Wedding Cake Decorating Course?

Thanks Beckstar,

I know exactly what you mean, I probably didn't word the question very well...

I've been doing a bit of research on other places that offer similar courses, and they generally charge £200 - £400, which would mean you're quite right, you could afford to buy a high street (M&S, Waitrose etc) or even professional cake from some suppliers.

My aim with this course is for people to create the exact cake that they want, in their exact colour scheme or wedding theme, for less than a high street cake.

So let me put it another way...

Do you think £100 for this day long course would represent good value for money? Considering you would be taking away the top tier that you created, and the knowledge and skills to create the other 2/3/4 tiers for less than £50...

Laura x

I think its a great idea. Where are you based?

xxx

Maybe I'm on the lazy side when it comes to fiddly things like making cakes, but I probably wouldn't bother; with travel, paying for the course, time (poss off from work!), buying the stuff to make the rest and decorate it I'd probably reason that it'd be easier to buy a £200 M+S jobbie or £150 for someone local to do cupcakes and top tier (which is what I was quoted). Then again the cake was probably one of the more minor things for me. It might appeal to someone who might want to be able to make cakes again after for friends, family etc.

I do think it seems good value for money for what it is, but I definitely wouldn't go for it!

Beckstar - Thanks! If I can get organised quickly enough, maybe you could be in my 'test' group (come on the course for free!)

Skyrocket - I'm based in Manchester at the moment, but am looking to set up in a more central location, possibly somewhere like Grantham that is easy peasy by road, an hour on the train from London etc...

MandM90 - Thanks for your honest feedback! I guess it's not for everyone, and the points you've made are good ones. I guess it's something you'd have to have an interest in, or cake be an important part of the day.

A) I would certainly be interested in a course like this. It sounds like great fun.

b) I would be likley to book a place for me and friends/family if it was within a reasonable distance

c) I have no idea how much something like this would be worth, but would be quite happy if it was around £50

I'm in Yorkshire so Manchester would work for me! xxx

Hey Moonpie1985, thank you for the feedback! I'm not sure I'd be able to run the course at only £50, but I have been putting thought into doing some half day courses on just the sugarcraft side of things, so maybe I should think a bit more about that.

Beckstar - I have looked at Nottingham area (as it's where I'm from originally) but can't find suitable property, and it's all really expensive, which means the course fee would be higher. Thanks for the suggestion though, and I'll definately look into the mobile side of things, great idea!

Skyrocket - I can't see me setting up around here to be honest. I've only been here about 2 years (for work) and as much as I love it, it doesn't quite feel like home... Whereabouts in Yorkshire are you? If you'd be interested in some 1 on 1 tuition (free of course) drop me an email (**@***********.****) and I'll see if we can work something out. It will help me to test the course out on a few people so that I can tweak it and make it perfect.

Laura x

Shame you are not in glasgow. i would loe to do that

Another option for location would be somewhere like Retford - 35 mins from Sheffield on the train, 2 hrs from London on the train and lots of cheap properties

T <who lives 15 mins on the train from Retford>

Well, I probably shouldn't promote my soon to be competition, but there's a place that runs a course in Edinburgh if that's any good to you... I can't comment on their courses obviously because I haven't done them, but might be worth a quick google if it's something you fancy doing...

Laura x

Haha! Thanks T, I'll add it to my list of places to investigate!

I'd be happy to pay £100 (being in the north east i'm out of your area, may have a look see whats around me though now you mention it).

I know near me people do run community type day courses, on all kinds of things like dress making and cooking. Have you looked at maybe's doing this out of a school say a 6th form college/ university which will have a load of the equipment etc instead of getting a property, i have no idea what they would charge but could keep your costs down.

Hi! This is a fantastic idea as I would love to make my own cake (I love making cupcakes and people love me to make them) but I have no idea where to start on the decorating side of things!

I am on quite a tight budget but it is something I would definitely consider especially if you did it in a central location like Grantham/Lincoln! I am based in Nottinghamshire so please do keep us updated!!!

Hi BowlingBride,

Using someone elses property is certainly worth considering, thanks for the idea!

