Currently I'm not doing things in the right order and I know one day I'll get stuck! I have a few contracts now but I didn't get them until I did sketch after sketch and the tasting.

I have a bride that I'm working with now and I've already done 5 sketches and we've scheduled a tasting for next week. Still no contract! But...how can I expect a contract from someone who hasn't seen a sketch of what she'll get? What should come first......tasting?

Obviously I'm very new to actually selling my cakes. I got a call from a bride today and she is not exactly sure what she wants as far as a design. What is my next step??

Thanks so much for any advice!!

I sketch AT the tasting, while we are talking. Just a rough one, not super detailed. It gives them an idea without you having to spend SO much of your time drawing and drawing.

And the sketch (a copy) leaves with the person only AFTER they book the cake. None of this, "can I have the drawing to show ________?"

I think I am wierd, but at the tasting we talk about the theme of the wedding, what the bride is interested in doing, what shapes she likes, colors, general stuff. I tell them the tasting is for them to taste the cake, get to know each other, and such. I do go over what Extras cost and about delivery and rental items. The contract doesnt have a price in it, it has a clause about seeing attachment and the attachment is the invoice that is drawn up for the base price or if the bride said she wants fondant, etc, that added. Once they book, they come back for a second consultation and then we go over design, more detail on the prices, and such. The invoice is then updated. This gives the bride a chance to look around at photos and ideas. Most of my brides book a year to 6 months before the wedding and have NO idea what they want in a cake So they seem happy with the way this is done. No pressure. I used to try to get a design at the tastings, but really a lot of brides just don't know yet. I have some that walk in with a photo and we are all set, but most not.

I would NEVER give a bride a drawing without a contract and deposit.

2 meetings? No way. Design consultation, is one hour, I fill out my information form, make sketches, they pick one out, they eat cake, I review the invoice, they like it they sign a contract. Done. Next.

I'm with leah_ on this one.

I'll send them my contract and base prices prior for them to review and decide if they're interested in meeting with me. They give me an idea of what they're looking style and size wise sometimes sending me pictures. We meet and taste and go over everything - draw it up and sign.

I agree with leah_s... one hour tops and if they can't figure it out in that time, they can go somewhere else... lol... well, maybe a little longer sometimes. I normally don't have to do tastings but if I did, they would be offered during that hour. I don't feel like I should get to know the bride or have them get to know me... if I had to explain how I charged, it would take at least the full hour and they would be so flipping confused by the end of it, they wouldn't remember a darn thing anyways. Just get colors, theme, general idea, flowers & how many to serve then go from there.

Like I said, a lot of people wouldn't want to do it my way. I like it. I get to know what is in the brides head, helps me design a cake she loves. My tastings are 20 minutes long, second meeting is sometimes about that time. Some of them even do it through email. They like coming back, they feel special. Not like they are in some sort of cake factory. But again, its not for everyone.

Not once have I ever sketched a cake for a bride.

Tastings usually take about 40 minutes. I tell them on the phone/email to bring a picture with them if they know what they'd like it to look like. Most of them bring a pic, some of them pick one from my website.

~ I made that mistake once, never again...but I was lucky. The local baker she took MY design too recogized my style/sculptural work I do and called me. She refused to make the cake. It's refreshing to know not everyone is cutthroat in business. The bride later called me but I said I was "unavailable".
To quote the old tv show In Living Color:
"Homey don't play that game..."

No "extras" or "special work" until you have a deposit/ contract. You make all of those sketches and she will take it to someone else.

before you charge for your tasting, please make sure you check out the local tax laws in your state. in our county, we have to charge a higher tax rate if the consumer eats the product while on our premises (that is, uses a fork to consume it rather then take it away in a box) I know, sounds wierd!

btw, I have a lot of people bring me captures from other web sites of cakes and I understand they bring other bakeries captures from my web site. (thus I watermark them) I asked one of the other bakeries one time if I could use his design and he said "Sure...afterall, I stold it from someone else!" hahaha! Sketches though are another story. All my sketches do have my name, my business name and phone number on them. I highly recommend it.

I schedule a tasting after the bride has seen my website, which contains my base prices. I always ask them to bring photos and ideas of what they like. At the tasting we talk about what she likes in each of the pictures she brings, what kind of feel she's going for, ect. I don't sketch because my sketching skills are completely nil. Half the time brides book after the tasting, not at. Personally I wouldn't put that much work into it until the bride has actually signed the contract. I've had a few not book, one after I met with them, went home and looked up a bunch of things to give her a quote and then I never heard back from her.

One thing I'll just point out is that the more tastings you do the more you'll know what works best for you. I've only had a few tastings and I've already learned a ton of thing to do/not do.

Thanks for the advice. Now I have something to go on and make a plan!