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    Wedding Cakes Aren't Just Desserts
    Wedding Cakes Aren't Just Desserts
    Wedding Cakes Aren't Just Desserts
    Ebook178 pages1 hour

    Wedding Cakes Aren't Just Desserts

    By Sallia Bandy

    ()

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    About this ebook

    This book is not just for the novice wedding cake designer, but also the experienced designer as well. The novice can gain confidence in working with a bride and the experienced designer can see their business grow by learning how to hone their marketing skills. It covers the wedding cake creation process from beginning to end: from advertising and making the first contact, all the way to delivering the cake.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateJul 28, 2011
    ISBN9781456735289
    Wedding Cakes Aren't Just Desserts

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      Book preview

      Wedding Cakes Aren't Just Desserts - Sallia Bandy

      Wedding Cakes Aren’t

      Just Desserts

      SKU-000419845_TEXT.pdf

      by Sallia Bandy

      US%26UK%20Logo%20B%26W_new.ai

      AuthorHouse™

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.authorhouse.com

      Phone: 1-800-839-8640

      © 2011 Sallia Bandy. All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

      First published by AuthorHouse 2/16/2011

      ISBN: 978-1-4567-3527-2 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4567-3528-9 (e)

      ISBN: 978-1-4567-3529-6 (dj)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2011902703

      Printed in the United States of America

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

      and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      This book is printed on acid-free paper.

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Introduction

      When I made my first wedding cake as a junior high student in 1969, there was no internet; only a few books, Mailbox News, and other cake decorators. There were no structured classes at the local craft store. My first class was taught by a lady at the local bicycle repair shop. Much of the knowledge in this book came the hard way and through studying and talking with others. Never underestimate the importance of networking with other cake decorators, either online at one of the multitude of cake decorators’ social media web sites, at a day of sharing, during an ICES convention, or in a class. You can always pick up a tip. You might not know what to do with the tip at the time, but write it down and tuck it away, for you will find a way to apply it in the future.

      This book takes the process of creating a wedding cake from the initial consultation with the bride through the delivery of the cake. It is designed for home bakers, culinary students, small business owners, and anyone who makes wedding cakes. As wedding cake artists, we are good at making tasty, beautiful cakes. But how we treat the customer throughout the process says a lot about us. We can be firm without being domineering, nice without being a pushover. Brides do have a choice of whom they want for a cake designer, and professionalism and great customer service tip the scales every time.

      There are many fine books on the market with pictures of beautiful cakes to inspire us to reach the next level. Pour over those books for your design vision; then come back to this book to find out how to meet with a bride, present yourself, and where to find business cards.

      Sallia Bandy

      September 2010

      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      Consultation and Cake Tasting

      First Impressions Count!

      Closing the Sale

      A Picture is Still Worth a Thousand Words

      Photographing Cakes

      Create a Scrapbook

      Digital Portfolios

      Digital Picture Frame

      Simple Binder

      Photo Album

      Photo Books

      Getting Started

      Tasting the Cake

      Group Tasting ‘Party’

      Private Tasting and Consultation

      The Consultation – Ask the Right Questions

      Taking the Order

      Deposits and Rentals Fees

      Contract

      Cake Design

      Basic Cake Designs

      Stacked

      Separated

      Combination

      Satellite

      Cake Styles

      Traditional

      Classic

      Contemporary

      Whimsical or Thematic

      Non-cake Ideas

      Cupcakes

      Cookies

      Brownies

      Cheesecakes

      Candy Decorations

      Individual Cakes

      Table Cakes

      Pastry

      Desserts Bars

      Totally Different Ideas

      Design Inspiration

      Topping the Cake

      Groom’s Cakes

      Background and Tradition

      Groom’s Cakes Today

      Sizing the Cake

      Serving Size

      How Many Servings?

