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Cake - for a disorganised sod at work.

Lillythepink, 4 September, 2008 at 22:05 Posted on Off Topic Posts 0 38

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P got married in Mexico about 3 weeks ago. They are having a "do" over here on Friday night, to which I am invited (via the magic of Facebook.) WTF? Does no one write out proper invitations to weddings any more?? I suspect it was that he was so fecking disorganised, they didn't get written. (he's a GIANT and only got his suit sorted about a week before they went)

Anyhoo, I digress. Into work, Monday morning. P says Can you make me a cake. For Friday. You know, a wedding cake, like?

WTF?

Doesn't give me clues as to shape, size, style, colour, nada. Phones his missus, who only stipulates "Sponge, no jam" That's it. Then he says, I@d like a fruit cake too.

So I have made them this

http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo?photo_id=1753003400&album_id=26931599 (Bottom layer)

http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo?photo_id=1753003360&album_id=26931599 (Top Layer)

So I'm back to my usual question - what do I charge? It cost about £35 to make I think. Is £50 ok? Would you pay it?

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Latest activity by Lillythepink, 5 September, 2008 at 21:03

Beginner July 2009
Zo� · 4 September, 2008 at 22:08
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Its lovely, I think £50 is more than fine to ask for
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MistyM · 4 September, 2008 at 22:08
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I would pay more than £50 - that is a fab cake!
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Dedicated June 2005
Crantock · 4 September, 2008 at 22:08
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Lilly, you're underselling yourself again.

I paid £300 for my wedding cake - 3 layers, sponge and white choc. You've got to remember the rule about anything wedding related. Think of a price, and triple it.
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Duck no more · 4 September, 2008 at 22:09
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Thats a great cake , it looks gorgeous £50 is more than reasonable , imo.
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Beginner January 2008
marmalade atkins · 4 September, 2008 at 22:09
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£50 sounds reasonable to me.

Is it just me or does the camera angle on those flowers on the top layer make them look obscene?

Facebook invitation ?
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Iris · 4 September, 2008 at 22:10
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I'd pay £50 for that (if I had £50!), it's lovely. You are officially the Hitched Cake Goddess.
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Dooby · 4 September, 2008 at 22:11
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What a stunning cake, i think you are being more than reasonable asking £50.

Facebook has a lot to answer for I reckon, a drink down the pub on a friday night is fine to invite via Facebook or Text but not a wedding party!!
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Super January 2012
Peaches · 4 September, 2008 at 22:14
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Very much so.

Lilly, what would YOU pay if you asked someone to make that cake?

Go and find a similar cake on a wedding cake website and see what they are charging. Then knock off a bit for knowing the couple.
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hutchy12 · 4 September, 2008 at 22:15
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I would have thought the going rate for a wedding cake like that would be a LOT more than £50. Are you going to get them a present as well or is the idea that you give them the cake at a discount rate as their wedding present?
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jeannie.h · 4 September, 2008 at 22:16
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That is a gorgeous cake, I'd pay more than £50 to be honest.
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Beginner August 2013
francesca · 4 September, 2008 at 22:16
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I'd pay £50. I'd pay a hell of a lot more (£400. I must have been mad. Actually I was just trying to get as much out of the inlaws as possible)
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Beginner September 2003
vicbic · 4 September, 2008 at 22:16
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I agree with Crantock and Peaches. You are definitely underselling yourself. Think of the hours you put in making it. It may have only cost £35 to make, but I would imagine its taken you a good few hours to make it.

I would charge £5/hour for labour, add it to your cost, and maybe make a deduction of sorts as a gift. If you're feeling generous of course.
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Super January 2012
Peaches · 4 September, 2008 at 22:20
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Hmmm .. sounds a bit harsh IMO

Our cake was very expensive too, but then it was a tad complicated! I think the designer still has it on her website (as well as my dress designer too!) <off to reminisce>
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Super January 2012

Peaches · 4 September, 2008 at 22:24

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Our cake ?

