I just got done with a cake tasting and the bride ordered her cake and paid in full. She invited me to the wedding. I feel weird going but I could help out with cutting the cake and then let everyone (pharmaceutical reps and doctors) know that I made the cake. Could be a good advertising op for me. I just don't like getting too personal with customers... Is that bad? What do you think?

Hmmm, did you just meet her?

I wonder if she's thinking "Oh we'd like you to come to our wedding and while you're there you could cut the cake"

hmmmm truly I think that is what she is thinking but I am trying to decide if I care or if I wouldn't mind enjoying a wedding with my husband and an open bar. I really don't know anyone in this horrible military town so I am kinda thinking what the he11, why not. I just trying to four see how this could be bad for me.

If I'm there to cut the cake, I'm there to get paid for cutting the cake!

No, I don't go to weddings if they invite me. They're usually just trying to be nice and secretly hoping that you'll say you're not going to come so they don't have to pay for your food, unless they're trying to get you to work for free.

I just worked a wedding this evening. I LOVED getting to hear all of the comments about the cake BEFORE anyone realized that I was the one who made it. I also handed out eighteen business cards and had two of them email me before I got home! I worked because it was for a friend, but I honestly think that it's a great way to get your name out there. The wedding families are too busy to hand out cards. Sometimes you're lucky if they can remember your business name!

I don't have enough work yet to need to always go home and decorate more, but just make your decision based on your schedule when the time arrives.

I have gone to a few. On have made a contract even though I make them out of my home because I have gotten stuck on several checks. So the contracts are legal in court. However I offer the service for an extra fee to go and cut the cake which gives me the opportunity to hand out business cards. I recently did one for an NFL Saints player and the cakes I got off of that job was breathtaking just like the cake I might add. I am going to have to add my cakes on here one day. But sure go for it. It is open door oportunity. Business is better by word of mouth anyway!

It would definitely be bad if you took ADVANTAGE of the open bar and got smashed.
Other than that, it might be nice to meet some people in your town. I hate cutting cake! If I do have the free time and energy to go to an event, then the last thing I want to do after getting my party clothes on is mess with BC again. If you don't mind, then go. Have a good time. I charge $50.00/hour to cut a cake and the time starts at the cake arrival generally 1-2 hours before the reception starts.

Honestly, I'd go if you don't have conflicting plans. If she is just trying to get free cake cutting, oh well. Like you said, this could be a great 'elbow rubbing' event for you, and a nice dinner, a drink or two maybe. If they're willing to pay for you and hubby to eat and drink, they're not getting 'free' cake cutting anyway. Maybe she just really felt you were nice and genuinely wanted to invite you. I've had people do that before, and never have they asked me to cut the cake. I've often offered to help out though, because as has been mentioned, I love hearing comments about the cake. Go for it, have some fun, make some friends, get more referrals. You'll be glad you did!

There is a certain venue in town that is notorious with a capital N for not teaching their servers how to cut cake. They cut all round cakes 8" and up the same. Seriously. It's bad. People end up with nearly 4x4x4 slices on their plates. So, I secretly get excited when I hear someone is having their reception there. I tell them matter of factly what will happen if the servers there cut their cake, and to avoid it, I can do it. And I have done my part twice now, by leaving a cutting chart with the manager and suggest his dang peeps study it.....alas, to no avail.

My fee works out to cover dinner for my hubby and I while we are there. Convenient, eh? Yeah, I think so too. We sit on the patio in view of the ceremony, enjoy the music, as soon as I see the cutting is about to start.....off I go!

Well... Not to judge but I don't ever get "smashed". So that won't be happening. The bride made it clear when she asked me to come to the wedding that she wants me to cut the cake but she doesn't want to pay for it. I told her I would think about it. I think I will ask my DH and see what he says. If he wants to go than I think we will but I agree, I don't know if I will want to touch that cake again after I spent so much time making it. I just get sick of cake after too long. Wedding cakes are usually what gets me this way. Thanks for all your advice.... It really helps to hear others opinions.

I "NEVER" cut a wedding cake that I have made. I just can't bring my self to disect it after putting some much time into it. I have, however, no problem at all watching someone else cut it or "butcher" it to pieces as long as I don't have to cut into it.

I even turned down my new SIL request to cut the cake I made for my brother and her wedding. Granted, she asked the day of the wedding and I told her I thought she had plenty of friends she could incovenience by asking them to do it as I don't cut my own wedding creations.

PS That SIL was not a keeper. My Brother divorced her. PTL

I'm of 2 minds on this one. On the one hand, I've thanked brides for their invite, but have turned them down because on that day, I'm "the hired help". On the other hand, I can see the value in getting in with this crowd for your biz.

You folks who don't like to cut wedding cakes are missing it! Man, it is GREAT to talk to folks who come up to get a piece of cake .... they comment on the cake, they talk about the skill in cutting one, they apologize for taking a 2nd piece "becuse it's just so good!" Feeds my ego better than any dinner!

From personal experience...if your in a military town, I'm guessing there will be military folk there? If so, being military myself...we (well, not me) order cakes for all kinds of stuff. There is always an event going on for someone or something. If you can show you work off, and get your name around, it could easily turn into big business for you.

The word of one military man/woman can spread like wildfire to the rest.

It sounds like you are bored with the area. I would go it woud give you something to do. Just don't induldge in the open bar cause it would be bad if they remember the cake lady was the drunk lady that danced on the table and fell or did something stupid. Jk

I can see this may burn you in the future, any business you get from cutting her cake will come back as an invite to all future weddings with the expectation that you will attend and cut the cake since you did for this one. However, it might be great for business. I personally would not go but would schmooze her enough that hopefully she tells everyone how great you are