Would it be weird if I suggested this? - Page 2

I agree with this.  If you offered to make the cake, then its your discretion how big it should be.  They can supplement the dessert with something else too... wasn't YOUR idea for the cake to be the only dessert! 

What Margaret said: "kitchen cakes" are a perfectly normal way to get additional servings. Potentially, they could provide a way to offer additional flavors. And under the circumstances, you're under no obligation for the kitchen cakes to be the least bit fancy: there's nothing wrong with simple single-layer sheet cakes, even served in-pan.

 

Hmm. 100 guests? That's not a "shower"; that's a typhoon.

Absolutely agree!  Tell her you have been worried about this "offer" while explaining your limitations.  Let her go and buy her own cupcakes or dessert to make up the difference.  Don't get sucked into this.  She does not have 100 people coming to this shower.  She just wants to get all she can from you.  Good luck!

I know how you feel, it's one of those rock/hard place situations, because it's awkward to say you don't want to spend that much money and time on a gift for someone, but you also don't want to be stuck with the bill. I recently spent $45 doing a cake for a friend, I didn't expect it to cost that much but I didn't feel like I could say anything. Do you think you could tell her that you didn't expect to have to make such a large cake and see what she says?

 

If you don't feel comfortable bringing it up, the cupcakes idea is a great one, you could probably easily transfer some elements of your cake design into a quick cupcake decoration.

Tell her the truth:

 

 

 

 

Dear so and so:

 

My Goodness you are popular!  I never imagined so many guests at a baby shower.  Unfortunately, as a hobby baker, I am not equipped to make a cake that large with such short notice.  I would still very much like to provide a cake or cupcakes with X # of servings as my gift to you.  If this does not fit with your plans, I will be happy to make a cake for you at another time.

THIS!!

 

I would say something like this too...that you are not equipped to make a cake for 100 people as you're a hobby baker.

 

I just cannot get my head around inviting 100 people to a baby shower either. my goodness. I think it's weird that she would take advantage of your good will like this. 

think of a school or a church doing a shower for a special teacher or member

 

a community thing more or less--maybe where there was an illness or something tragic or nearly tragic in the recent past

where everybody 'knows your name'  and is moved to compassion perhaps 

 

this would be the case for church leadership in a heartbeat depending on the size of the church--if it's a first baby

 

or something like that maybe where 100 peeps would attend--it happens sometimes

 

when my son got married they had a bunch of showers and i'm sure if you totaled that up it was over 100 attendees

 

work peeps shower, different friends of family in the different circles gave showers--it was a lot--and it was all really sweet

I am also a hobby baker who had a similar experience. A friend of my sister's asked months ago if I would make her son's first birthday cake with a Dr. Seuss theme. They live in a very small rural town and I though a little two tier would more than do. A few weeks ago, I am informed that there will be about 100 people at the party and oh by the way, she wants two smash cakes as well.

Two. One for photos today and one for the party on Sunday.

I passed on to my sister that such an order is at least a $500 retail value and I did not think I'd have time to pull it off anyway. I work full time, after all. So I offered to do the two smash cakes but drew the line at the three tier. The smash cake(s) I did is my avatar, which is a 6 in round, three layer cake with a little sculpting and fondant. I would imagine each of these smash cakes would retail for $50 so she still got a rocking deal in my eyes. She is making cupcakes to feed the guests herself.

I am learning when to say no and I will share with you that it is a valuable skill!

In my opinion, I would make 4 square single layer cakes, all different but easy flavors, and then decorate them up to look like baby blocks, and then place them together on the table, it should be fairly easy to do, no stacking involved, easy to transport, and set up.

They just told you the 100 number yesterday, it would still be fine to let them know today how many servings you will be providing.  They still have PLENTY of time to make arrangements for more cake or dessert between now and then.  If they had told you 100 days or weeks ago it would be different.  They can buy something or any other friend/church member can make up the rest.  It is your call, do whatever you won't resent.

If you really feel you have to make a cake to feed the  hundred closest and most intimate friends of this mother to be I would stack a 12 x 18 sheet cake if you have that size pan, if not then I would go with the block cake mentioned in another post.  I would decorate the cake as a quilt, blocking it off in 4 in square and putting a rattle, duck, teddy bear, simple easy to pipe figures, one to each square, and maybe a larger square int he middle of the cake saying BABY.  No one said you had to make two tiers, stacking a cake unless that is the easiest thing for you to do.  I agree though you are not obligated to make a cake so large, call and  tell you you are not equipped for such a large cake and would make some cup cakes that could go along with what ever other desert they plan on having. It looks to me like greed is rearing it ugly rearing it's ugly head here.

Was going to do for 60, but bumping to 80...might as well throw in 20 more while you're at it.  Not to tell you your business, but 60 was way generous as it was for someone you didn't know. Not trying to be mean,but wow that's a lot of free cake, and 80...well really, what's 20 more at this point?