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Your "meeting with the bride" checklist

post #1 of 15
3/18/11 at 6:56pm
Thread Starter 
Oh, god.
OH GOD.

Ok I'm new - very new. I am grateful that my name has gotten around rather quickly and I have a few weddings booked. Until now, though, every bride wanted to work via e-mail/telephone. On Sunday I need to meet with my first bride and her Mother.

I don't even know what to say!

What's your routine? Checklist? Help!
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post #2 of 15
3/18/11 at 7:31pm
Take a deep breath. You'll do fine!

Are you doing a tasting or just a consultation? If you are doing a tasting I always bring the samples out first and we chat as they taste.

Questions to ask:
Date of wedding?
Where is their reception?
How many expected guests?
BUDGET?!?
Does the bride have a design in mind already?

If the bride has a picture or something we talk about that. Otherwise we discuss styles or designs she likes/dislikes. I do a rough sketch of what the cake will look like.

Close with signing of the contract (hopefully!).
Tact is telling someone where to go so nicely they can't wait to take the trip!
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Tact is telling someone where to go so nicely they can't wait to take the trip!
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post #3 of 15
3/18/11 at 7:53pm
One thing I always ask is if they have a special silver platter, or plate or something that belong to their grandmother, or some some sort of special family heirloom that they might want to use as the base. Honestly, no one has ever had anything that they want me to use, but they all are wowed that I asked the question icon_smile.gif
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post #4 of 15
3/19/11 at 4:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by idgalpal

One thing I always ask is if they have a special silver platter, or plate or something that belong to their grandmother, or some some sort of special family heirloom that they might want to use as the base. Honestly, no one has ever had anything that they want me to use, but they all are wowed that I asked the question icon_smile.gif



Along with this always ask what they're topper is going to be. If it's heavy you'll need to plan for additional support under it. Also ask what size it is, there are some large toppers out there that won't fit on the traditional 6" top tier, so you might have to go to a 7 or 8inch.
It's better to be Hated for who you Are,
Than Loved for who you're Not.
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It's better to be Hated for who you Are,
Than Loved for who you're Not.
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post #5 of 15
3/19/11 at 4:31am
I don't do contracts at the tastings... I tell them to go home and discuss things in private, go to other tastings, etc. I am not a car salesman and don't feel like they need to sign on the dotted line before they leave. I do have a tasting info sheet if you want it... It has all the questions I ask and notes I like to take during the appointment.
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Fat Girl Cakes... because dessert just can't be thin! www.fatgirlcakes.com

Become a fan on facebook. www.facebook.com/FatGirlCakes

Follow my blog.
fatgirlcakes.blogspot.com
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post #6 of 15
3/19/11 at 4:34am
I forgot to add... I don't ask what the budget is. Before we set up a tasting, I tell them the starting prices and they are on my website as well.
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Fat Girl Cakes... because dessert just can't be thin! www.fatgirlcakes.com

Become a fan on facebook. www.facebook.com/FatGirlCakes

Follow my blog.
fatgirlcakes.blogspot.com
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post #7 of 15
3/19/11 at 4:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinkpiggie78

I forgot to add... I don't ask what the budget is. Before we set up a tasting, I tell them the starting prices and they are on my website as well.



I forgot to mention i do this also. I don't ask what the budget is, but before we even set up a tasting i ask what their guest count is and tell them the starting price will be.....as IndyDebi says people go math dumb, so i do it for them. For some reason people can't multiple 100x3. If the starting price is out of their budget then we don't proceed to the consult, saves us both time.
It's better to be Hated for who you Are,
Than Loved for who you're Not.
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It's better to be Hated for who you Are,
Than Loved for who you're Not.
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post #8 of 15
3/19/11 at 6:02am
Well, we're all different. I get basic info on the phone - venue, # guests, 3 flavors of cake to sample from the tasting menu, how many people coming to the appointment and as the bride to send photos of her wedding dress.

At the consultation, I get more basic info on my info form, and then start sketching cake ideas if I haven't done that ahead of time. While I'm sketching, the couple looks through pictures of cakes I've done. If they stop to exclai over a picture, I add that into the sketches.

Then they pick a design.

THEN they eat cake.

Then they choose flavors and fillings for their cake, I complete an invoice, go over it with them and ask for the order. I hope they fill out a contract and leave a deposit right then and there.

But I used to write sales training for insurance salespeople, so I'm pretty comfortable asking for the sale.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #9 of 15
3/19/11 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
Thank you so much guys!
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post #10 of 15
3/20/11 at 10:51am
Thread Starter 
Yay I survived!
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post #11 of 15
3/20/11 at 11:25am
All great info! Thanks for posting!
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Legal, licensed, and insured since May 2011!
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post #12 of 15
3/20/11 at 2:48pm
I usually have all the basic info by e-mail such as date of wedding, venue etc.. I also ask them Before they come to me what flavours they are thinking of so I can make sure to have those cakes. There is no point making sure that you have a chocolate cake baked if they definitley do not want choc cake, would be wasting your time. I give them a rough quote of how much a 3 tiered wedding cake will cost so they have an idea. Once they arrive, I give them my cakes to try and go in more detail about the design they want. I don't expect them to sign straight away. Some have come for a tasting but end up choosing someone else. Once they do decide, I e-mail them an invoice / order form and ask them for £100 deposit to secure the booking. I know how you feel, it is really nerve wraking as they are complete strangers.
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post #13 of 15
3/22/11 at 9:07pm
I have my very first bride/groom consult/tasting this April and am very nervous!!! If anyone has a form they would like to share, I would be greatly appreciative!

Happy Caking!
Happy Caking,
Jillian O'Bannon
"Life is like baking...it is not what we make...it is how we make it that matters...your choices...your ingredients...your outcome."
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Happy Caking,
Jillian O'Bannon
"Life is like baking...it is not what we make...it is how we make it that matters...your choices...your ingredients...your outcome."
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post #14 of 15
3/23/11 at 6:19am
If you can PM me your email address I'll send you a copy of my invoice / contract.
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post #15 of 15
3/23/11 at 6:46am
wow, awesome question, thanks for posting
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