groom cake quandry

[sambycat]

ok, looking for some negotiating advice.

i'm looking into surprising the DF with a Haunted Mansion grooms cake (i think i've mentioned it on my PJ at some point). as we are having 40 people and having a big ol' cake anyways, this grooms cake is just for a surprise something, NOT to feed 40 people or even 20. through the help of the boards, i did find the HM cakes and found the perfect inspirations! All these cakes seem to have come through the GF bakery and mystery miracle baker "brian"! these seem to be your ordinary sized round, 2 layer cakes, but with HM inspired fondant details that are awesome! these cakes seem to be in the $65-$100 range and most seem to have been made within the last year (again NOT wedding affiliated). there is also one example of a HUGE disappointment in the cake arena, with someone trying to get the same idea of a cake and getting a grocery store special with an edible image of the HM on it that looked so lame!

so, our planner spoke with the GF bakery this week, as we are changing our cake design (if we can afford it) and to get more info about the grooms cake. granted, at this junction, i HAD requested the cake (i didn't specify size but traditinally a grooms cake IS smaller i thought and i sent pictures of this small cake for inspiration) in wedding flavors (which probably increase the cost) but the intial quote for a 10" round cake is $250!!!

like how many peopledo you think that feeds?? that seems maybe slightly bigger than a home made double layer cake but i don't think that it would serve 42 people!! i emailed back that i was glad for the info and asking for clarification on the prices and my understanding of what recent price points for that style of cake so perhaps better pricing is forthcoming.....

but, what IF you ran into something like this and the answer from DFTW is well its $250? just move on or argue the point (as nicely as possible)? perhaps i could get a third party to order the cake to their room or something the day before! ha!

i'm sure this will all work out in the end, just a little surprised and worrying that now, with the WEDDING lable on it, the price is doubled!!

i could understand paying maybe $150 for it, even the same small type one (it is really just for the surprise because my sweetie loves the HM so much! - he would be really really touched and love it i know!) but over $200 seems bizarre!! the original estimate on the BEO ws termed "a HM inspired chocolate cake" and priced at $200. my WP described it in an email as "a sheet cake". i didn't enjoy the description of sheet cake so further discussion has ensued but all we have done now is bring the cost UP!!!!!!!

am i overreacting and do i just have to kiss it buh-bye when they keep saying $250 when i KNOW that silly cake has been made for folks for $65 (a huge bargain admittedly)????

<----------- insert ninja/bridezilla emoticon here

 

[lurkyloo]

Chef Brian actually works at the Contemporary, not the GF, and almost all the Haunted Mansion cakes you saw on the cake thread were made by him, usually at a cost of $100 for an 8-inch cake. I would be a little leery of trying to get a cake that looks like one of his at the GF. For one thing, they will definitely charge more, and although I have seen GF cakes with similar decorations, I don't know if they print out the portrait of the bride and groom and put it in a chocolate frame or do the Haunted Mansion wallpaper print around the sides the way Brian does (if that's something you liked).

It would be much easier for you to just order one from Chef Brian and have it delivered to a meal at one of the Contemporary restaurants (or your room if you're staying there). He will know exactly what you want.

However, if it's important to have it at the wedding and you have to go through the GF Bakery, be VERY specific about what you want. "8-inch cake (you do not need a 10-inch cake) that looks exactly like [X] picture" or "like [X] picture with [Y] from [Z] picture." If you can send your planner the pix you liked on the Cake Chatter thread, it will cut down on the chance that you get a sheet cake or something with a cheesy ghost screen-printed on top.

 

[sambycat]

Gah!!!!!!!!!

 

[chryscrazy]

10" will serve around 25-30 people and 8" 16-20, depending on what chart you use.

 

[lurkyloo]

Gah!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear...

Well, why can't DFTW order the cake for you from the Contemporary? It's worth asking.

And, really, if you get a Haunted Mansion cake interpreted by the GF it won't be terrible. They do great work! If you tell them you want it to look exactly like the cake in the picture, they'll copy the picture.

 

[sambycat]

thanks lurkyloo! yeah, i got the bakery mixed up!!! i think i will see what she comes back to me with and explain what i found out. i've been thinking all night about the other bakery quandry but, although we've got friends staying at the contemporary (its our room block hotel), i can't think of when we would have the time or $$ to order a cake for us and be eating over there!!!

maybe what i will do is discuss the $150 max i want and see what she thinks? would it be hideous to include a picture of the HM FAIL cake (that *might* be from the GF bakery ) as a cautionary tale OR would that a) be rude and b) give them a picture they could somehow confuse with what we do want??!!??

oh - side note - the planner started laughing when she and i were talking last week because all of a sudden she realized it was my email in her head all weekend talking about wanting "no clouding". she said she was telling all the people to uncloud all weekend and couldn't remember if it were her brides that weekend that wanted or didn't want the clouding!! it was driving her crazy! when we were talking she went AHAAAA!!!! it was your email about the clouding! funny!

 

[lurkyloo]

That's so funny!

I think giving them a budget and saying "What can you give me for $150?" is a great idea. And I think you should give them the photo of the FAIL cake, but put a big red circle with a line through it. I know this sounds silly, but believe me—it will get the message across! If you need help making one, let me know... I may know an expert at Big Red Circle with a Line Through It Photos for wedding inspiration...

 

[sambycat]

will this get the idea across?!?

 

[sambycat]

If you need help making one, let me know... I may know an expert at Big Red Circle with a Line Through It Photos for wedding inspiration...

i wonder if i can put a line through clouds and send it in.......

 

[tinkerbell 766]

If you are having a rehersal dinner you could perhaps have the grooms cake at that instead of the reception and have an outside cake maker do it for you!! Just a thought.

 

[sambycat]

If you are having a rehersal dinner you could perhaps have the grooms cake at that instead of the reception and have an outside cake maker do it for you!! Just a thought.

good suggestions, but we aren't having a rehearsal dinner per se, nor are we staying on property before hand OR having really anytime to grab a meal at a "nicer" place before hand on property!! poor us, right!!

i decided to email the WP and say that i wanted a surprise cake for no more then $150 with these certain elements.... i attached pictures. no we wait and see!!!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Looking good!