve with it and I get the "oh, we'll get whatever size then fill in with some sheet cakes". So, I get BOTH lines in one 5 minute discussion.

Wanna know what really got me with this whole ordeal with my friend's Mother??

I was laid off from my job back in November completely stressing because of the holidays along the way AND my wedding in February. I still don't have a job because of how the economy is and right now my cakes are the source of income along with DH's salary. Don't get me wrong, we're not on the verge of foreclosure or anything like that, but let's put it this way- my wedding was my night out with family and friends in 5 months.

The kicker: My friend's Mother knows that I was laid off and she still has the nerve to say she's on a budget!

sorry about your situation, and i really hope things get better quickly for you

but really who isn't on a budget.

Frankly, I have sent more then one person down the road cause they want way too much for little to nothing. The last one was a baby christening that they wanted such a special cake, they picked out a noahs ark with all hand made figures and when i quoted them a rock bottom price, the lady (stranger) was like can't you do better then that and i really don't want to spend almost $200 on a cake for this event. Well needless to say i guess it wasn't as special an event as she first thought.
NEXT.....

I figure i get about one a week that has that special event that they just have to have a super duper cake that cost what more then $20. Its usually you need to add at least one zero to that figure and they are booking out the door or can't get off the phone fast enough.

I want my tag line to read, I make great cakes, if you want cheap Walmarts is 5 miles down on the right.

I love your tag line!!!!

I can't believe have actually have a story to add to this thread!

Just got off the phone with a woman who couldn't seem to understand that I would not sell her a "small cake for me and my husband to cut" so she could get cupcakes for her 120 guests somewhere else. Plus she wanted a consult! Sheesh!

Of course her budget was very tight and she wouldn't tell anyone the cupcakes were from me or anything. If her budget is that tight why not feed each other bites of the cupcakes?
I will not take a chance on having my cake associated in any way shape or form with cupcakes from the grocery/W-mart! I offered to sit down with her and go over her budget and explain my policies to her but told her I am strict about it.

Maybe I should just start saying that most of my wedding cakes start in the $300 range? FUnny thing is I was just telling my DH today that I am not getting many calls for $20 cakes anymore. Spoke too soon!!

I felt bad for a minute after talking to her. I don't want folks to think I am mean but then I thought of all of you on this thread and your experiences. Thank you for sharing and giving the rest of us courage to say "NO"!

In the immortal words on IndyDebi- "Next!"

Do you think they try this line on the florist and the cateer or just us cakies? I mean, where to they get the cajones and only ask the baker to go cheapo depot? Do they really think prices are just a suggestion for them? They even try this at the chain place not just the specialty places.

And I have one too! so, this self proclaimed wedding planner schedules a tasting with me for her and the bride and groom. luckily, they happened to want the same flavors and fillings i was working with that week.
now don't get me wrong, this planner was really nice, but i think this may have been her first client.
anyway, so i offer them the two flavors of cake with the two different fillings, and begin to ask questions.
-when is your wedding? ok, i have that date available.
-how many guests? 100, i can do that
-what is your budget? $150

so i waited for a moment to see if she cracks a smile and says just kidding, but it didn't happen. i just looked straight at her and said i couldn't possibly do it for that price. what i wanted to ask her was when she last dined out, how much was a slice of cake at a restaurant? was it $1.50, or more like $4.50?

so she said she was just checking around, trying to find out what cake prices go for. that's why i think she was a bit green in the field. i could tell she was more than a bit embarrassed, and i felt bad for the lot of them, so i said some kind words to help ease the situation best i could, and let them know i wasn't offended.

and i'm not offended or insulted at all. i'm more shocked than anything that anyone would think a wedding cake costs so little.

people are amazing on so many levels!

eriksmom, it was the PLANNER who said $150?? If so, yeah, she IS green!

yes,debi, it was the planner. she was taking the bull by the horn and answering most of the questions. i was just floored. i really don't think she is a "real" planner. i mean, there are courses you can even take for that and become certified and all.
since their wedding isn't till november, i suggested they re-evaluate their budget, and perhaps ask family members to help with the costs. i told her the cake would be a minimum $375, not including set up and delivery.
i didn't even send her to wal-mart, i don't think even they could go that low.

No, wally world does not go that low! Most cakes start at $2.00 a serving in buttercream. They do not like doing fondant cakes. They do not like doing anything that is not in the authorized books. Some of the bakery managers will allow it if they feel the decorator can do it especially if they are needing to get sales up. I have not ever seen a chain store drop the price to get the sale to fit the budget.

I'm a newbie, so I don't have any great stories to tell, but I've loved reading all of yours, and actually am so happy to get a full understanding of the prices I'll place on my cakes when I'm ready to sell.

But I just wanted to add that people aren't just buying the cake and the decorations. They are buying your time. It takes more than an hour to bake and decorate a beautiful cake. And people don't understand that. This is why I plan to let people know that when I start selling cakes.

They aren't just buying the cake. They are buying you. And I'll be damned if anyone is going to go cheap when buying me!

Just got off the phone with someone wanting a cake for someone in their office who is retiring and her co-workers are pitching in together to get her a cake.
She asked what I would charge for a sheet cake. I asked her how many people she wanted to feed as I find ALOT of people are confused as to the actual size of a sheet cake.
She said "oh, we just need a small cake" (yep... we all know what that means!) So I told her my prices start at $35 for a 9x13.
To herself I hear her saying "3 into $35..." To me, she says "Well, I don't think they want to spend that much. We don't need alot of cake. We just wanted to get her something special because she's leaving."
I said, "Well, my cakes start at $35 because of the time I put into decorating them."
From there, we exchange pleasantries and I hang up, wondering to myself how many years this poor woman has spent working every day with people who aren't even willing to fork over $11.67 each to buy her a cake.