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Prices for Atlanta GA wedding cake?

post #1 of 36
2/28/12 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 
I'm sorry this is another pricing question. Basically I just need to know approximately the going rate for custom cake in and around the Atlanta GA area. Buttercream cake, red velvet with cream cheese filling. Just a ballpark per slice seving price if possible?

If you want to read the back story to this here it is....
My best friends daughter is getting married just outside of Atlanta (McDonough area) and she wants me to fly out from California to make the cake. I've only met her daughter a couple times so don't know her well. I know my friend and her husband don't have much money. She keeps saying she's out of money for the wedding. I would be sleeping on an airbed in the family room with no privacy, no stand mixer, over 2 hour drive to the venue, and she said she was hoping I would also be cutting the cake at the reception. I can't imagine trying to cake and decorate a cake in a stange house, dragging all my stuff from CA with a house full of 11 family members visiting. And while my friend is also making food for the reception (to save money). As an option we talked about getting a cake at a local store so I could just decorate it, but she stopped short, basically implying I'd be paying for the cake...

soooooo, anyone have a general idea of a per slice price pelase?

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post #2 of 36
2/28/12 at 3:36pm
I live in McDonough and I've never priced wedding cakes in this area, but I'd guess around $3-5 per slice since we are south of Atlanta. Cakes prices in Atlanta and North Atlanta would be much higher. You said the venue was 2 hours away-what area is it in?

I just decorate cakes as a hobby, but I can't imagine hauling all my stuff across the country and being in an unfamiliar kitchen to bake and decorate a cake.

I looked at your website and I can see why she wants you to make the cake. You do beautiful work!

BTW, I'm a Tami too! icon_biggrin.gif
Tami
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Tami
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post #3 of 36
2/28/12 at 3:48pm
Is this like you life long best friend who gave you a kidney or something. I can not see EVER asking someone to fly across the country to make a cake, and okay, let's say I could deal with that. But then you ask them to fly across the country to sleep on an airbed AND not only will they be making the cake, you also want them to WORK at the wedding, by CUTTING THE CAKE. If the wedding is too much and asking you to go through all these hoops are some of her cost cutting measures, then that's a little selfish. How about you suggest she scale back on the guest list. How many people would this cake before by the way?
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post #4 of 36
2/28/12 at 3:50pm
Okay. SO I just caught the part that said if she bought the cake, that it would be YOU paying for it. I have no words for that.
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post #5 of 36
2/28/12 at 3:57pm
Roughly $3 to $6.00 per serving, depending on level of decoration/location/etc. I think most wedding cakes will fall within about $4.50 a serving category.
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post #6 of 36
2/28/12 at 4:10pm
I'm sorry, but this sounds like a hot mess! I would kindly back out of this. Me personally, I do not like anyone else in the kitchen while I'm baking. Also to bake in a different environment can throw you off too. It seems like your friend thinks you produce cakes from under your armpit! icon_eek.gif Then, to imply you will be paying for the cake...hmmmf. This is not cool.
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post #7 of 36
2/28/12 at 4:39pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, yeah, I know, I was caught off guard when she originally asked. And I honestly thought the wedding would be closer to her house and much smaller (she originally told me 50- 80 people).

A hot mess... I completely agree, and I've pretty much decided there is no way I can do this. She doesn't even own a stand mixer and her oven is only 14" wide. And I hate other people in the kitchen when I'm working. I believe they have sent out about 200 invitations, but realistically only expect 150 people. The wedding is actually in McDonough, she lives about 2 hours away, so I was just trying to see what the prices were, but there is no way I'll be paying for that at what you all have quoted me.

Thank you so much for your help!! Now I just need to find the 'balls' to tell her no. I've known her since kindergarten and it's really tough to say no to her. Oh, and I'm a Tami Lynn too!!! icon_biggrin.gif

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post #8 of 36
2/28/12 at 4:52pm
Quote:
Quote:

Now I just need to find the 'balls' to tell her no. I've known her since kindergarten and it's really tough to say no to her.



