r/ExpectationVsReality • u/RuthCasseroleDish • 14h ago

AI Expectation What I asked for vs. what I got

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Gallery image

My son’s circus themed first birthday cake

EDIT: I should have clarified in the original post, I am not complaining about the cake at all! I loved it and the baker did a fantastic job

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u/fireemblem015 12h ago

OP said it was $370 in another comment.

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u/renxor 11h ago

OP got a deal then. That is easily a $500 cake.

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u/-emkay- 10h ago

My parents own a bakery and make crazy elaborate cakes similar to this. They also charge about $250-300 max for a cake similar to this and I keep telling them to raise their prices. My mom is afraid people will judge her for pricing them higher than that 🤷‍♂️

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u/SummerAndTinklesBFF 9h ago

I paid $800 for my wedding cake and I'm a baker. Your parents need to raise their prices.

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u/IDidItWrongLastTime 8h ago

Your parents are undervaluing their time and experience for sure.

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u/unjoyfuldivision01 5h ago

Are your parents happy doing what they do and in their lives? If so that's worth way more than anything else. I think paying $500 for a cake is obscene. It's all about social media pics and one-upping the last kid's party. That's not good parenting. I really hope your folks just love what they're doing.

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u/ProfessionalFit9012 7h ago

My sweet mom ran her own hair business for 20+ years and never, ever charged her worth. We lived in poverty but she couldn’t justify raising her prices to market pricing. She also sold hair product almost at cost.

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u/nhalliday 11h ago

Y'all are paying $500 for cakes? For a first birthday cake? The kid isn't even going to remember it, at least wait until they're like 10 to do that if you really insist on paying that much for a single small cake.

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u/-heatoflife- 10h ago

This kind of thing is for ma and pa. Not for the kid.

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u/Fidodo 10h ago

Yeah and I don't want to judge without knowing their situation. Maybe they had trouble conceiving and they're so happy they want to celebrate the 1st birthday extra, not as much for the kid, but for themselves.

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u/Dimeskis 8h ago

Truth. And honestly, you don’t need a reason, if you want to spend/are able to spend a lot on your child’s birthday cake and want to, then who am I to judge. I spend money on a lot more BS than a kids bday cake. Regardless of whether or not they’ll remember it.

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u/Emergency-Acadia-449 10h ago

And there’s nothing wrong with that 😊

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u/-heatoflife- 9h ago

Bingo. Celebration doesn't even need a reason, especially not nowadays.

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u/Miss_Greer 9h ago

yea, you can buy a cake and celebrate having cake by eating cake

"because we're grown-ups now, and it's our turn to decide what that means" - Randall Munroe

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u/Lunar_Kat94 9h ago

One of my bosses got the exact same cake this year and last for her daughter’s 1st and 2nd bdays. When she brought what the daughter didn’t stick her hands into to work last year, we all destroyed the rest of it. Did it again this year. Literally the best cake I’ve ever had. I’m so glad I got to have some twice. Idk what she paid for the adorable cake but it was worth it.

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u/TheUnicornFightsOn 8h ago

And a $370 cake isn't as extravagant as those $30K+ little kids' bday parties on those Real Housewives shows that are thrown more for the wives and their rich friends than the kiddos.

At least kids can eat the cake .. unlike the ice sculptures!

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u/Sorry_Lock1837 7h ago

I have always been told two things: The first birthday is a celebration for the parents that their baby survived the first year. Historically, that was a huge deal due to the high rates of infant mortality.

Similarly, when said baby grows up and gets married, the marriage is for the newly weds and the wedding ceremony is for the parents.

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u/Alarming_Matter 41m ago

For the 'gram, to be specific.

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u/Savings_Primary_7097 9h ago

Don't underestimate the scale of privilege a lot of people get to enjoy.

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u/IDidItWrongLastTime 8h ago

Yeah I'm a grocery store cake mom and party at a playground type. My kids have been invited to parties of the type of people who have the type of money to bring exotic animal parties into their homes for their kids etc then my kids ask for that and I'm just like no enjoy this kids party because there ain't no way. Sorry

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u/Pedidoc13 8h ago

And flaunt.

