Joined: Feb 07, 2007
Posts: 1060
Location: either on the computer or in the kitchen
Birthday: Jun 08 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:28 pm
OK please forgive me this may be long and winded, but I am just so flustered right now!!!
I just got done watching the NBC evening news w/ Lester Holt. There was some news thing about how expensive weddings are these days, and how to make them more affordable.
Now, of course the first thing that you can do to save money on a wedding (according to the news), is to shortcut the cake. WHAT?????
Fake cakes for display and serving sheet cakes is less expensive, (according to the news).
Cupcakes are cheaper than cakes (according to the news)
DH had to restrain me from destroying the television. Somebody from NBC should have been asking a "CAKER" how to save money on the wedding, because it is obviously "the flowers, the mints, anything BUT THE CAKE!!" Cake is the centerpiece (other than the bride) of the wedding.
Cake is like everything.
Now, tell me if I'm wrong, but, now it's going to be up to US to explain to potential clients how the news is wrong!!!
Fake cakes..... you wouldn't settle for a fake ring.. now would you????? they look good in a store window, but you wouldn't want one at your wedding right?
I am sorry if I am out of line, but this had steam coming out of my ears! Tell me what you all think????
If you followed this to the end of this post, thank you so much for baring with me.
k8memphis Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 1574
Location: Memphis 10 C
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:35 pm
I mean I think that's a perfect plumb line to illumine how really wrong the news is in general. It's a tv show it's not 'the news'.
mommicakes Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 07, 2007
Posts: 1060
Location: either on the computer or in the kitchen
Birthday: Jun 08 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:41 pm
k8memphis wrote:
I mean I think that's a perfect plumb line to illumine how really wrong the news is in general. It's a tv show it's not 'the news'.
pinkbox Frequent Member
Joined: May 05, 2007
Posts: 400
Location: Victoria Texas
Birthday: Mar 24 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:52 pm
How disillusioned they are... I wish Martha Stewart would slap some sense into them... SHE could explain how to cut corners... and it is definately NOT THE CAKE!!!
Obviously they got their "newsworthy news" from the wrong source.
cakequeen50 Forum Addict
Joined: May 01, 2006
Posts: 590
Location: georgia
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:54 pm
I just don't understand who these news people are talking to, obviously it is NOT someone in the business!
lilmansmum Regular Member
Joined: Jul 07, 2007
Posts: 125
Location: West Virginia
Birthday: Nov 08
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:55 pm
Oh, PUH-LEASE!!!!
Don't even get me started.
I am at the point that I am so sick and tired of everyone coming to me wanting the creme-de-la-creme of cakes for nearly FREE that I could just scream. Everyone tells me how talented I am, and how I should go into business, and I should be on the Food Network, and oh, can you make me a 3-D Taj Mahal cake for $35.00?
And they are serious.
And they think I'm an extortionist for charging more.
Yeah, sure. Whatever.
cakelady45 Newbie
Joined: Aug 27, 2007
Posts: 12
Location: Central PA
Birthday: Nov 06
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:56 pm
I did not see this but I agree with you!!! If anyone asks me what they can do to cut costs a bit (and with EVERYTHING going up in price there's going to be a lot more of that happening) I always tell them that they can have me make a smaller extravagant cake and then kitchen cakes for the rest of the crowd. I've never heard of a wedding with a totally FAKE cake! That would just be wrong in so many ways! In fact, what the news probably didn't tell them is that most times (in the area in which I live) the cake dummies are just as expensive to buy as the cake ingredients!
You go girl!
loriemoms Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 09, 2005
Posts: 2677
Birthday: Feb 12
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:57 pm
Actualy, what I found funny was the part about cupcakes being cheaper. Yes, generally cupcakes maybe cheaper, but I found most brides will order 2-3 cupcakes a person and actually spend MORE money on them!
I met a gal at a class that is making big bucks off these fake cakes. She has a bunch of them she has made over the years. Really incredible works of art. She rents them all the time to brides for HUGE fees and makes them sheet cakes. She is laughing all the way to the bank, because they pick out the dummy cake they want, and it takes her no time at all to make the sheet cake (its just iced, no decoration, I dont even think its even smoothed out.!) Sure, the bride is saving money because she is paying about half for her wedding cake, she has beautiful photos(although its the same cake as her best friend, but....hahah) and the bakery doesnt even have to BAKE...imagine how easy that delivery is?
I agree, I think its awful, but shoot, would you eat hot dogs and fries at your wedding? These are just a different kind of bride.
I am concerned how they stated the cost of everything is going down. That means brides are gonna nickle and dime even more!