I know how tough something like that is, and guilt trip is just unbearable. Maybe you can figure out a way to compromise? Baking and decorating in that kitchen is obviously out. Just try to think out of the box. Do you have an already completed dummie that can be shipped and used for the wedding and pictures? Or maybe if you have time and want to do something nice, make a dummie for bride's dream cake? It could be displayed, pretty photos taken, nice memory shared, etc... and then they can serve sheetcakes/kitchen cakes out of the kitchen? Costco, Sams, WalMart could all be cost efficient options for a tight budget. And also, since your business is nowhere close to GA, it really does not matter about people associated your cake with sheetcakes.
Just a thought.....
Good Luck on what you decide,
P
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post #9 of 36
2/28/12 at 6:34pm
Now that I have picked myself off the floor, I thought I would point something out. If she sent out 200 invites, that does NOT mean 200 people. If you invite a couple or a family or most single people bring a date, you are inviting anywhere from 2 to 4-5 people per invite. So those 200 invites actually cover at least 400 people, and as the standard 80% goes. thats about 320 people. Once again, for someone who is on a budget, they need to scale back the invites. And a true best friend would not make you guilty about saying no. My best friend won't even ask me for a cake and I am more then willing to give her one for free.
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post #10 of 36
2/28/12 at 6:40pm
I'm guessing this is not being held at a commercial venue since you mentioned she was making the food for the reception.

But if it is, would the venue allow you to bring in a cake made in an unlicensed kitchen? If so, this could be your way out since you can't bake from a home kitchen in Georgia.
Tami
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Tami
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post #11 of 36
2/28/12 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 
I tried the 'not in a licensed kitchen' ploy right off the bat. But unfortunately the venue doesn't care.

Pebbles, the guilt trip is what's killing me. And QT, you are right about the number of invites, but from what I understand, a lot of them won't be coming. My friend has a huge extended family, but they never ever travel, so they are assuming they will all to be 'regrets'. And you are both right, I would never ask my friends to do this for me, in fact, I can't remember ever asking her for any favor.

Now, if they lived in the area, I'd be thrilled to make the cake. It's the $300 plane ticket, no sleep, 5 days off work, strange kitchen, no mixer, 5 hour drive and working the reception that's making me want to say no. I did my friends sister's wedding cake, and her parents 50th anniversary cake so I guess she shouldn't be too mad at me if I bow out? She just kept saying she was 'out of money' on the phone...so I feel really bad now about sticking her with no cake. Hence the reason I was asking prices...

I'm not sure about the dummies but it's an interesting thought. Maybe mail them? I guess I just don't want to even fly out there..uugh I'm feeling the guilt...

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post #12 of 36
2/28/12 at 7:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetflowers

I guess I just don't want to even fly out there..uugh I'm feeling the guilt...

Can you decline the event and send her the $300 you would spend on your ticket?
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website www.BakingFix.com
blog www.BakingFix.com/thefix
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MimiFix
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post #13 of 36
2/28/12 at 7:40pm
You know, I bet if you go through with this it'll hurt your friendship with her more than help. You'll feel upset, stressed, over worked and under appreciated. Your best gift for your friend, is to decline. (See how that works? icon_biggrin.gif You're doing what's best for her! No guilt needed!) What they see when they look at your cakes, isn't what you'll be able to provide in their home. I mean not just kitchen change, ingredients, humidity, oven temps! Just convince them that they'll get something much higher in quality by going another route.

Maybe you can make them a sugarflower topper or something to mail them to ease the disappointment. Then go spend 300 dollars at the spa since you saved that on the plane ticket. icon_wink.gif If all else fails to calm the guilt, buy some self improvement books. It's how my mom has avoided buying me a car for 10 years. icon_razz.gif


Btw seeing your cakes.........darnit I want you to do MY wedding! Lol! I can see why they want you. @_@
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post #14 of 36
2/28/12 at 7:50pm
First - you do beautiful work.

Second - this was going to cost you a lot no matter what. $300 plane ticket - lost income from days off - a wedding gift or cake in lieu of gift - A LOT of money.

Why not stay home and call a good bakery and arrange to have a cake delivered to the reception? You could even ship some of your sugar flowers to the bakery to make it more personal.They will just have to deal with the cutting of the cake themselves - people get through it every day! Honestly - I don't see how writing a check for $800 could cost more than the reality of this whole mess.

For that $800 dollars, you will have saved the cost of a plane trip, saved the costs of food and travel while there, helped an old friend immensely, done a wonderful favor for that friend's daughter, employed a fellow baker, and purchased a whole lot of sanity for yourself. The check seems a bargain

Save the friendship. Save your sanity. Buy the cake. Relax.
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post #15 of 36
2/28/12 at 10:24pm
I dont know if Id call someone a friend that expected so much from me. Sorry Ive had these kinds of friends . One still owes me money for bail money for her daughter.
Another thing people need to get their priorities straight . If they cant afford a big wedding they shouldnt expect friends to help pay for it .Its called common sense.
I would tell her just what you said about how much it
would. cost you to travel and take off work .
Its up to you if you want to send a monetary gift.
Her crisis isnt your emergency .
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