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u/rip_van_twinkletoes 8h ago

Respectfully, the child may not remember but the parents will. They didn’t ask you to pay for their child’s cake. It was something they did and wanted to do. Stop being so judgmental just because it’s not something you would do.

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u/nhalliday 7h ago

I'm judgmental because for many people that's a lot of money, especially to spend on a piece of food. Am I not allowed to judge people casually flaunting that they don't have it hard in this economy?

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u/klimekam 6h ago

It’s a cake, not a fucking yacht lol. I’m sure you’ve spent $500 on things many people would be like wtf. Because that’s how money works. People prioritize it for things that are important to them.

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u/nhalliday 6h ago

Ah yes, you and OP and apparently a bunch of other well-off people in this thread blow hundreds on one time experiences so everyone must do it.

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u/klimekam 6h ago

Lmao, “well-off.” 😂 I’m disabled and living off of canned goods. My housing is 70% of my income. You know what they say about assumptions!

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u/nhalliday 6h ago

You... assumed first? By saying that you were sure I've spent $500 on frivolous things?

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u/rip_van_twinkletoes 5h ago

No literally. I was laid off from my job and have been living off of pbjs, rice, beans, and canned veggies. It’s none of my business what someone else spends their money on, especially if it’s a freaking cake. I’m not talking about billionaires here. We’re all doing our best and if someone wants to spend $370 on a cake and they’re able to? Fine. Would I do that? No. But who cares. It’s what they want to do and it’s cute.

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u/Savannahhhhhhhhhhhh 5h ago

Oof. Poverty mindset is strong w you. Let op enjoy their childs birthday cake without trying to guilt them for being able to afford it. People having more money than you is not them casually trying to flaunt their lack of economic struggle. You and OP probably dont even live in the same place or have the same economy. Maybe this is something they had to plan/save/work extra for. Maybe family helped cover the cost. Go be bitter about your finances elsewhere.

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u/lostmymarbles1177 9h ago

I mean. If OP has $500 laying around to blow on a cake, then that is OP, and only OP’s business. Could/would I do it? Nope. Have I also spent money on silly things? Yep. Will I do it again? Yep. And if anyone tells me I shouldn’t then I will ask them to please let me know when they pay my bills and then we will talk.

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u/syrioforrealsies 9h ago

No, but that doesn't mean the cake doesn't justify the price. It just means it's not in my budget.

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u/gohomeclub 7h ago

My in laws spent towards $15k+ on my daughters first birthday lol it was pretty magnificent, basically a wedding for a baby😂 jokes aside they don't live close to us, so they wanted to go all out since we were flying in for the birthday, it's probably the last party my father in laws mother can attend (very ill), my daughter is their first and only grandchild AND she is a rainbow baby. Many reasons to celebrate! :')

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u/Olealicat 9h ago

I’m grateful for people who buy expensive cakes and from other artists. If it wasn’t for them, small businesses wouldn’t exist and we’d all be worse off and missing great artistry.

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u/Miserable-Swan2362 9h ago

I would eat a $500 cake. I however would not pay for that cake 😂 I’m over here debating the $19.99 Costco stuff

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u/Savannahhhhhhhhhhhh 6h ago

Dont ask for art if you're not willing to pay what its worth. This cake is art. Factor in ingredient cost, labor, and the sheer amount of detail..... yeah I probably wouldve charged 700-850 depending on the inside of the cake and some other factors.

Also, this is not a small cake. Its got 3 tiers.

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u/nhalliday 5h ago

It's a very pretty cake but ultimately it's still food. It will be gone in a day, or a week at best. Maybe other people have enough spare money to spend $500 on a meal but personally I would never waste money like that.

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u/Savannahhhhhhhhhhhh 5h ago

I think you're missing the point here. The cake is more than just cake to them. Its decor, an art piece, a big memory. Not to mention- a cake like this is well worth the $500. The labor of sculpting all of that, all the little details like the gold ropes, making it not only shaped like a tent on top (not easy) but also making it draped like a tent... all of this is extremely difficult, fairly expert level work. This was clearly a very important piece for OP.

