Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › Upcharge wedding cake July 4th(b/c of holiday)??
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Upcharge wedding cake July 4th(b/c of holiday)??

post #1 of 25
5/27/12 at 6:11am
Thread Starter 
Just a question! I was NOT able to be with family hardly at all this Memorial weekend due to 2 wedding cakes and groomscake. I have a request for a wedding cake on July 4th and because I'm missing out on socializing on a holiday weekend, does anybody charge higher for weddding cakes on holidays at all. Based on not ableing to celebrate with family? Let me know asap on this because I'm not sure I want to lose out on another holiday and if I do, would it be ok to go higher and tell the bride that you are higher on holidays due to being away from loved ones mainly? Thanks!
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 25
5/27/12 at 6:30am
Does making more money make up for missing time with family?

The Dude abides.

Reply

The Dude abides.

Reply
post #3 of 25
5/27/12 at 6:34am
I don't change my prices just because the cake is due on a Sunday, holiday, TV specials etc. (or because the cake prep, decorating etc. may fall on those days either). My orders are made well in advance to know it will be a holiday or vacation time and I have the option of not taking the order if I don't want it to interfere with my non-baker plan. The only time I have increased my price with a surcharge is if the order is really last minute in order to cover rush delivery expenses, etc.

This is the nature of business.

Of course if you are baking as a hobby and just charging a nominal fee than I'm sure you can explain that to the bride that she'll have to pay more to buy your holiday time too.
No license or insurance. Put lead wires in cakes, never wash hands, cake boards are used cardboard. No contracts cause I can't read or write. No lawyer cause I'm judgment proof. I bake with old mix boxes found behind Walmart. Now about my question
Reply
No license or insurance. Put lead wires in cakes, never wash hands, cake boards are used cardboard. No contracts cause I can't read or write. No lawyer cause I'm judgment proof. I bake with old mix boxes found behind Walmart. Now about my question
Reply
post #4 of 25
5/27/12 at 6:50am
icon_sad.gif It would be in very poor taste!! Remember, just 1 dissatisfied customer will tell 7 people and so on.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 25
5/27/12 at 7:03am
I think if you are willing to give up time with your family (that's up to you to decide) that it is perfectly acceptable to add an up-charge.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 25
5/27/12 at 7:40am
Many photographers have a standard upcharge for holiday weddings. Not unusual at all.
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.
Reply
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.
Reply
post #7 of 25
5/27/12 at 8:23am
I don't think you should charge more for holiday time cakes, first of all most of the work will be done a day or two in advance I would guess. Seems like price gouging to me. What's more important family or work? Charging someone a little more is not going to make a big difference in your life.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 25
5/27/12 at 8:37am
It would be a reasonable upcharge. Your photographer referenced above is not the only source to upcharge. Venues charge by season - day of the week(weekends are upcharged), catering is at times - even the dresses and accesories have prime and value sales. It will depend on how much you really want to do the cake. If you chose to do so and the extra money makes it reasonable for you to do so or an excuse for the bride to say she will go elsewhere. It is your time that you are giving up. Many places "pay" holiday time for their employees, overtime is required by law. You need to charge to according to your expenses.
yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why it is called the present. from the movie Kung Fu Panda
Reply
yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why it is called the present. from the movie Kung Fu Panda
Reply
post #9 of 25
5/27/12 at 8:46am
I absolutely charge extra for a holiday.
However, I don't tell the client it's because I want to spend time with my family. I tell them it's because it's a holiday. Trust me, plenty of other vendors charge extra for the holiday and I'm willing to bet some of her vendors are charging more because it's a holiday.

From the tone of your post it sounds like you don't want to miss out on the time with your family. There's nothing wrong with that! So either decline the order or charge extra to make it worth your while thumbs_up.gif
Tact is telling someone where to go so nicely they can't wait to take the trip!
Reply
Tact is telling someone where to go so nicely they can't wait to take the trip!
Reply
post #10 of 25
5/27/12 at 8:48am
As someone that personally got married on July 4th, and having friends that got married on other holidays, I can tell you it is quite the opposite. A lot of my wedding vendors were deeply discounted. July 4th fell on a Friday the year I got married. I saved 30% on the country club alone by getting married that day. I would never have been able to have the wedding I did if I got married 1 weekend sooner or 1 weekend later.

So, no, I would never up charge for a holiday. The great thing about selling cakes, is you can do as much or as little as you want to. If you want to spend the time with your family, then you simply tell the customer that you're very sorry, but you're not available that day. Choose whatever is more important to you, but don't penalize the customer for it.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 25
5/27/12 at 8:51am
Must say when I first read your post I immediately thought "how tacky to upcharge", however, after thinking about it and reading the comments regarding venues, caterers, photographers, etc., I think it's totally acceptable and maybe even expected for holiday/prime time events! I'm going to consider doing so myself...makes complete sense icon_smile.gif
http://www.cleverconfections.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1639748767#!/pages/Brookville-OH/Clever-Confections-Wedding-and-Party-Cakes/121751374504069?ref=ts
Reply
http://www.cleverconfections.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1639748767#!/pages/Brookville-OH/Clever-Confections-Wedding-and-Party-Cakes/121751374504069?ref=ts
Reply
post #12 of 25
5/27/12 at 10:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Little1

As someone that personally got married on July 4th, and having friends that got married on other holidays, I can tell you it is quite the opposite. A lot of my wedding vendors were deeply discounted. July 4th fell on a Friday the year I got married. I saved 30% on the country club alone by getting married that day. I would never have been able to have the wedding I did if I got married 1 weekend sooner or 1 weekend later.

So, no, I would never up charge for a holiday. The great thing about selling cakes, is you can do as much or as little as you want to. If you want to spend the time with your family, then you simply tell the customer that you're very sorry, but you're not available that day. Choose whatever is more important to you, but don't penalize the customer for it.



Sometimes venues can be cheaper on Holiday weekends. Sometimes people don't want to marry on those days because they find that their guests have other plans for that holiday,

I remember one time I needed an Auto Club to come help me with a problem when I broke down. I had a membership and called them. It was 4th of July and they guy told me it was $20 more cash for the holiday. I called the auto club back, he got reported and they sent someone else to do the service I had already paid for with my membership.

Certain businesses like hotels in the northeast are more expensive in the summer. In south Florida rates are highest in the winter months.

For those who do want to charge holiday rates, If you don't need the job and have so much that you can turn down work by charging more, go for it if you want.

and when does the "time with my family charge" stop? Oh it's my daughters birthday this weekend so I have to charge you more. If you want to spend time with your family, make time. A lot of people have no choice and have to work holidays and weekends. Some don't get Holiday pay either.

I think it's tacky to charge more around the holidays. Are you going to auction your work during busy times and only make a cake for the highest bidder?
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 25
5/27/12 at 11:04am
every wedding is a "holiday" to the bride and groom. I'm kind of torn on adding an upcharge for a holiday, most of the work will be done before the actual day, but I guess the bottom line is, if you really don't want to miss family time you should turn the cake down.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 25
5/27/12 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellikrause

every wedding is a "holiday" to the bride and groom. I'm kind of torn on adding an upcharge for a holiday, most of the work will be done before the actual day, but I guess the bottom line is, if you really don't want to miss family time you should turn the cake down.



Exactly, you are not going to cancel a family vacation or a relatives wedding and reception to make a cake for someone for a few dollars more.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 25
5/27/12 at 4:20pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, thank you everyone for your thoughts. I"ll think about what route to go. Your replies are greatly appreciative and helpful in so many ways! Happy Baking!
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cake Decorating
Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › Upcharge wedding cake July 4th(b/c of holiday)??