How much for wedding cake?

duvetday

Hi all

We recently got married and a friend of my sister did the cakes. Fabulous - she did 3 x 10 inch cakes, fruit, choc biscuit and a sponge. All iced, very simple couple of icing roses on top, looked and tasted lovely.

I've been chasing her for months to get a cost so that I can pay her. Finally cornered her the other day (literally!!) and it turns out she doesn't usually do wedding cakes and so doesn't know what to charge us. She's been avoiding us - nutter Cakes are just a hobby for her and she was thankfully happy to do ours, as we were happy to let her off with no demands/stipulations, etc.

Anyway, since we've been casual about the whole thing, once I had her on board for the cake I didn't go anywhere else and assumed she would have a price. I therefore have NO idea how much wedding cakes cost. Anyone have a ballpark cost for wedding cakes like the above? I want to make sure that I don't shortchange her in any way.

TIA

dd

chocfan

Sounds like a nice girl that wouldn't have even chased you for it if you hadn't found her but I agree with you re cornering her-it's nice to acknowledge things and especially since she would be out of pocked with covering the expenses of it etc

I have no idea what the norm is but we just went with a local bakery for ours and it was €350 for 3 layers-choc biscuit, carrot and choc fudge so not totally unlike yours

That's a business though so maybe you could give her 200/250?? Sounds like she might not want to make a profit like a business obv would. Or a voucher for a lovely restaurant/night away?

dobman88

My gf was in the exact same position last week. She's fantastic at baking and her friend asked her to do the cake. 3 tiers, chocolate biscuit, lemon sponge and carrot cake.

She didn't take a penny and she won't either if her friend comes looking to pay her. I would say buy her a nice gift if you feel the need, a spa day? A hotel voucher? A dinner voucher? Something just to show your appreciation.

She doesn't sound the type to expect payment so just be glad you've got good m8s also.

GingerLily

We had iced 8/10/12 inch at about 350, sponge and white chocolate icing.

Somewhere between 200-275 if I had to guess for 3x 10 inch.

duvetday

Thanks guys.

@dobman88 - I think that she was avoiding me because she didn't want to come up with a price. She would like to be paid I think, and I definitely don't want anyone out of pocket.

I was thinking of maybe ringing a bakery and getting a quote also, but all your replies are very helpful as corroboration.

_Brian

Two years ago my brother got married, I paid for their cake, the got a stash of cupcakes too.
€400, three tiers, chocolate biscuit was the big one, then red velvet, then lemon sponge.

dobman88

duvetday wrote: »

Thanks guys.

@dobman88 - I think that she was avoiding me because she didn't want to come up with a price. She would like to be paid I think, and I definitely don't want anyone out of pocket.

I was thinking of maybe ringing a bakery and getting a quote also, but all your replies are very helpful as corroboration.

Ah OK.

I just ran it by my gf. She reckons ingredients came to about €60-80 for what she made.

If you wanted to pay her, 200 would be more than fair imo.

jlm29

Cake making/decorating can be quite expensive, people often underestimate it! I made a 2 tier cake chocolate biscuit cake for someone a couple of years ago for a birthday, and had to ask for €70- I’d say they thought I was running with myself, but I use Cadbury’s chocolate, and that alone cost a bomb!
I’d say €200 - €250 is fair, but less than you’d pay a shop. At the end of the day though, if she’s expecting to be paid, she should come up with a price. It’s not fair to expect someone to be inspired!

Faith

I'd expect to pay €300 - €350 for that, by a professional. That seems to be the consensus of the thread, so it's up to you whether you pay that or less.

Like all wedding expenses, many people dismiss the amount of effort that's involved. I bake a lot myself, but never professionally. If I had to guess, I'd list the following costs:

1. Ingredients - at least €75, given the cost of dried fruit and fondant icing
2. Time - about 5 hours minimum, not including cooking or soaking for the fruit cake part
3. Equipment and electricity
4. Transport of the cake

So it's more than just what the ingredients cost, and what you pay her should reflect the cost of her time and skills. As she's a hobby baker, I think around €250 would be very fair.

cooperguy

We're spending €375 on our 3 tier cake.

duvetday

Thanks everyone.

I would in no way underestimate the time involved. I bake myself and know the effort needed for a fruit cake in particular.

The consensus seems to be €250 so I'll go with that.