      Big Cake, Small Wedding

      Big Wedding, Small Budget

      Stretching the Number of Servings

      Sketching the Cake

      Construction Methods

      Cake Stand

      How to Use Cake Stands

      Stacked

      How to Build a Stacked Cake

      Push-in Pillar

      Two plate and Four Pillars

      Center Column Construction

      Fountains

      Stairways and Bridges

      Stairways Without Bridge

      Stairways With Bridge (Use 2 to 4 Stairways, 1 Bridge)

      Baking the Cake

      Beautiful AND Tasty

      Baking Tips and Hints

      Basic Recipes

      Double Vanilla Cake

      Vanilla Sugar

      Easy Cake

      Fresh Strawberry Filling

      The Icing On the Cake

      Icing is the Foundation

      Icing Tips & Hints

      Basic Recipes

      Buttercream with Cream Cheese

      Cream Cheese Icing

      Ganache

      Basic Buttercream Icing

      My First Icing

      Transporting the Cake

      Tips for Smooth Deliveries

      Cakes on Pillars

      Stacked Cakes

      Center Column Construction

      At the Reception Site

      Delivery kit

      Fountain Items

      Running a Cake Business

      References

      Advertising

      Business Cards

      Cakes Donated to Events and Charities

      Stationery

      Brochures

      Use Press Releases

      Advertise in Local Newspapers or Shoppers

      Partner with Other Wedding Businesses

      Real Estate Offices

      Health Regulations and Legal Considerations

      Cottage Food Laws

      Tracking Orders and Figuring Costs

      Bibliography

      Web Sites

      Resources

      Cake Decorating Supplies

      Photo Sharing

      Photo Books

      Business Cards (also Stationery, Calendars, Postcards, Brochures, Letterhead, Inked Stamps)

      Software

      Miscellaneous

      Publications

      Appendix A – Bride’s Cake Serving Chart

      Appendix B – Groom’s Cake Serving Chart

      Appendix C – Cake Serving Chart

      Appendix D – Amount of Fondant Needed

      Appendix E – Guide to Choosing a Wedding Cake

      When to Begin

      Whom to Order From

      Cost

      Design

      Frosting

      Decorations

      Flavor

      Appendix F – Wedding Cake History

      Appendix G – Fun Facts and Wedding Statistics

      Fun Facts

      General Statistics (Ministers)

      Marriages by Month (Ministers)

      Appendix H – Timeline for Planning

      Appendix I – Example of Cake Cutting Instructions

      Appendix J – Graph Paper

      Appendix K – Sample Order Form and Contract

      Consultation and Cake Tasting

      First Impressions Count!

      The consultation and cake tasting meeting is probably your first opportunity to meet the bride in person and make a good impression. It may also be your last chance. This is your time to set the tone of the consultation, so pay attention to these tips from sales professionals about making a good first impression:

      bullets-check.tif Be ready to meet on time. Make sure you are organized and can easily locate all of your support material - samples, brochures, pricing information, business cards, etc.

      bullets-check.tif Demonstrate good listening skills. Be interested in what the other person has to say; encourage them to talk and don’t interrupt. Give positive verbal cues by asking questions that encourage conversation and put your bride at the center of attention. Control the conversation, but do not monopolize it. It’s just as important to listen. Maintain eye contact and be friendly, yet professional. Don’t offer solutions before making sure you understand your customer’s needs. Ask questions before making recommendations.

      Three points of active listening are:

      • Keep an open mind. You won’t like every design that you are contracted to create.

      • Paraphrase what you hear the customer saying. Don’t parrot what she says, but rephrase in your own words to promote understanding.

      • Take notes. Don’t rely on your memory.

      bullets-check.tif Present a professional and polished appearance. A neat, clean appearance will go a long way, so save the cutoffs and t-shirts for the beach. How you dress shows how important the customer is to you.

      bullets-check.tif Bring a positive attitude to the meeting. Smile and give your customer a solid handshake. (Don’t overpower her.) Show your confidence by having good posture and an upbeat, friendly approach.

      bullets-check.tif Speak well and avoid words that you cannot handle. People judge us by the way we speak and present ourselves. Speak so that you can be heard – don’t mumble, but enunciate clearly. Display animation in your voice and facial expressions to add interest to your words. Practice in front of a mirror or with someone you trust to build your speaking skills. Be careful not to use slang or words such as yeah, uh-huh, and okie-dokie. Never curse! Be professional. Practice with others or in front of a mirror.

      bullets-check.tif Establish rapport. Your bride has probably been given a lot of advice from friends and relatives about how she should plan her wedding, and

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