Contributor Nikki Diaz
Fresh flowers on wedding cakes is a stunning addition to any occasion. For many brides that would like gum paste flowers but are working with a smaller budget, it can also be a cost effective way to achieve a similar look.
The advise given to many brides is that it would be more cost effective to order their cake as a blank canvas and have their florist add flowers at the venue. When deciding on whether your cake decorator or florist should add flowers to your cake there are a few important things to consider.
Experience working with fresh flowers on wedding cakes
Does your florist have experience working with cake as a medium?
When placing fresh flowers on cakes or anything that will be for human consumption, there must be a barrier between the stem and the cake. The florist should either use floral tape, which is non-toxic or Ingenious Edible Safety Seal, which is a fast drying wax.
When using fresh flowers to decorate cakes, be as thorough as possible when researching your flowers of choice. While flowers are beautiful to look at, some can be poisonous to humans or can irritate the skin.
Shelf life of fresh flowers on wedding cakes
When deciding to add fresh flowers on wedding cakes consider the shelf life of your flowers. What I tend to do is keep the flowers in water up until you are about to place it on your cake, this means that your flowers gets maximum hydration and can last a long time. Do wear gloves, cleans hands also mean longer lasting flowers and is also more hygienic.
Cakes are fragile and can be easily damaged. To reduce this possibility your cake should be cold when inserting flowers.
Do you have a design plan
When adding fresh flowers on wedding cakes it is necessary to a have planned design. You cannot just add flowers to your cake on a whim. Remember cake design is an organic process and adjustments may be necessary so please be patient.
Some flowers that are not edible include:
Calla lily
Eucalyptus
Dusty Miller
Frangipani
Clematis
Holly (berries)
Always be sure to do your research and if you get conflicting information err on the side of caution.
“Alana is the absolute BEST! She can make any and all of your ideas come to life in cake form! Super professional, accommodating, and creative. All the cakes I have ordered from her look like art and are absolutely delicious!” -S. Albert