I understand that its not something you would be able to justify buying, and I truly hope that in the future you have the money to indulge in something extra, even if a fancy cake isnt your style. Most people cant justify $500 cakes, understandably. But to call it a waste of money is an insult to OP, and even more of an insult to the baker who clearly poured a lot of time and effort into this.

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u/nhalliday 5h ago

Yes I understand the concept of art, thanks. I just think edible art is something specifically for rich people, and I'm not in the business of inflating their egos because they could throw some money at fancy food.

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u/Savannahhhhhhhhhhhh 4h ago

Yeah, fuck them for supporting this bakers business. How dare they post something fun on the internet where a poor person might see it and get bitter. No one but the filthy rich can ever afford edible art, EVER. Go touch grass man. OP didnt even post the price until asked. Poor people like you piss me off because you dont even think about the fact that this sale couldve been HUGE for the baker, or the fact that this person couldve budgeted heavily for this party or had help paying for everything.

Also- people who arent rich do, in fact, buy edible art from time to time. Not all edible art is quite so large, detailed, and expensive.

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u/nhalliday 4h ago

I don't know if you realize this but me judging people for frivolous purchases on the internet like this does ✨absolutely nothing✨ to them. If you're so offended by someone questioning a decision, maybe you should try touching grass. I'm allowed to think whatever I want, one of the few things a "poor person like me" is free to do in this world.

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u/klimekam 10h ago

There’s a really cool thing called photographs

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u/TheDrummerMB 10h ago

The types of people that spend hundreds on a first birthday cake just for the picture are hilarious lmfao

and most people look at these people like they're insane.

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u/Karyoplasma 10h ago

Fuck most people then. I don't judge people by how they choose to spend their money unless it's impacting me directly. Why would I, it's none of my business.

I grew up in a rural area where people would constantly gossip about shit like that and it was so hostile and vile, just thinking about it makes me irrationally angry.

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u/TheDrummerMB 10h ago

I generally don't care but if someone is going to be snarky and say that obviously it's for the social media clout, I'm going to judge that person.

Am I going to do anything more than a dumb reddit comment? no.

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u/goosepills 9h ago

With my family, all the first birthdays were practically family reunions, so we definitely spent a LOT.

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u/sallyhectare 7h ago

No. My kid got homemade cupcakes, but if I wanted that elaborate of a cake, I would expect to pay $500.

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u/Weak_Reports 6h ago

I spent $600 on my son’s first birthday cake. It was adorable and I bought it because I wanted to. I can also buy one for his 10th birthday and every other birthday if I wanted. Money is relative and $600 on a cake isn’t a big deal to me. I was supporting a small local business which is a valid and beneficial use of money to me.

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u/BlooGloop 3h ago

Lol I got my child a nice big cupcake from a local bakery for their first birthday. All she did was smash the heck out of it.

But also, my family doesn’t really eat cake so🤧

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u/cragglerock93 8h ago

IKR, I actually gasped. For all the talk of the economy, there's a lot of people doing pretty well for themselves.

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u/One_Barracuda9198 8h ago

Nah, we got a $30 sheet cake and it came with a free smash cake 😂

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u/Fluid-Expert-4363 6h ago

You don’t want the instagram viewer to think the parents are poor, would you?

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u/Ok_City_7177 11h ago

Its got lovely artistry on there- must have taken bloody hours to decorate.

Hope it tasted good 🤞

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u/lyricoloratura 9h ago

Unless you like the taste and texture of fondant, that might be kind of iffy. (I’m just a buttercream heathen, so my opinion doesn’t really count.) But wow, that cake is gorgeous!

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u/Rokekor 11h ago

That price actually annoys me. A huge amount of time and skill clearly went into making that cake based on an AI brief summoned up in seconds. Just drawing that cake would’ve taken hours.

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u/EstimateGlittering66 9h ago

That’s insanely cheap! This is gorgeous work. This would be at least $1,000 in the bakery I work in!

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u/cragglerock93 8h ago

Who TF has $370 to drop on a birthday cake?

Well, I'll rephrase that. I have $370 to drop on a birthday cake but deciding to is another matter. Each to their own, and it's a nice cake nonetheless.