"Why are your cakes so expensive" ?! Hmm well see the thing is..........

One of the first questions to ask before you sit with a potential customer for a consultation is their budget, along with how many servings they want. If the top of their budget is below your minimum price, it saves everyone time if you tell them up front that you won't be able to meet their requirements and stay within their budget.

I've found that the best response to someone asking why your cakes are so expensive is to be honest and explain that the price is based on ingredient costs, labor costs, and overhead costs. If they want a cheaper cake, they will need to compromise on the quality of the ingredients or the complexity of their design (or both).

If you find that the majority of your potential customers are questioning your price or can't afford your cakes, that's an indication that you need to revisit your marketing strategy.

I don't know of any 3 tier to serve 300, a 6,8,10,12,14,16 will serve 306. I suppose you could do a 14, 16, 18, but don't tell AZCouture about it

Anyway, I hear it all the time too. I ask over the phone or email, depending on how they get a hold of me, about serving count, and say, "A cake that size will have a price range of $900 to $1200, depending on your design, is that within your budget?" Before I ever have them out for a consultation. I am sick of the brides who waste my time with a tasting when their budget is only home made friendly.

And the ones who are rude enough to ask why it is so expensive, I tell them that it is not just cake, it is edible art, and I understand that not everyone's budget will allow for it, and Walmart can always have a sheet cake ready for them.

For 300 guests I would recommend a smaller 3 tier cake (e.g. 8/10/12) with kitchen cakes making up the remaining servings. Many customers are way off on how many servings they think make up different cake sizes.

You don't need a detailed explanation, just tell her what your minimum price is (and what that price is based on in general). If she can increase her budget that's great, otherwise you can simply wish her the best of luck with her wedding.

The ones who insist they speak about it in the consulations are the one with a limited budget, they hope to win you around with their amazing charm and charisma. Its probably in some wedding magazine advice column somewhere.
 

Don't know if this will help you or not but I just had a bride want to negiotiate a price so I sent her this (the wording I found here on cc):

 

"I understand that budgeting for a wedding can be a challenge. However, my pricing reflects the large amount of time and skill it takes to design and execute a delicious work of art. I stand firm on my prices for that reason. Perhaps you could consider going with a smaller cake/serving count which will decrease your cost."

 

Another thing I do sometimes when I get price inquiries is include these two links to ariticles in Debi Brim's blog.  I find them helpful (and hilarious) and may hopefully get these brides get their heads out of the clouds

 

Edited by nhbaker - 1/27/13 at 8:47am

what i do is get the restaurant dessert prices in your locality for a slice of cake

 

here it's from $3.50 to $8 a pop

 

i say if you got dessert for 100 friends at the (name it) fancy $8 place it's $800 and

 

if you take them to the (name it) fried chicken joint it's still $350 to serve those friends

 

naming the places makes it a fact and a reality

 

this is being delivered to your location pinpoint fresh quality, artistically designed and tailored to your specifications

 

if you went to $3.50 or $8 place they can only serve you the desserts on the menu

 

the cake has a two fold purpose it's not just dessert it's the focal point of the reception etc etc

 

(somewhere during the consult i also say the cake is a reflection of the bride)

Edited by -K8memphis - 1/27/13 at 7:53am

Great response to show the prices at local places they would know!  I also like your comment about a reflection of the bride.  If she is being cheap about the cake it will sometimes show that they are that way, however, a simple elegant cake can be beautiful and not cost a lot in comparison to other custom made things.  (Not that you would said this to her but does she really think that a designer would make her a top quality fabric, one-of-a-kind gown for the price of a David Bridals sales rack special?!?!?)

If someone's nervy enough to ask why the cake is so expensive I tell them that you're not just paying for the cake, you're paying for the time and skill it takes to make it and make it look right.

 

I did a huge cake for a plumber's union once, and they were all making cracks about how much it cost and how they were in the wrong business. I told them "Since you're all union guys you'll probably understand when you think that you're not paying for the cake, you're paying for the skill." They all shut up and said "oh...yeah..." Then they really shut up when I told them that they could all come over to my house and wash my cake pans if they really wanted to change businesses.