Creating A Wedding Cake Adorned With Fresh Flowers

Flowers are a timeless way to decorate a wedding cake, adding a touch of elegance and romance. Whether you're planning a rustic celebration or a sleek city event, there are many ways to incorporate blooms (or bloom alternatives) into your confection. From fresh flowers to candied petals, hand-painted florals, or intricate sugar flowers, the possibilities are endless.

When adding fresh flowers to a cake, it's important to choose flowers carefully, ensuring they are non-toxic and food-safe. It's also crucial to make them food-safe by sealing or washing them to avoid any toxic chemicals leaching into the cake.

There are various methods for attaching fresh flowers to a cake, such as using floral tape, toothpicks, or straws. The type of flower and cake design will determine the best method for a secure and aesthetically pleasing result.

With careful preparation and creativity, you can create a stunning floral wedding cake that will impress your guests and elevate your special day.

Choosing flowers: Opt for non-toxic flowers like carnations, mums, roses and spray roses

When choosing flowers for your wedding cake, it's important to opt for non-toxic varieties such as carnations, mums, roses, and spray roses. These flowers are not only readily available but also safe, as they are non-toxic. This is especially important if any part of the flower comes into contact with the cake or its frosting. While it is not intended for the flowers to be consumed, using non-toxic flowers is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of your guests.

In addition to their safety, these flowers also provide a beautiful and elegant way to decorate your wedding cake. You can create a cohesive look by matching the flowers on your cake to your wedding bouquet, centrepieces, or other floral arrangements at the venue. For example, you can use a single type of delicate flower, such as muscari, to create a minimalist design, or opt for a fuller look with a mix of flowers and herbs.

If you're looking for a more sustainable option, consider using locally available edible flowers during the summer months. Pansies, lilacs, and lavender are excellent choices for this. However, be sure to avoid flowers like ranunculus, peonies, and eucalyptus, as they can cause stomach upset if consumed.

When selecting flowers for your wedding cake, it's also crucial to consider their size. Choose a variety of large and small flowers to fill in any gaps and create a well-rounded arrangement. Furthermore, don't forget to buy extra flowers, as some may wilt before you have a chance to use them.

Using herbs: Thyme, rosemary and bay leaves are safe and beautiful greenery accents

Herbs are a beautiful and safe way to decorate a wedding cake. Thyme, rosemary and bay leaves are all non-toxic and food-safe options to adorn your cake with greenery. Thyme has a delicate feel, while rosemary has a pretty colour and stiffer structure. Bay leaves, meanwhile, resemble rose leaves.

There are a few ways to add these herbs to your cake. You can use long sprigs of rosemary to create a wreath that runs along the top edge of your cake or its base. You can also use shorter sprigs to create a wreath, trimming the base of the sprig at a diagonal and removing any wilted leaves. If you want to add some sparkle, sprinkle gold dust or gold leaf on the wreath.

If you want to use all three herbs, you can create an asymmetrical design with a focal spray at the base of the cake. Use bay leaves and thyme as greenery, and add the buds of spray roses for more interesting shapes and textures. Attach the flowers and herbs using toothpicks, cutting the stems off at the base of the bloom and inserting a toothpick in its place. This method ensures that no part of the flower has to touch the cake.

Herbs are a wonderful way to create a rustic, medieval feel for your wedding cake. They are also long-lasting, fragrant, and full of symbolism. Thyme, for example, represents courage and strength, while rosemary symbolises love and fidelity.

Inserting flowers: Use toothpicks to secure flowers without damaging the cake

To insert flowers into a wedding cake without damaging it, you can use the toothpick method. This method is ideal because it leaves a much smaller hole in the cake and ensures that no part of the flower touches the cake.

To do this, cut the flower stem off at the base of the bloom. Then, insert a toothpick into the space where the stem was. Carefully stick the toothpick into the cake, making sure that the base of the flower is not touching the cake. This way, the flower will be securely in place without damaging the cake.

It is important to note that even if your flowers are not meant to be consumed, you should still choose flowers that are non-toxic and food-safe. Flowers like carnations, mums, roses, and spray roses are good choices as they are readily available and non-toxic. You can also use herbs as greenery to add more texture and variety to your cake design.

Cake design: Minimalist, asymmetrical, cascading, or a mix of flowers and fruit

Minimalist Cake Design

Keep things simple and elegant by using just one variety of delicate flower on your cake. Muscari, for example, can be arranged to look like they're growing from the base of the cake and up towards the top. This design can be secured using the toothpick method, where you cut the flower stems at the base of the bloom and insert a toothpick to secure it to the cake.

Asymmetrical Cake Design

This design features a focal spray at the base of the cake, with buds and greenery to add interesting shapes and textures. Roses and spray roses are a great choice for this design, with herb greenery such as bay leaves and thyme to make the flowers look more natural. All flowers can be attached using the toothpick method.

Cascading Florals

Create a lush and romantic effect with a cascading design, reminiscent of a waterfall, tumbling down or spiralling around the cake. Orchids and roses are a delicate and elegant choice for this design, or you could use exotic, oversized flowers and plants for a modern, moodier look. Fresh or dried fruit can also be incorporated for added passion.

Mix of Flowers and Fruit

Embrace the bounty of blooms and fresh fruits! A cascade of flowers, figs, and grapes can complement a textured buttercream cake.

Food safety: Wash flowers, wrap stems in plastic and floral tape, or use food-safe wax

To ensure food safety when adding fresh flowers to a wedding cake, it is important to prepare the flowers properly. Here are some detailed steps to guide you through the process:

Wash the Flowers

It is crucial to wash the flowers to remove any pesticides or other chemicals that may be harmful. Gently wash the petals and stems of each flower and then pat them dry with a soft cloth or paper towel. If you are using roses or similar flowers, hang them upside down to dry to prevent water from collecting between the petals.

Wrap the Stems

The main concern when adding fresh flowers to a cake is the possibility of fluid from the flower stems leaking into the cake or frosting. Even if the flowers are edible, the stem fluids can have an unpleasant taste. To prevent this, wrap the stems with plastic wrap and floral tape. Cut a 3"x3" square of plastic wrap and wrap it securely around the stem with floral tape. Floral tape sticks to itself and usually comes in different shades of green. By wrapping each stem individually, you can tightly seal it and prevent any fluid leakage.

Alternative Methods

Alternatively, you can use a product called Safety Seal, which is a food-safe wax. Melt the wax and dip the flower stems into it to create a seal. This method is especially useful if you have access to a microwave for last-minute preparations. Another option is to use chocolate as a seal, which was mentioned as a creative solution for sealing the back of gerbera daisies.

Choose Edible Flowers

While the flowers are intended for decoration and not consumption, it is still recommended to use edible and food-safe flowers as they will be placed very close to the cake. Examples of edible flowers include carnations, mums, roses, spray roses, pansies, lilacs, and lavender. Avoid using flowers that can cause stomach upset or are known to be poisonous, such as ranunculus, peonies, and eucalyptus.

Use Herbs as Greenery

Eucalyptus is commonly used in cake decoration, but it is not food-safe. Instead, opt for herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves, which provide beautiful greenery accents and come in various varieties to suit your desired look.

Insert Flowers Carefully

When inserting the flowers into the cake, avoid pushing them directly into the cake, as this can damage the cake and cause the flowers to touch the frosting or cake layers. One method is to use toothpicks by cutting the flower stem at the base of the bloom and inserting a toothpick. Carefully stick the toothpick into the cake so that the base of the flower does not touch the cake. This leaves a smaller hole and ensures no part of the fresh flower comes into direct contact with the cake.

Frequently asked questions