So,,,,,I've just added this to my quote request form.....

Budget for Wedding Cake - of course you do not need to tell us this if you do not wish to. However, if you do, we can advise you as to what may or may not be possible and guide you on how to achieve a similar look but still keep you within your budget.

part of me thinks I'm being cheeky, but it may save alot of timewasting. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks 

lol, I don't give people the option of not telling me. It's the third question I ask, after "what is your event date" and "how many guests".

AI had not asking what is your budget bite me in the butt . The lady that I made the cake for was all over the place with how many servings she wanted so we went with her highest number of people she might sever, so I gave s really low price because she had given me sob story of how she was planning her daughters birthday party and couldn't really afford much.well when I quoted the price she was relieved because I came in way under what she had budgeted for the cake. Lesson learned always ask whats your budget, if they are uncomfortable with the question simply say that you need a rough idea of what they can afford .

AI recommend changing this to:

[COLOR=A52A2A][SIZE=14px][I]Budget for Wedding Cake (Required)[/I][/SIZE][/COLOR]

Make it a free text field so they can enter a range if necessary. Next to the budget field is a great place to include a brief summary of your minimum prices.

Definitely ask for the budget. Definitely do not make it an option for the customer to fill out. It is mandatory. It really will not waste your time AND the customers. It sets the baseline of where you can start designing for their budget. We are artist and we can create anything and everything but it all depends on how big the customers wallet size is ;) The possibilities are endless, so knowing the budget is like a great starting line. 

Along with asking for event date, number of servings, flavours, theme, etc. I also ask: Your reasonable budget range. Than I state, I will do my best to accommodate a design that fits your budget. 

If it so happens their budget is unreasonable for all their stated request, I find its usually because they don't understand how much time is put into making a custom cake. So its my job to explain but also give them options. The options being a design within their budget, a design a little bit higher than their budget, and than a design that is exactly what they request being the highest price.

This is just the way I have been doing things and it seems to work for me. You might find it may or may not work for you. But eventually you will find your own vibe. Hope this helps! =D 

Thanks you guys, great help......I'm considering making it a required field now.......the idea of leaving a free text field with a summary of my base prices is a great idea Jason, Thanks so much.  

Just waiting for the funny guy who uploads a photo of 6 tier with loads of piping work then ticks the £150 - £200 box.....it will happen, just a matter of time.

the start of many! 120 portions, in this design .......budget £150 - £200......

AIf you know someone with JavaScript experience you can set up your order form to enforce the minimum value of a budget range. For example, if your cakes start at £3/serving, and someone asks for a cake for 100 people, you can hide all budget ranges that start under £300.

ABeautiful cake. I don't know how much the price you put is, I live in the Us

AAlways someone wanting a beautiful cake creation for cheaper, they just don't get how much time and effort goes into something so beautiful.

Can I just say that because many decorators don't give prices for specific cakes (I mean, their websites list price per serving, but non-cakers have no idea how many servings are in a 3-tiered cake), people might just be ignorant of realistic prices.

When we got married, I had no idea how much a wedding cake would be. Basically, we could have paid whatever we wanted. We didn't have a 'budget' as such. If I'd fallen in love with a cake that cost $1000, I could have paid for it. However, I wouldn't have wanted to.

If you'd asked me straight up what my budget was, I might have said something ridiculously low, and the baker might have dismissed me, and all the rest of my money.

Giving an idea of what things are likely to cost is a good idea. I like Jason's idea of getting rid of options that aren't realistic.

Just be aware that people's 'budgets' might be more stretchy than you realise, or can be explained easily in a text box.

I don't come right out and ask the budget.  Well, sometimes I do, but it's rare.

I not only list a starting price of $4.50, I also do the math & list "the smallest tiered cake we offer serves 35 and is priced starting at $157.50."  My first questions are date, reception location, guest count.  From there, I ask type of reception and offer size & shapes.  Long before the consultation, they know the starting price of a cake for the guest count.  I expect them to know if that is within their budget.  Example:  "For your guest count and reception, I would recommend a cake which serves about 115.  I would expect that size cake to range $650-900 depending on the design."  My clients should know if that is within the range they can afford.

When it's a groom's cake, I try to be quick about it.  Yesterday, I had someone call about a bottle of Grand Marnier.  I directed her to my website then to the crown royal bottle I created.  I explained that the cake in the photo served about 60 and is priced at $175.  When she responded it was just for a few people, I asked the budget.  When she replied $100, I gave her several options to fit the budget.

I like knowing the budget up front.  It makes my job easier.  I do understand that some people think if they reveal the budget, I am going to guide them to a more expensive cake than may otherwise be necessary.  Oh...the budget is $500 well then let's trick this cake out!!  Nope.  I really want to find something that is just right for them.  That's hard for people to believe.  I try to find a happy medium where I don't waste time (mine or theirs) but also make them feel comfortable.

A

I sort of do this, round about ;-) I ask "Do you have a budget in mind for your cake? Prices start at $3 per serving for a less detailed buttercream cake, and can go up to $5 per serving for a fondant covered, extensively detailed cake. Most 100 serving cakes are about $375. (Something along these lines, I am on my phone, so I can't quote it.) sometimes I get a yes or no, sometimes I get a number, and I have gotten "that sounds fair" lol