Are cakes really this expensive and I'm just old???

[Ember]

My wedding planner has been a doll about everything. I really wanted a wedding cake, even though we're having a small wedding, but was unwilling to go for a 50 person cake. What a waste!

Anyway, she gets back to me that we CAN have a cake for only 30 people. I sent a picture of what I'd like and she comes back to me with a price of $425. For a cake. Now I get that Disney is bloody expensive. I understand. But the utter ridiculousness of that much for such a small cake boggles my mind. The cake has minimal decorations, it's not as elaborate as many of the intimate cakes I've seen! What's up with the price?!!

Please tell me, am I crazy?! Is $425 reasonable and I'm just way behind the times?? In the end I will probably suck it up and call it done, but it grates on my nerves sometimes and things are so stupidly overpriced!!

Just for reference, here is the picture I sent. The cake would only be 2 layers (for 30 people) so not that big at all, and as you can see, it's pretty simple.

 

[Swmhc]

Is that the price difference after they credit you for the cost of the cake that is included with the intimate package ? I would make sure and check that. When I sent a picture in to be priced, they sent back the bakery quote, but didn't specify before or after the credit for the included cake. Mine was a $400 difference. They consider the included cake to be valued at around $200. For 13 people, we just couldn't justify spending that much more for the cake we wanted, so we are just going with the included cake. It is a shame you can't get what you really want for a reasonable price. As I have done wedding cakes myself, I know that there can be tremendous room for mark up in them. On the otherhand, there can be many hours of work included as well. Though yours looks pretty simple to me.) Just my two cents worth.

 

[Ember]

I'm actually having a custom wedding - but there will only be 25 of us so I thought a 50 person cake was just silly.

 

[hiwaygal]

I did a quick google search on average wedding cake prices...

It seems "average" is about $5 per person (so about $150 for a 30 person cake). But that can be determined by certain other things (flavor, icing type and style, etc.).

Yep, Disney stuff is expensive...the price they quoted you is about $14 per person. I'm not sure how much negotiating you can do since they cannot allow you to use an outside vendor for food. But you might consider contacting another Orlando area bakery and see what their average prices are then go back and talk to Disney.

Good luck!

 

[Skylarr29]

I actually think that is really reasonable for Disney!!! But I have to say that their cakes are way TOO expensive!!!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I am having an Intimate Wedding so only 2 layers of cake, can you not reduce the amount of layers? I thought these cakes served alot of people??? Anyway my cake, looks more elaborate than yours and I have been quoted $80 extra and that includes yellow sugared calla lillies, long grass stems and the satin ribbon surrounding the cake.

 

[Ember]

I am having an Intimate Wedding so only 2 layers of cake, can you not reduce the amount of layers? I thought these cakes served alot of people???

It's only going to be 2 layers... And will be enough to serve 30 people... So it's NOT a big cake.

 

[penlanspice]

I think that is quite reasonable for disney really. Their cakes are mega expensive but they do a fab job. They don't really like to make smaller cakes and I know many brides are told no.
If it's important to you I say get it. We had 25 at our wedding and our cake was $550 (50 people) but I think we got a brilliant deal for the cake they made me, we did have loads left and ended up throwing it away. But I would pay it again in a second.

 

[disprincessatheart]

my cake was also fairly simple, and for 40 ppl it was going to be $800, so I think you did ok. Disney cakes really are that expensive, but from the tasting session, they taste way better (and look way better) than a standard wedding cake. Also, remember that the $14 ppn counts towards your $100 or $75 ppn food min, so you could cut a little bit out of something else to make up for the cake, and end up spending the same total amount of money.

 

[FoodLover]

Disney does charge much more than you would pay offsite. That said, although your cake seems "simple" to you, that ultra-smooth look requires rolled fondant, which is time-consuming and therefore expensive.

If you're willing to go with a slightly less smooth look, they may be able to make a similar cake with regular icing and charge you less.

Mary
MouseSavers.com
MouseWeddings.com

 

[Lynn5700]

That is not a bad deal at all. Fondant is expensive so try buttercream frosting. Cakes are a lot of money. I would go with buttercream to save money or talk to them and see what they can do to make it a little cheaper for you.

 

[Moonpie]

Just for reference, here is the picture I sent. The cake would only be 2 layers (for 30 people) so not that big at all, and as you can see, it's pretty simple.

Wow! I absolutely love this cake! Are the pictures going to be real? ...or made from sugar? I actually think that the piping work on the cake is really pretty, and looks simple...but I bet is hard to do.
I know that wedding cakes can be expensive specifically because they are for weddings. If you ask a bakery to make you a layered cake, and don't tell them that it's for a wedding...I bet you the price would be much less. Because I chose to get cupcakes, and a small cake for on top of the cupcake tower, it didn't get priced as a "wedding cake" I also ended up making my own cake decorations out of paper, and bought my own cake topper, and my own cake stand.

