Wedding cake - Is $468 reasonable with no decoration for 50 guests?

The restaurant I'm using for my ceremony %26amp; reception has an approved vendor list. I went to my cake tasting yesterday and it was fabulous! But, I'm asking for a very simple cake for 50 people. It will be 3 tiers. One 12" square, one 8" square and one 6" round on top. It will be white cake with raspberry bavarian filling and the outside will be white chocolate fondant with a butter cream layer underneath. The only thing I've asked to be added are the "dot" edge details.





My florist will be decorating the cake himself with bombay orchids at the ceremony location since he'll be there decorating anyway but I have to pay $75 extra for that (on top of $1000 in flowers already)





My price came to $468 with no details. Although they will deliver it for free and it will be added to my reception bill. Also, I won't have any cake cutting fees for using that specific bakery. If I go with another bakery, I will have to pay $2 cutting fee per person to the restaurant.

Wedding cake - Is $468 reasonable with no decoration for 50 guests?
Yes it is reasonable. First you have a specialty filling. Then you have fondant which can be difficult to work with and is expensive. White chocolate fondant is the most expensive. It will probably cost the bakery nearly $100 or more just to purchase the fondant. Then there is all of the work in making, covering the cakes, stacking and supporting them, etc. If you are having "dot" edge details. Are the dots made of fondant? If so that will also take quite some labor to make. If you go to another bakery they will probably charge you the same amount or more plus you will have that $2 cutting fee pp. A cake of that size serves about 75 people (not including the top tier which you take home)I think the bakery is giving you more than a fair price actually. If you base it on 75 people it is $6.25 per serving (it would probably be closer to $4.00 per serving if you didn't have white chocolate fondant). If you base it on the whole cake top layer included it is for about 90 people and then it is $5.20 per serving. You have to base the servings on how many people the cake can feed - not how many you are inviting to the party. It's not a bad deal actually.





If you need to save money


1 - don't order such a large cake if you don't need to.


2. Go with buttercream or regular fondant instead of white chocolate fondant


3. Don't use real orchids on the cake. Find a different flower or see what the bakery can do for you.
Reply:Have one of your friends or friend's mothers cut your cake, it's not difficult to do. Might want to rething your orchids on the cake, if your trying to save $, you certainly can find (or make) a cake topper for less than $75. I personally don't like the taste of fondant, on anything, much less a wedding cake, but it does look nice. Is something without fondant less expensive? If you're looking to cut costs, there's a lot of changes you can make. I think $468 is kind of outrageous for a cake for 50 people.
Reply:That seems high to me for just a plain cake. If it were me, I would find someone cheaper or have a friend do it. But it's your big day and if thats what you want then do it!!
Reply:It does seem a little expensive, I would check with some of the other bakers. They might be charging extra knowing that there are only a few of them that can do your cake because of the site you chose.
Reply:Ummm...no.
Reply:It's semi-resonable price. However, I would have a girlfriend cut the cake and save you $100.
Reply:I think an average cost per person is between $5 and $6. $6 times 50 people equals $300. If you added a $2 cutting fee, that equals $400. I'd say for no details at all it seems a tad high, but if you can afford it and think the tasting was delicious, why not get it?
Reply:I think that is very high. My cousin got hers from a top notch bakery with all the trimings, and she only charged $7 a serving. You are paying 9.36 a serving. Unless you live in NYC, I'd say you're paying WAY too much.





If anything, you probably need fewer servings than guests, not more. Many people don't even bother with the wedding cake, especially is there is another dessert being offered. What would you want with an extra 25 servings of cake?
Reply:Cakes are usually $2-$4.50 per slice
Reply:$468 seems a little high for me. But I guess it could also depend on our different locations!


