Cake-cost per slice?

Hi Ladies,
I posted this on the BHB board but thought I'd hop over here and see what you could tell me, being that you just did this!

Hello Ladies-
I have a cake question. I'm not sure what the median cost is per cake slice. My mom has a friend who works from her home and makes weddding cakes. She wants to charge $7.50 per slice!!! Am I completely out of it or is that alot. We are only having 75 people at the wedding. So, if you can tell me (if you don't mind) how much you paid or how much you've been quoted per slice for your cake, that would be helpful. One more thing...we're not looking for anything overly elaborate. White with some pearls, beads, etc. THANKS

WHOA that sounds obscene for what you want...II know it can get pricey if you do fancy stuff with sugar flowers and things like that because they ususally need to be made or purchased seperately but that sounds VERY hgh for something simple, though I know it CAN get that high for special requests...

We had ours included with the RH price BUT I doubt they would have included it if it was that much per person...

What i'd do if the RH doesnt offer the cake, is have her make a 'faux cake'-meaning it looks just like your real wedding cake, decorated and all, but only top layer or top 2 is real. Then the guests are served with a sheet cake thats frosted from the back where they never see it. Thats how many RH's do it to keep costs lower.

I found this on a website for you. Hope it helps.


Typical costs:
The average cost of a wedding cake is $543, according to The Bridal Association of America.
For wedding cakes, most bakeries and pastry chefs charge by the slice. A low-end option would be a smaller tiered cake in chocolate or vanilla paired with a sheet cake for cutting for around $1.50 a slice.

A mid-range two- or three-tiered cake in a standard flavor such as chocolate, vanilla, carrot cake or lemon poppy seed with buttercream icing and minimal fondant decorations can run $5 or $6 a slice.


A high-end multi-tiered gourmet cake with flavored fillings, fondant icing and elaborate fondant, gum paste and sugar decorations can run $10 or more per slice.


Additional costs:
Decorations make a big difference in the per-slice cost. Fresh flowers are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to decorate a cake.
Fondant, which can cover a cake in a smooth, satiny shell, is one of the most expensive; it can add $1 or more per slice. Elaborate fondant decorations increase the price even more.
Cheesecakes and cakes with nuts, dried fruits or special cream fillings can add $1 or more per slice.

Most tiered wedding cakes must be delivered and assembled on site by the baker or a staff member to prevent a cake mishap, and delivery charges can be $50 to $100 or more, depending on distance and size of cake.

Some caterers charge a cake-cutting fee when figuring the total cost of your wedding cake. Cake-cutting fees can run $1 or more per slice.

Discounts:

Check to see whether your caterer can serve as your cake baker; big catering companies and hotels often employ an in-house pastry chef. By going this route, you could eliminate cake cutting and delivery fees. TheWeddingChannel.com offers tips for saving on a cake.
If you want the look of a tall, tiered wedding cake without the price, ask your baker to put one tier of real cake, which you will cut into, on top of fake tiers made of Styrofoam and icing; then have a sheet cake waiting in the back to be cut.
If you are on a strict budget, the Association for Wedding Professionals International suggests looking for a wedding cake baker who is fairly new to the business or attending a wedding show if you decide to sign a contract that day. The AWPI lists wedding shows by region.

Shopping for a wedding cake:

Ask to see a portfolio, and ask for references. Weddings.About.com provides a list of questions to ask a prospective cake designer.
Tip: Try to arrange cake tastings with several bakers before choosing one. Many bakers offer free tastings, but some charge a small fee.
Tip: Start shopping around for a baker well in advance of your wedding date. Most bakers will do only a few weddings per week, so dates book up quickly.
TheKnot.com offers a list of wedding cake bakers by city.

I don't know what the median price is but ours was $3.75/slice. This was for buttercream w/ a custom design. If I wanted fondant it would have been $5/slice.

HTH

We paid 6 dollars a slice. There was NOcake left Money well spent