 

[mermaidbride1108]

Wow! I absolutely love this cake! Are the pictures going to be real? ...or made from sugar? I actually think that the piping work on the cake is really pretty, and looks simple...but I bet is hard to do.
I know that wedding cakes can be expensive specifically because they are for weddings. If you ask a bakery to make you a layered cake, and don't tell them that it's for a wedding...I bet you the price would be much less. Because I chose to get cupcakes, and a small cake for on top of the cupcake tower, it didn't get priced as a "wedding cake" I also ended up making my own cake decorations out of paper, and bought my own cake topper, and my own cake stand.

WoW - that sounds super cute & creative!

 

[DisneyFairy19]

My wedding planner has been a doll about everything. I really wanted a wedding cake, even though we're having a small wedding, but was unwilling to go for a 50 person cake. What a waste!

Anyway, she gets back to me that we CAN have a cake for only 30 people. I sent a picture of what I'd like and she comes back to me with a price of $425. For a cake. Now I get that Disney is bloody expensive. I understand. But the utter ridiculousness of that much for such a small cake boggles my mind. The cake has minimal decorations, it's not as elaborate as many of the intimate cakes I've seen! What's up with the price?!!

Please tell me, am I crazy?! Is $425 reasonable and I'm just way behind the times?? In the end I will probably suck it up and call it done, but it grates on my nerves sometimes and things are so stupidly overpriced!!

Just for reference, here is the picture I sent. The cake would only be 2 layers (for 30 people) so not that big at all, and as you can see, it's pretty simple.

This cake is absolutley beautiful and I love the color

 

[theantibride]

I don't have a bakery or anything but I make cakes for a lot of my friends parties and things for them. That cake would cost a pretty penny just because of all the fondant. It is expensive and not the easiest to use. Plus which the designs on top of the cake (the rose and bow) are fondant, and if the pictures are edible that takes some work too. Also, not everything ont he outside looks like piping. The little white flowers may be fondant too. Remember, sometimes the simpler something looks the more trouble it can be. Talk to Disney and find out why it costs so much -- if the little flowers are fondant or sugar ask you can have them just pipe on a pretty design -- that right there should help lower the cost. Also, ask if you can just have the cake done with frosting -- it won't be as smooth looking but it would be cheaper. And maybe see about replacing the edible pictures on top with 2 pictures in little bitty frames that they set on top. Just some suggestions -- I hope this helps.

 

[Ember]

I don't have a bakery or anything but I make cakes for a lot of my friends parties and things for them. That cake would cost a pretty penny just because of all the fondant. It is expensive and not the easiest to use. Plus which the designs on top of the cake (the rose and bow) are fondant, and if the pictures are edible that takes some work too. Also, not everything ont he outside looks like piping. The little white flowers may be fondant too. Remember, sometimes the simpler something looks the more trouble it can be. Talk to Disney and find out why it costs so much -- if the little flowers are fondant or sugar ask you can have them just pipe on a pretty design -- that right there should help lower the cost. Also, ask if you can just have the cake done with frosting -- it won't be as smooth looking but it would be cheaper. And maybe see about replacing the edible pictures on top with 2 pictures in little bitty frames that they set on top. Just some suggestions -- I hope this helps.

I won't be having the pictures or the bow, I have my own cake topper - so that's not part of the expense. And I will ask about the icing. Thank you for your thoughts, all. It still irks me that a 30 person cake should cost so much, but I guess in the end it's just one of those things.

 

[SandraVB79]

Have you taken a look at the cake picture thread (restaurant board)?
Some of those birthday cakes cost over 200 USD, so I guess for your wedding cake, the price is not THAT bad, considered it's Disney...

 

[wendy46001]

I won't be having the pictures or the bow, I have my own cake topper - so that's not part of the expense. And I will ask about the icing. Thank you for your thoughts, all. It still irks me that a 30 person cake should cost so much, but I guess in the end it's just one of those things.

Yup, disney wedding cakes run 10 to 16 dollars a slice...
which from your 30person cake a min of 300 is normal....ask about not using fondant....Also you can mention that you would like the type of scroll but it doesn’t have to be as fine...If its wider it will take less work..

love the cake BTW

 

[JandJ]

We had an Intimate and upgraded the cake, so if they consider the basic Intimate cake value at $200 and my upgrade cost $265, then I paid $465 for our cake and we had 8 guests! It was worth every penny though, I loved that cake!! And it tasted as amazing as it looked We were going to have an at-home reception with a cake to serve 150 people, 3 tiers, it was going to be around $400 but that was a local bakery in my parents' hometown. Disney is just expensive, but if you really want that cake and can afford it, you should get it. My wedding was 1.5 years ago and I still remember how gorgeous my cake was! I saw the cake before I even walked out onto the Terrace to get married and my heart soared - it was perfect!

 

[nbodyhome]

Wow! I popped in here for a minute, I am really surprised at cake costs. I hope you have a nice wedding, though. We were married at a farm in Lakeland and went to Sams Club - paid about $25 for a cake and cupcakes and $45 for flowers! (I was sort of like "do we need that extra 24 stems, I didn't want to spend the extra $15!)