I am having a 4tiers cake, with the bottom layer being 14" and getting 2" smaller on the way up. I need to feed 100 people with my cake, and my cake lady said this will feel twice that! (I'd rather have way too much then too little, and i want people to be able to take a piece or two home!) and I am paying $500. for fondant covered, no decoration!had I ordered buttercream instead of fondant it would be$450. delivery included!


your cake to just feed 50 people seems high to me.
Reply:That seems expensive- the only way I would go with that cake is if it will be dessert, and if it's really that delicious. If not, it's a waste of money.
Reply:gosh that sounds very high. i would think under $275 would be more realistic. thats still over $4.00 per person if you are having 50 people, and they don't even have to decorate it!!


but thats the problem with these venues having approved vendor lists, they line each other's pockets and hold you, the bride, hostage.


have a happy wedding sweetie and check out the other vendors on the list!
Reply:its reasonable... mine for 50 people was 500$ but had decorations on it ..





its usually 2$ to 5$ a piece...
Reply:How important is the cake to you? Sarah Magrid, a Brooklyn baker, makes beautiful cakes for two for less than $100 -- and they include elaborate designs... and are organic, to boot! Opt for a small, sweet cake for pictures and you'll save a bundle... serve sheet cake or a small treat for dessert. Most of the cake goes to waste.





For more ways to save money on your wedding, check out portovert.com.
Reply:I'm not sure how big the base is, but I thought 3 tier cakes could feed about 100 people. That price sounds right for the size of your cake, but it's about twice as much cake as you need. I would have 2 tiers for your party of 50.
Reply:Holy crap!! My 4 tier cake that feeds 190 is only $550, and it is simply decorated as well. I'd ask around your town if I was you.
Reply:if this is a cake that can serve 72 people then, yes because it is about $6.50/ slice. that's the average these days, especially with the cost of ingredients rising.





maybe consider getting a slightly smaller cake or shop around.
Reply:For 125 people, I got a 3 tier amazing cake, (every layer had a different cake flavour and different filling) with a waterfall, detailing in the icing, delivery, set up and pick up of the plates, waterfall etc, for $300. My florist made a caketopper, and 3 dozen additional black magic roses, lillies, filler flowers and ivy for the second and third layer and around the water fountain, for $65.





My cake maker decorated the cake as I got the flowers delivered to the reception site, she decorated it for free.





The cake cutting fee, was either $2 if it was being served as desert, or $175 if it was being served later on with the midnight snack (served around 10:00-10:30). Most places require you to pay a cake cutting fee, and as someone had sugested you to get a friend to cut it, that's not gonna float.





Different places are going to cost you differently. The first place I went to was going to charge me $1050 just for the cake alone. So I just shopped around until I found a price I could handle and a great person to make the perfect cake. :)





Good luck and all in all, I think your price is reasonable. :)
Reply:Overpriced. way, way overpriced.





If you just want a plain cake you can go to any grocery store and get one for less than $200 and they taste great.





Part of what's jacking up your price is the fondant. It's very expensive and tastes like butt.
Reply:depending on how much another bakery is going to charge you the 100.00 for cutting cake might save you some money i have 200 people at my wedding and only paid 250 for my wedding cake. so you might want to shop around and see what is out there and if it worth the 100.00 for cutting the cake.
Reply:That sounds incredibly expensive for what you're getting. Even with fondant which is expensive, that sounds like alot of money, especially for such a small guestcount and no decoration.
Reply:I would say no that is not a good price. My cousin is making my cake, but it is still costing only $200, for 150 people. I am having people cut my cake for me so that way I don't have to pay the ridiculous cake cutting fee. My cake is decorated and I will also have left overs. I would say do some research before you decide on one certain bakery.
Reply:It does seem a little pricey but not much. I agree the white chocolate fondant is what is adding to the price. If you were to go with just the buttercream is should drop the price significantly and you could still do the natural flowers. Not to mention that it would taste better as well.
Reply:I think the price seems high for only 50 guests. You say your reception venue has an approved vendor list - are there any other cake persons on that list? If so, get a second opinion!

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