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Wedding cake costs more than half of venue rental

post #1 of 29
7/17/12 at 2:36pm
Thread Starter 
So I sent a bride a wedding cake quote for her July 2013 wedding 3 mths ago. She said she was trying to gather estimates for her wedding. She writes back this week asking if I remembered her and if I can still do her wedding cake but..here comes the bomb..."you're wedding cake price is more than half of my venue's rental cost and the cake is really simple! So like can we do something about the price because if not I will just find someone else". Now, is there some magazine or published article circulating that recommends a wedding cake should be x% of your venue? Was a bit confused when I saw her email. Didn't know people compared a wedding cake to a venue cost.The 2 venues she is considering charges anywhere between $465 - $775US for the day which is very affordable compared to the larger venues which start at $2000US. Bear in mind, this is a 3 tier fruit cake with rum etc and marzipan. She is still writing me asking for a better price and I'm thinking..I just factored in the rent I will have to be paying for a new kitchen and you want a better price! The cake is simple and elegant - 3 tier fruit cake + marzipan + white fondant + 4 large sugar roses, ribbon bands and leaves but still..where does someone get off comparing my price to your venue's cost. As always, I just let a few hrs pass before I can respond in the most professional manner with recommendations.
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post #2 of 29
7/17/12 at 2:50pm
Well I will tell her that she can find someone else to do her cake. You gave her a quote and that's it, you don't need to know how much the venue charges cause that's not your problem. Sorry but she's comparing apples to oranges, the price of one has nothing to do with the price of the other. People need to stop trying to "negotiate" prices, it is what it is!
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post #3 of 29
7/17/12 at 2:54pm
Tell her that it's going to take you half as much time to respond to her inquiry as it would to make the cake and if she can't fix that for you then maybe you'll just find another customer for that weekend.
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post #4 of 29
7/17/12 at 3:09pm
this is not new. I to have brides compare, and use the i will have to find someone else.So i have made a list of local bakers the charge three times what i do and i forward them the contact. People have to start respect the work that we do
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post #5 of 29
7/17/12 at 3:29pm
It makes no difference how much her rentals are, your price is your price. If she gets someone to let her use their backyard for her reception for free will that mean that the cake should be free too? The price of the venue has no bearing on prices of everything else, and she should just be happy that she got such a cheap location so that she can spend more on the cake!
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #6 of 29
7/17/12 at 4:47pm
I wouldn't even address the "cake is more than half cost of venue" complaint in your response. It's immaterial. She's just trying to get you to feel ridiculous and cave.

Your price is your price. Just tell her that the price of that design is non-negotiable. If that cake doesn't fit in her budget, her only option would be to go with a less expensive design or less servings.
Before you ask- I'm licensed, inspected, insured, and all that jazz.
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Before you ask- I'm licensed, inspected, insured, and all that jazz.
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post #7 of 29
7/17/12 at 7:21pm
She has no idea of what her cake will cost for you to make it. You're making a fruit cake, with alcohol and marzipan (and fondant). I know when I make a fruit cake, and I'm just doing a single tier for family events, it's quite costly to me for the dried fruits, the alcohol and marzipan. I would say you're sorry that you're unable to do anything about the price and let her find someone else. All she will do is find something to complain about later to get some sort of refund.
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post #8 of 29
7/17/12 at 7:42pm
I would just tell her that it appears the two of you will not be able to work together and you wish her well with her wedding. Period.
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post #9 of 29
7/17/12 at 9:18pm
Not worth it! Someone like this will still be complaining after she eats abs enjoys the cake!
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post #10 of 29
7/17/12 at 9:47pm
My church didn't charge at all for my wedding or my reception so my venue cost was $0. Even though my mom made my cake, the cost was about $100 for her to make it so that's a whole lot more than my venue cost. Sticker shock is killer.
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post #11 of 29
7/18/12 at 2:10am
Maybe she was expecting the venue to be one of the big costs and hence everything else would be a small portion of that? Not that that makes it your problem it's not the case!
I would suggest telling her that the cake you quoted for is the price you quoted however if she can't afford it other types of cakes that dont use fruit, alcohol and marzipan would be cheaper and possibly give her a price for a yellow cake version of the cake she asked you about previously.
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post #12 of 29
7/18/12 at 3:14am
Simple explanation - the venue is way too cheap.
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 #13 of 29
7/18/12 at 7:04am
Thread Starter 
Well it is obvious her venue is too cheap and her cake is too expensive. Bear in mind, this is a 3 tier fruit cake PLUS she wants 150 servings of fruit cake slices for guests to take home in boxes with marzipan and fondant. Obviously all of that cake is going to add up. She wrote back "oh god that is way too much to spend on a cake!!!!!! i could never spend so much on a cake. I think I saw somewhere on your website that you offer cutting wedding cakes for a fee???" So..miss lady expects me to show up at her wedding and cut and box a wedding cake that is not mine?! I haven't even responded. Realize she is wasting my time and there is too much back and forth with someone who will never be my customer.

No one ever knows how much is costs for me to do their wedding cake and I don't tell everyone that the price includes the labour for someone I hire to wash and clean up. Should I even bother to tell ppl their wedding cake cost includes my labour plus another? Do I offer a detailed breakdown of x hours spend on your cake x my hourly fee? Anyhow, I am always glad that these ppl are just one in every 10 ppl who reach out to me.
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post #14 of 29
7/18/12 at 7:22am
No, you don't need to offer a cost breakdown to your customer, you are not a mechanic and anyway even they wouldn't tell you how much they paid for a nut and bolt before adding on their margin! She doesn't need to know how much you pay for 1lb of sugar, and she certainly doesn't need to know how many people work on your cakes.

And no, you don't go and cut someone else's wedding cake, or at least I wouldn't touch it. Just tell her that you offer this service for your own cakes. However, if you really want the cash, or have nothing better to do that day, make sure you charge for gas, and the entire time you spend on the job, from leaving your house to when you get back, including sitting around waiting for it to be time to cut the cake, even if you are sitting out the back reading a book waiting for your cue!

I think you should stop replying to her emails, tell her you are now unavailable if you like. She is too much work already icon_rolleyes.gif
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post #15 of 29
7/18/12 at 10:33am
Thread Starter 
My business partner told me not to write her back because she is wasting my time and she knows she will never give me the job. More than that, I don't know where in my emails to her she felt she could start off an email to any business with "oh god that is way too much....".. Seriously? I would never write a business with that beginning line. People need to respect the work we do and stop haggling for a dirt cheap price. If she didn't like my price, why not politely say "Thank you but it is over my budget. All the best".
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