Bakery and wedding cake prices

DFracassa · July 2012

I have a photo of a cake that I definitely want for my summer 2013 wedding, but the prices I've been quoted from several local bakeries are really crappy. I'm not looking to have a giant cake, just three tiers and not that big -- there will be lots of other desserts on the table. The problem is there is a LOT of detail (as seen in the photo I've attached) and I think it's scaring off the bakers. Anyone know someone who will do this for less than $400? I think that number is totally ridiculous.

entropicbeauty · July 2012

$400 for that small cake? They must be crazy.

Sorry I don't have any super helpful suggestions, I'm getting cupcakes for a reason!

kikirst33 · July 2012

How many people does this serve - it looks like a pretty good sized cake with it being three tiers. For that amound of frosting work $400 doesn't seem all that redic to me.

vk2204 · July 2012

Haven't looked into cakes yet, but just curious, is your last name Fracassa? I ask because I have family with that last name.

sbradke · July 2012

How many people do you need to feed with it. Graf's in Farmington Hills has reasonable prices I think. For example, 80-90 people, 13" 10" 7" is $290.00.

But depending on the size, I don't really think that $400 sounds off the charts.

DFracassa · July 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_bakery-and-wedding-cake-prices?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:88Discussion:0bee3b8b-e012-43d0-8eed-c23f3c737bbfPost:e486edcc-2ca8-49ba-84c8-6d55cf645cfb">Re: Bakery and wedding cake prices</a>:
[QUOTE]Haven't looked into cakes yet, but just curious, is your last name Fracassa? I ask because I have family with that last name.
Posted by vk2204[/QUOTE]

Haha, yes, my last name is Fracassa! What's your name?

DFracassa · July 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_bakery-and-wedding-cake-prices?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:88Discussion:0bee3b8b-e012-43d0-8eed-c23f3c737bbfPost:f304937e-5f44-4713-aa97-495a80eb03fd">Re: Bakery and wedding cake prices</a>:
[QUOTE]How many people do you need to feed with it. Graf's in Farmington Hills has reasonable prices I think. For example, 80-90 people, 13" 10" 7" is $290.00. But depending on the size, I don't really think that $400 sounds off the charts.
Posted by sbradke[/QUOTE]

That's the thing: I want to have a whole dessert table, with cake pops and possibly cupcakes, so I don't need to feed all of the 115 people that we're inviting (and I hope that number decreases, honestly).

sasha213sw · July 2012

We are doing a three tier square cake for 200 people with 2 real tiers and 1 fake one and it's costing us about $500. We are using Iversen's in Dearborn. Gina there has been a real sweetheart, I'm just not sure how close they are to you. They do deliver though.

Meegles4 · July 2012

I agree with Kiki, $400 doesn't seem that unreasonable given the detail work here and the size that that example is.

Some options
- Just do one small cake with this detail. Since you'll have other desserts, you don't need a huge cake. Or, even if you want everyone to have the opportunity to have one slice of cake, you can still do a very small display cake and have sheet cakes of the same flavor in the back. You don't need 3 tiers, you could get by with one and still have cake for everyone.
- Take out some of the detail work. Do solid round colors instead of incorporating all the patterns. do just one pattern instead of several, etc.

Side note: this is probably fondant, right? That's more expensive to work with, so that's also helping the price go up. Also, do you like the taste of fondant? I was at a wedding where the entire icing was fondant and it was terrible. I have a feeling the same would need to happen for this cake to work, so be sure you actually enjoy fondant before you cover your cake in it.

indieglam · July 2012

Honestly, $400 is more than completely reasonable for a three-tier cake with this amount of intricate detail on all four sides of the cake. The price is based more on the design detail and the amount of time/labor it will take to execute, and somewhat less than the amount of cake. Also, it's hard to tell, but it looks more like a painted cake with some airbrushing rather than fondant, which may or may not make it more expensive. In either case, a design like this in fondant or painted on will take the cake baker a lot of time to complete and get it right.

Meegles4 gave some great suggestions for fitting this into your budget. Not sure how big/small you want the cake, but you could do a two-tier cake instead of three with the bottom tier being 8" or 10" and the top tier being 6" or 8".

I know our cake baker, Tanya of Domestic Arts Custom Cakes, would be able to nail this design and she loves a design challenge/unique cakes. Her website is http://a2cakes.tumblr.com/. That said, I'm not sure she'd be able to do this exact cake for under $400 unless you made some compromises on the size and design. Her consultations are free and her cake tastes amazing.

dixfam4 · July 2012

I know of a lady that does cakes, however, she is in Grand Blanc? I have no idea where your wedding is at?

vk2204 · July 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_bakery-and-wedding-cake-prices?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:88Discussion:0bee3b8b-e012-43d0-8eed-c23f3c737bbfPost:3fcd6959-3c9f-497d-bcf2-ca9e80adc30a">Re: Bakery and wedding cake prices</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Bakery and wedding cake prices : Haha, yes, my last name is Fracassa! What's your name?
Posted by DFracassa[/QUOTE]

I keep trying to PM you, but it tells me 'user name not found'!

chickadee52287 · July 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_bakery-and-wedding-cake-prices?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:0bee3b8b-e012-43d0-8eed-c23f3c737bbfPost:2420d49b-5e25-42d4-97e7-8e1a851ba029">Re: Bakery and wedding cake prices</a>:
[QUOTE]I know of a lady that does cakes, however, she is in Grand Blanc? I have no idea where your wedding is at?
Posted by dixfam4[/QUOTE]

<div>Who do you know in Grand Blanc? that's where I'm at</div>

DFracassa · July 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_bakery-and-wedding-cake-prices?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:88Discussion:0bee3b8b-e012-43d0-8eed-c23f3c737bbfPost:74037273-7ef4-46a9-8d10-b08fac151108">Re: Bakery and wedding cake prices</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Bakery and wedding cake prices : I keep trying to PM you, but it tells me 'user name not found'!
Posted by vk2204[/QUOTE]

That's so weird, I tried to PM you and the site just keeps bumping me back to the same page, over and over. My email is <a href="mailto:daniellefracassa@yahoo.com" rel="nofollow">daniellefracassa@yahoo.com</a>.

sparkles776 · July 2012

Honestly, it is a really detailed cake, so I dont think the price quote is that outrageous at all. To cut costs, I would maybe eliminate one of the tiers if you are having other desserts.

dranker · July 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_bakery-and-wedding-cake-prices?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:88Discussion:0bee3b8b-e012-43d0-8eed-c23f3c737bbfPost:015aa7c2-259a-4146-9ef2-da4915f6db2c">Bakery and wedding cake prices</a>:
[QUOTE]I have a photo of a cake that I definitely want for my summer 2013 wedding, but the prices I've been quoted from several local bakeries are really crappy. I'm not looking to have a giant cake, just three tiers and not that big -- there will be lots of other desserts on the table. The problem is there is a LOT of detail (as seen in the photo I've attached) and I think it's scaring off the bakers. Anyone know someone who will do this for less than $400? I think that number is totally ridiculous.
Posted by DFracassa[/QUOTE]

Contact Nora at Dessert Diva <a href="http://www.dessertdivallc.com/" rel="nofollow">www.dessertdivallc.com</a>
Her desserts are AMAZING and very reasonably priced. Let her know that Shay referred you. GOOD LUCK!

ltgunnell · August 2012

A great cake place in Fenton is Fun With Frosting. They do awesome work and are reasonably priced. You can view some of their work at facebook.com/FunWithFrosting.

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