I saw a similiar story on GMA a few months ago. They rented a fake cake with a compartment carved out of the bottom layer for a Twinkie to fit in. The couple acted like they were cutting the cake and cut the Twinkie out and fed it to each other for pictures. The guests didn't even get a piece of sheet cake.
That's just plum tacky!
Lorendabug Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 07, 2006
Posts: 211
Location: Monterey Bay California
Birthday: Jul 02
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:11 pm
I charge by the number of servings and more depending on the design. So, if I have to make sheet cakes/cupcakes and a display cake then I do not see how they are saving money. I would have to charge them for the both, how does that save?
I don't think it's anything to get too upset over. There have been threads on this same issue several months back.
marilyn Junior Member
Joined: Nov 24, 2004
Posts: 54
Location: NC
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:14 pm
I read an article a while back on how a bride can save money. It sugested not to tell the baker it is for a wedding, just a special occasion, because the baker will charge much more for a wedding cake. I wonder who comes up with these things? Marilyn
Melan Frequent Member
Joined: Sep 05, 2007
Posts: 240
Location: North Georgia/ Southeast TN
Birthday: Jan 23
This should take you to the story. Check it out, someone was serving hot dogs at their wedding -geez! I understand about budgeting and having to make smart $$ decisions, but if you want a cheap wedding cake -visit Walmart -you'll get what you pay for!
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 15589
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:38 pm
mommicakes wrote:
Now, tell me if I'm wrong, but, now it's going to be up to US to explain to potential clients how the news is wrong!!!
And I do it by saying flat-out to brides, "Contrary to what all the wedding websites and magazines are telling you, no, it's NOT cheaper and let me tell you why ....."
loriemoms wrote:
Actualy, what I found funny was the part about cupcakes being cheaper. Yes, generally cupcakes maybe cheaper, but I found most brides will order 2-3 cupcakes a person and actually spend MORE money on them!
I'm writing a Wedding Workshop (127 Powerpoint pages so far!) and on one page, I have included the phrase ... "Yes, cupcakes are cheaper ... if you get cheap cupcakes!"
Brides see the grocery store cupcakes with the big swirl on top for $5.99/dozen and think "Oh! I can get cupcakes for 50 cents each! Oh Debi! Will you make my wedding cupcakes? But I want them covered in chocolate ganache.... with a gumpaste rose on each and every one ..... and a little lady bug on the side of the rose. And can you make 'em so it looks like there's dew on the rose? (big pause........) What do you MEAN it will cost more than 50 cents!!!!"
They want a grocery store price ... but not a grocery store cake.
Yes cupcakes are cheaper ..... if you get cheap cupcakes.
loriemoms Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 09, 2005
Posts: 2677
Birthday: Feb 12
Posted:
Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:21 pm
indydebi wrote:
Yes cupcakes are cheaper ..... if you get cheap cupcakes.
Actually, I get a LOT of brides who want the Cupcake Shoppe type cupcake (gourmet flavors, with a swirl of buttercream (often flavored as well) on top. They dont want anything else, no flowers, no picks, no anything. They just want a better tasting cupcake then the grocery store. I know for a fact it takes me two hours to make and decorate 100 cupcakes, and that is start to finish because I just did it this weekend! From putting them in the oven (I have cupcake pans that hold 24 cupcakes..I can get 100 baked in about 20 minutes) They cool off in another 20, I have a icing bag full of buttercream, I line them up and boom boom I am done. I don't have to worry about smoothing anything, I don't have to worry about decorating anything. I charge about a dollar less per cupcake then for a buttercream cake because it doesnt take me hardly any time, there is no planning involved, I go through a LOT less buttercream, and everyone wins. Transporting them is easy, as I buy the muffin clam cases in bulk for about 25 cents each (they hold 24 cupcakes) AND I reuse them. The brides buy the cupcake stands, or I rent them. So no doweling, no set up, no support systems. Sure, if a bride comes to me and wants a ganache cupcake with all kinds of doodads, I tell them that isn't a cupcake, that is a MINI cake, and that will be 15 dollars each. I think also what makes cupcakes cheaper for the bride is in our area, they charge 2-3 dollars a SERVING to CUT THE CAKE. They don't have to pay those fees if they go with cupcakes. (again, I mean good old fashion cupcakes!) I also have noticed a trend for evening weddings where brides are ordering a dozen to put on the kids table, so they won't be itching to have cake (and many miss it getting cake becuase they have left already) I had one bride who served cupcakes while her guest were waiting for her to arrive instead of little pigs in a blanket and shrimp rolls... so yes, the news DID stretch things a bit, but I do see the trend for cupcakes growing a lot!!
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WHAT?????
Tell me what you all think????
