I haven't checked walmart prices on sheet cakes, but can you even feed 100 on $45 there?!
The joy of walmart cake is you only need to buy half as much, in fact this is one of the tips that I would like to add to those annoying "How to be a cheap bride" articles that cause us all so much grief...
If you serve horrible cake then you only need to buy half as much, once word spreads around the wedding that the cake tastes like crap people will stop visiting the buffet bar - big savings, who cares if your guests enjoy themselves!
WOW summernoelle that cake is GORGEOUS!!! And how sweet to only do it for $25. My family and friends were always looking for me to do a "quick" cake...two-three tiers...fondant decorated with roses and this's and that's...oh just something real quick for a party tomorrow is what they say.
I'm far from making and giving away "practice" cake and am starting a biz...now no one really wants cake anymore...go figure
I just reread the OP and I don't get it (the aunt that is)!
She was willing to give you $45 for a two tier and get sheet cakes from Wal~Mart to make up the difference which would wind up costing her more than the $100 that you were willing to make the 3 tier for. Now, she's willing to fork out money to Wal~Mart for sheet cakes...again which will cost more than $100...to keep from paying you to make a beautiful 3 tier wedding cake. That just does NOT make sense. I'd much rather give $100 to a family member for work over paying $$ to Wal~Mart!
Bunsen ...
If you serve horrible cake then you only need to buy half as much, once word spreads around the wedding that the cake tastes like crap people will stop visiting the buffet bar - big savings, who cares if your guests enjoy themselves!
How very true that is - 
What about the wedding we went to - The small cake was enough to feed 45 of the 100 people - the Brides reasoning - "ohh, not everyone likes cake"
Apparently i didn't - 
cause i didn't get any - 
Now thats cheap - and nasty.
If i go to the trouble of doing all that is required - frock up - pressie - hair - nails - makeup - drive 1 12 hours - yadda yadda yadda - then i want cake.... and nice cake at that.
Bluehue
This is a little off subject but I just decided that after looking thru all the cake pictures of the posters here, I need to quit doing cakes! I thought I was doing a decent job, but after seeing the pics I don't think I will ever measure up!
I just did a 4 tiered graduation cake and 2 sheet cakes for friends and only charged $125. Ingredients alone cost me $150-$175. It's my fault for shorting myself! I should have gotten a backbone and charged full price for the ingredients!
Hollysuann: This is a little off subject but I just decided that after looking thru all the cake pictures of the posters here, I need to quit doing cakes! I thought I was doing a decent job, but after seeing the pics I don't think I will ever measure up!
Are you kidding???? I just looked at your photos, your cakes are wonderful. The bible cake looks real and the sewing cake is so cute with all the sewing add-ons you created. You are way to hard on yourself, you are very talented! 
Bunsen ...
What about the wedding we went to - The small cake was enough to feed 45 of the 100 people - the Brides reasoning - "ohh, not everyone likes cake"
Hmmm..she could have probably saved a lot if she hadn't rented as many chairs, too. Because, you know, some people had a long drive and won't feel like sitting.
Blu_canary, that is a wonderful idea, you should writr those "How to be a Cheap Bride" articles! 
Oh wow, my sympathies.
I have found it always pays to be tough up front, relations or not!
No price reductions for family, who are quite welcome to go elsewhere.
Have to admit, I did learn the hard way; married very young into a very large family & was just too eager to please...but I learnt very quickly.
It is just not worth the stress & upset, not to mention being out of pocket!
Ingrid
Australia.
I just reread the OP and I don't get it (the aunt that is)!
She was willing to give you $45 for a two tier and get sheet cakes from Wal~Mart to make up the difference which would wind up costing her more than the $100 that you were willing to make the 3 tier for. Now, she's willing to fork out money to Wal~Mart for sheet cakes...again which will cost more than $100...to keep from paying you to make a beautiful 3 tier wedding cake. That just does NOT make sense. I'd much rather give $100 to a family member for work over paying $$ to Wal~Mart!
I agree with this! And why is it that we have to do THEM the favor by giving them a discount? Why wouldn't they do US the favor by giving us the business? Her Walmart plan maybe would have saved her $10 but she wasn't willing to give it to you?! Uhhhg!
I hate this topic because I SO need to get a backbone when it comes to pricing. I think on July 1st I'm going to raise my prices. I just can't decide how much! And, I hate the thought that I'm charging $35 for a birthday cake now, but for their next birthday, I'll probably charge $60-70...I know, I know, I should have charged enough from the get-go!
Thanks everyone for your support. I was so angry I didn't respond for a few days and ultimately took many peoples advise and my response to my aunt was .." It sounds like ordering from the grocery store would be your best bet as my cakes are specialty cakes and require much more time and expertise then your budget will allow and I'm sure they can fall into your budget as their cost is much lower due to mass production."
Thanks everyone for your support. I was so angry I didn't respond for a few days and ultimately took many peoples advise and my response to my aunt was .." It sounds like ordering from the grocery store would be your best bet as my cakes are specialty cakes and require much more time and expertise then your budget will allow and I'm sure they can fall into your budget as their cost is much lower due to mass production."
Pefect response!!!!! LOVE it!