Good to know the general theme here seems to suggest I'm not going to charge too much. I was pretty confident about my pricing to be honest, having looked at more expensive courses that always seem to be fully booked, but it's always good to get some reassurance!

Hi there! Sounds like a fab idea and would defo pay the £100 for the course (although i'm also north east so not an easy commute). However, I wonder if you've considered promoting as a possible 'hen weekend activity' as I think it would be lovely to come with a group of my girls and create the cake myself with sugar flowers added by each of them - a team effort! x

Brilliant! I've got to say, I'm so pleased that people seem to like this idea! I am planning on running a free course as a sort of 'focus group', hopefully sometime during the next 2-3 months, so if you'd like to be involved in that, please do email me. Alternatively, I might be able to do a one on one course with you because of your location (my parents live in Notts, so I'm in the area quite often), in return for you offering some honest critique of my teaching skills and the course! Please get in touch if you're interested.

I love the hen weekend idea! I was planning on everyone taking away the top tier, but if I did it as a group activity, I could look at doing the whole cake! And perhaps on the 2nd day, a jewellery making workshop or something similar...

Thank you all ladies, I'm so grateful for all of your input, I don't think I'll sleep tonight though, my mind is spinning with all of these fantastic ideas!

Laura x

Hi Laura!

I would be very interested in either the focus group or one or one! I would email you but can't find it anywhere on here! (I must be being thick) but please do get in touch with me ******************@*******.***

Hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks alot Simone xxx

I have just paid to send my sister on a couple of wedding cake courses so she can do my cake and run a small business:

6 week evening class wedding flowers course (6 x 2.5 hours) = £130

1 day intensive people modelling (6 hours) = £100

Add cost of materials (£60) and it's still cheaper than buying a wedding cake.

I did a similar course the end of last year and paid £80 for it, it was a 12 week course and was fab!

JudeClarke - It's definately cheaper! I know you can get the 'off the shelf' ones from M&S etc for around £200 but they may not fit in with your theme/colour scheme... Plus, with a course, you've got a skill that you can use for years to come.

Flowmojo - £80 is a really great price! What skills did you learn on the course?

Laura x

Snap Flow. I did an adult education type evening cake decorating course in Jan this year for 7 weeks and it was about £60 i think. we learnt absolutely loads, feel confident icing and decorating and handling the paste etc now. Only reason i'm not making our wedding cake is because we just prefer cupcakes.

I think it would definitely be popular though - good luck!

Hi

I would beinterested in a course like this, although I didnt make my own cake, I am making my sisters and would quite fancy a bit of a cake making side line, I would probably not want to travel too much more than an hour for a course (I am in Yorkshire) and would probably not pay toomuch more than £50 for a full day course but it depends really on exactly what is included!

If you are looking for people for a test group I would definately be up for it

ETA I did have a look for local courses like this but couldnt find anything suitable so I would say there is a gap in the market

how to handle pastes, how to make up icings, best icings to use on best cake types, trade secrets...what icings to use to achieve certain results, tools, was really useful!! i defo do a next level one as it was quite basic!

Bls14 - Thanks for the good luck wishes, I need it!

Naboo - Unfortunately, I think if I only charged £50 for a full day course, I'd practically be paying people to come on the course! There's a lot of cost involved... Rent, equipment, icing, sugar paste, not forgetting the cake and decorations you'd get to take home. Then there's the workbook that everyone will get a copy of, and things like the website to run. I am looking at doing some cheaper half day courses though, so hopefully there will be something for everyones budget. If you email me your details (**@***********.****), I'll definately give you a shout when I start doing my test runs. Thanks for the interest!

Flowmojo - It really sounds like a good course, and it's amazing how much it can boost your confidence, even if it is just learning the basics. I think I'll look into planning a more advanced course though, even if it's just a half day sugarcraft course or something, for the people like you that already have the basic skills.

Laura x

I would absolutely LOVE to do something like this!! I am planning to make my own cake but I've only done birthdya cakes really and one very simple wedding cake so I could definitely do with some lessons. I would think that £100 would be perfectly reasonable for this as it's something I would be able to apply to other cakes I make etc.

Unfortunately I'm also based in the north east so probably too far away