wedding cake opinion

pulga131

So I'm trying to price wedding cakes for a friend and here is our dilemma. We found someone who kinda just makes cakes for fun, although she has made several wedding cakes, and she ranges about $1.50 a slice. This is super cheap!  But, we are unable to see any cakes in person (just pictures) since this is a hobby for her and she doesn't have any others scheduled before the wedding.  We found a caterer that we were able to see an taste and she runs about $2.50 a slice, but charges $0.50 additional per slice for cake filling.  I need opinions.  Is a cake without filling tacky?  Will people even notice that?  Would you pay the $3.00 a slice or go with someone's work that you've not seen?  I forgot to mention the brides mom is a momzilla!  She will sit there and criticize every aspect of that wedding.

Thanks!

fallbride1109

A cake without filling is fine.  However, I would never have a cake at my wedding that I had not tasted or seen.  If there is no way to taste the cake from the cheaper baker, I would find another one, or pay the extra $1.50 a slice.

There's probably a reason she doesn't want you to see or taste the cake.

pulga131

She offered to let us taste and/or see but we were unable to make it to the one wedding she has had.  Since it is her hobby instead of a job, she doesn't have cakes coming up all the time.

MyNameIsNot

I wouldn't use her if you can't taste it.  We used a cake baker that worked out of a home office and only did wedding cakes.  We weren't able to see the finished product, but she made us a sample cake to taste. 

Since we couldn't see any of her work outside of pictures, we followed up with other couples that had used her in the past to find out about how the cakes looked in real life and if it was what they expected, etc.  We got positive feedback and our cake turned out great and we were really happy.

I don't think it matters whether or not you have filling. 

Tell the bride to stop talking to her mom about the wedding and stop telling her details.  Mom won't have anything to complain about if she doesn't know about it. 

GirlieGirl27320

I agree with PP.  Definitely taste test 1st!  No one will miss the filling either!  GL!

~mRm~

My baker was working out of her home when we booked her. She sent us a beautiful portfolio of her work and we had a sit down tasting with over 25 types of cakes, frostings, fillings and fondants. She also had dummy cakes there to show us some of her unique cake decorating.  My husband and I are not a fan of cakes with fillings so we obviously didn't choose that type for our wedding. Our wedding cake was amazing and our whole experience with her was perfect!

I would not disregard a vendor due to their current work location. However, I could not book a vendor (especially for food) if I couldn't see adequate experience in their work and taste their creations before the final product. I wouldn't be able to compromise the quality and taste of my wedding cake for the sake of saving a few bucks per slice.

Karen's MOH

I agree with the PPs who said if you can't see or taste, don't do it. My biggest concern about the at home, hobby baker is the transportation. It's not really like transporting a two layer cake to a bake sale and if she doesn't do this all the time, watch out. But if she could provide really solid references, maybe?
If it were me I'd go with the other one, with or without filling. I've never seen one without filling, but I doubt I would notice one way or another. And to be honest, a lot of wedding cake filling I have had was pretty gross anyway.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I'm using a professional baker who works alone and out of her home. I have ordered cake from her before and obviously tasted it. I know she's outstanding.

If she had a portfolio with pictures of her work and will let you taste her cake and filling, I don't see why you can't book her. It's not like anyone will make you a "sample" wedding cake.

[Deleted User]

See if you can get a smaller cake from a bakery fully decorated etc that your friend can enjoy and be proud of.  Ask the bakery if they can also supply a " kitchen cake " which is baked to the same height etc as the wedding cake.  It will be much cheaper and the guests may not even notice the difference :-)