Next time say:-
"When did you say your wedding was? Oh really, I wish I had known that 3 weeks ago...i'm fully booked out sorry, got a celebrity wedding out of town (privacy clause can't discuss it), but I know a really nice cake decorator who can help you out...just you wait right there while I go get the phone book and a pen for you"!
if there is a next time (doubt that but..) and she wants cake for 100 for $45 tell her you will swap your 100 serving cake for a lasagne to serve 100 done in serving size pans of 10. or what ever she is good at making. im sure she will then rethink the cost and time it would take to make 100 servings of anything. There will never be an end to the family and friends cheapos.
if there is a next time (doubt that but..) and she wants cake for 100 for $45 tell her you will swap your 100 serving cake for a lasagne to serve 100 done in serving size pans of 10. or what ever she is good at making. im sure she will then rethink the cost and time it would take to make 100 servings of anything. There will never be an end to the family and friends cheapos.
I like this idea! "sure, mom, I'd love to do the 3D submarine in fondant with all the little rivets...ect.. to serve 60 people for 30 bucks, but how about a trade off? The 3 kids, baby, DH and I want to go trick or treatings as the wizard of oz characters. You can whip those costumes up for us, after all, it is only FABRIC" 
I so enjoyed reading all of your posts!!Recently a lady asked me to do a cake for her son's 1st BD. She'd seen my work at another kid's party, had seen my blog pictures and she oohed and aahd about how gordeus my cakes were, and would I do "little 3D zoo creatures from something that tastes good, not fondant, yes....that's it, chocolate plastic". I said okay, $40. Well, hmmm. Could I do cupcakes nstead...with you know, little 3D zoo figures.......(see above)...blah blah...I said Sure, $3.50 per cupcake...Still cheaper than specialty cupcake shops here, use real buttermilk, fillings, etc...Could I also do cookie favors, you know zoo animals, detailed, those yummy cream cheese sugar cookies, she had tasted that I had done...Yes, I can $4.50 each...(Locally they go for $7.50 each and taste like doodoo made with all kinds of artificial stuff)...Well, she said, "that seems unreasonable" no thannk you...ARGHHHHHHHH
.....after all, it is only FABRIC"
and thread. don't forget the thread. after all, we don't want to cheat her or anything!
Ooops! How could I have cheated my own mother?!
Had a bride call-small wedding-50 people but wanted generous portions for cake servings. She wanted handmade pearls around each tier and streaming down the side-found a picture on a wedding website. Hasn't called back after I emailed her my bid. Wonder if WalMart does hand made pearls? I am working for myself-not for anyone else! If you don't make the cake-you won't loose $400.00+. You won't have to buy a gift $100.00 You won't have to attend the reception and eat Wally World cake-PRICELESS!
Had a bride call-small wedding-50 people but wanted generous portions for cake servings. ..... Wonder if WalMart does hand made pearls?
I loved messin' with their minds on requests like that.
"50 peoplewith large servings, so we'll sell you a cake for 75 servings at $3/serving = $225.
Oh no! She doesn't want a bigger cake! She just wants bigger servings!
"OK, we'll sell you a cake for 50 with larger servings at $4.50/serving = $225."
"Yeah, that's better!"
Here's yer sign!
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And while I was in my walmart today, I walked over to flip thru their "Pick Your Wedding Cake from These Pictures" book. Holy moly, I LIKE the older, old-fashioned cake designs but these were too old-fashioned even for ME!!! Oh, brother! I think the most current pic came from 1973!
Since that's only .45 each I highly doubt it.... Don't you just get so disgusted sometimes....
Cakes for my family are usually free and then I only get a VERY small gift..... like 10.00 worth of gift.
Had a bride call-small wedding-50 people but wanted generous portions for cake servings. ..... Wonder if WalMart does hand made pearls?
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And while I was in my walmart today, I walked over to flip thru their "Pick Your Wedding Cake from These Pictures" book. Holy moly, I LIKE the older, old-fashioned cake designs but these were too old-fashioned even for ME!!! Oh, brother! I think the most current pic came from 1973!
When I did a consult for a bride at my church for a Valentines wedding she glanced through my decopac catalog ( I swear it's only for the tips, colors and spatulas!) and fell in love with a walmrt cake- combed sides and buttercream roses!! I did the dumb cake, but charged more than walmart! It was a real fast cake!, I went to bed early (sick) and got up at 10, had my coffee, iced and decorated, delivered at noon! I'll put a pic of it in here!
Had a co-worker ask me last summer to do a cake for her. Since I was newer at doing cakes than I am now (still new btw), I quoted $200 to feed 100 people. Crazy, I know. She went with it and I was stoked that I got a customer. She approached me two months before the wedding and wanted to cancel the order. Said she had found "pretty much the same cake" at Wal-Mart for $110, but wanted to know if I would pick it up and set it up for her LOL. I, of course, declined.
The wedding was this past Saturday. She tells me today at work that "the walmart cake was such a disaster. It tasted like cardboard and it wouldn't even stand up. It fell during the ceremony so we didn't even have pictures cutting the cake." I secretly laughed and thought, Karma is a
b#$%^!!!
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