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Lillythepink · 4 September, 2008 at 22:30

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Aww, Peaches, that's so cute!!

Thanks everyone. So long as no one thinks £50 is too much, I'll stick with it. The fnish on the icing is really ropey because I have rushed it.

Phallic lillies. I ask you. ?

Beginner August 2013

francesca · 4 September, 2008 at 22:30

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Possibly. There's more to it which I don't really want to go into.

Super January 2012

Peaches · 4 September, 2008 at 22:37

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Francesca, there always is. Sorry to rake up old emotions.

Lilly, have a bit more confidence in your ability. You really are very good ?

Beginner August 2013

francesca · 4 September, 2008 at 22:43

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Nah, don't worry about it.

I didn't set out looking for a really expensive cake btw, just if it was my money I would have bought one from m&s and spent the rest on handbags, lol!

Beginner November 2007

MarineGirl · 4 September, 2008 at 22:52

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Not sure if it's a mate's rates / gift type thing... but otherwise, £50 is very cheap. Mine was bought as a 'better get one, local bakery, ebay deal, not great quality but looked fibem 3 tiers' job - and that was £100. Which as I recall seemed relatively reasonable. It's lovely - well done!

*ginni of the lamp* · 4 September, 2008 at 22:56

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£50 is really not enough. It looks great, you should charge more!

Beginner April 2005

Cath · 4 September, 2008 at 22:58

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seriously, start higher, point out the short notice, and never ever mention that butter, sugar, flour and eggs cost naff all. I'd start with £75, personally.

anjumanji · 4 September, 2008 at 23:01

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I paid about £90 for the cake below plus 3 other plain cakes with icing on them. It was a friend who made them for me and I would have happily paid £100 for the cake below on it's own. I think you could easily ask for more than £50.

Tanta · 5 September, 2008 at 00:08

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£75 minimum. It is a lovely cake, hand made and last minute order.

Beginner May 2007

Mrs Magic · 5 September, 2008 at 04:57

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Even at mates rates, £15 doesn't anywhere near cover the amount of work you have put in lovely.

It looks fab. ?

Beginner May 2007

Mrs Magic · 5 September, 2008 at 04:59

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I agree. ?

Beginner October 2008

tickle · 5 September, 2008 at 08:14

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I would have expected to pay more than £50 for it.It is really good.

Charge for time,delivery and ingredients.You are underselling yourself.

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cariad · 5 September, 2008 at 09:02

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Double it

Beginner January 2008

JenB · 5 September, 2008 at 09:19

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Lil- totally undersold!

Even if they went to M&S for their wedding cakes, it would cost way more than £50 once they decorated it.

You are too much of a perfectionist, you are always finding fault in the things you make. Icing is ropey, my ass!! It looks absolutely fabulous and most importantly probably tastes wonderful too. So much better than anything shop bought.

You need to charge a lot more than you do to make it even worth the time spent on them.

Beginner June 2002

cjb · 5 September, 2008 at 13:18

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It looks great, you are really skilled.

As another poster put, if you are doing it as 'mates rates', or as a sort of pushed-into-it gift, I'd probably just say "I usually charge more, but as it's you, give me £50 to cover my time and ingredients".

What you DON'T want is him saying to other people "oh, look what LTP made for us, only 50 quid, why don't you get her to make your christening/wedding/birthday/divorce cake" etc. and then have a cottage industry on your hands at bargain prices...

And - of course - I'm sure you already know this - always agree the price BEFORE you do the work!

Beginner June 2002

cjb · 5 September, 2008 at 13:20

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That is a beautiful birthday cake, so colourful... I ❤️ the Night Garden! (well, my daughter does.... nope, I do too!).

Beginner June 2002

cjb · 5 September, 2008 at 13:25

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This is the cake that I made for my daughter's 4th birthday... Sorry to hijack your thread LTP!

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Lillythepink · 5 September, 2008 at 19:23

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No hijack at all. That Night Garden Cake is lovely [} I don't "do" figures, too fiddly (though I am happy to piss about making flowers, which are arguably worse, go figure)