How do you charge a bride?

[cindmesum]

I have a question...

Do you normally charge the bride the number of servings the cake will actually serve, or by the number she gives you based on her invitees? In other words, if she needs a cake to serve 150 ppl., do you charge her your per serving price x 150 or do you charge her x 165, which is what I calculate as my 14"-12"-8"-6" will serve. And this number does include the top tier as serving, but I know many who offer the top tier as a "gift". I just don't want to mislead a bride when she calls and asks if I have a per serving fee and what it is.

[Amanda]

I charge per cake servings. Period. If I can't make a cake that fits her exact guest list, then it's up to her to choose whether she wants more servings than people invited or less.
It's also up to her whether or not she's going to serve the top tier. I've only had 1 bride want to save it. I don't offer it as a gift. It's cake that I am making for them and they'll have to pay for it.
Now if they come back a year later and want an anniversary cake I will often do it either for free or very discounted...but I don't tell them that, it's just a nice surprise. The discount depends on the pita factor.

[cindmesum]

Thanks, Amanda. You think like I do, but I just didn't know if I was out of the norm. This is how I would normally handle a "walk-in" bride. But The Hilton is a different story. They are thinking that if the bride wants to keep the top tier and she needs a cake to serve 100 ppl, then I should just be charging them for 100 ppl. And that's okay by me just to have that guaranteed business, I'll give them the top tier, but I don't want to lose those servings plus the additional servings just because I can't shape a cake to serve exactly 100 ppl. kwim? Sometimes we may be talking the difference of $50 or more!

Just wanted to see how everyone else was charging brides.

[jeri]

I tell the bride this set up serves X amount of people and this set up serves X amount of people and let her decide if she wants the bigger amoung or the smaller. It is impossible to get a cake to serve exactly what they want.

As for the top, it is always my gift to the bride and groom. They won't be serving it and I don't include it in the count. I know you don't make any money off of it but that is life for me. I always try to keep the top tier either a 4-5 or 6" cake.