Creative Towel Wedding Cake: A Step-By-Step Guide

A wedding cake made out of towels is a thoughtful gift for newlyweds and can also be used as a centrepiece at a bridal shower. To make a towel wedding cake, you will need towels, ribbon, pins, flowers, and other decorations. The process involves folding and rolling towels, securing them with pins or rubber bands, stacking them on top of each other, and then decorating them with ribbon, flowers, and other embellishments. The cake can be customised to fit the wedding colour scheme or the bridal shower theme.

Fold and roll towels

To make a wedding cake out of towels, you'll need to fold and roll the towels to create the layers of the cake. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Start by laying a large bath towel on a flat surface. Fold it in half lengthwise, and then fold it in half lengthwise again. You should now have a long, narrow rectangle.
• Begin rolling the towel from one end, keeping it tight and neat, until you reach the other end. This will be the base of your "cake."
• Repeat this process with another large bath towel. Lay the rolled towel next to the first one, end to end.
• Start rolling the second towel around the first one as if they were one long towel. Keep rolling until you reach the end of the second towel. Secure the towels together with straight pins or large safety pins. This will be your first layer.
• For the second layer, take a hand towel and fold it in half lengthwise twice. Then, roll it up and secure it with pins, just like you did with the bath towels.
• For the third (top) layer, take a small washcloth and follow the same folding and rolling process.
• You should now have three layers of rolled towels, each one slightly smaller than the last. These will form the tiers of your wedding cake.

Now that you have your layers ready, you can move on to the next step, which is stacking the layers and adding any decorative elements, such as ribbons, flowers, or other embellishments.

Feel free to adjust the number of towels and their sizes to create a taller or shorter cake, depending on your preference. You can also experiment with different colours and textures of towels to create a unique and personalized wedding cake.

Secure towels with pins or rubber bands

There are several ways to secure your rolled towels, depending on your preferences and the materials you have to hand.

One option is to use straight pins. These can be placed at various points along the rolled towel, piercing through the layers to hold them together. You can use three pins for the bottom layer, two for the middle, and one for the top. This method is quick and easy, and the pins can be decorated to look like pearls, adding a touch of elegance to your cake.

Another option is to use rubber bands. Large, wide rubber bands can be wrapped around the towel horizontally to keep the layers together. This is a good option if you want to avoid putting holes in your towels, as the rubber bands can be covered with ribbon or other decorative elements.

If you want to add extra security to your cake, you can also use a wooden dowel as a base. This involves stacking the towels on a wooden dowel that runs through the centre of the cake, providing stability and preventing the cake from falling over. This is especially useful if you need to transport your cake.

Stack the towel tiers

Now that you've rolled your towels into tiers, it's time to stack them! Place the largest tier, which should be made from the bath towels, at the bottom. Then, place the middle-sized tier, made from the hand towels, on top of the bottom tier. Finally, place the smallest tier, made from the washcloths, on top.

If you're concerned about your cake falling over, you can place a wooden dowel through the centre of the cake for added stability. This is especially helpful if you plan on transporting the cake.

If you're happy with how your cake looks, you can move on to decorating it with ribbon. However, if you want to add some decorative filler items or gifts, now is the time to do so. You can add wooden utensils, silk flowers, or other small gifts to each tier. Just make sure that they are secure and won't fall out.

Decorate with ribbon

Decorating a wedding cake made out of towels with ribbon is a great way to add a finishing touch to your cake. You can add ribbons to each cake layer or to the cake board to complement your theme. Here are some tips and ideas to decorate your towel wedding cake with ribbon:

Choosing the Right Ribbon

The ribbon you choose can be of any width and colour, and you will need approximately 130 inches of it. You can opt for a single-colour ribbon or go for something more fancy like a leopard or mermaid print. The type of ribbon you choose will depend on the overall look you are going for. If you want a more elegant and luxurious feel, consider using a single-sided satin ribbon or a luxury organza ribbon. For a fun and quirky look, you can explore printed ribbon options.

Wrapping the Ribbon

Start by wrapping the ribbon around the base of each layer of the cake. A ribbon width of 25mm to 38mm is ideal for this. You can secure the ribbon with glue or safety pins. If you use safety pins, try to match the colour of the pins to your towels so that they blend in. Make sure to use sharp scissors to cut your ribbon to avoid fraying and to ensure clean cuts.

Creating a Waterfall Effect

Another way to decorate with ribbon is to create a ribbon waterfall. Cut strands of ribbon to match the length of your cake, allowing for extra length for draping. Secure the ribbon at the top of the cake with sugar paste and let the strands drape down, with each strand sitting on each layer. Continue adding strands until you achieve a waterfall effect.

Making Ribbon Roses

You can also make roses out of ribbon and attach them to your cake for a special touch. There are many tutorials available online that can guide you through the process of making ribbon roses.

Combining with Other Decorations

Combining your ribbon decorations with other embellishments can create a stunning effect. For example, you can add flowers, silk rose petals, pearls, rhinestones, or crystal seed beads. You can also incorporate other types of ribbon, such as burlap or lace ribbon, to add texture and visual interest.

Remember to be creative and have fun with your ribbon decorations! There are endless possibilities to make your towel wedding cake unique and beautiful.

Add finishing touches

Now that you've stacked your towel tiers and decorated them with ribbons, it's time to add some final flourishes to your wedding cake. Here are some ideas for those all-important finishing touches:

Flowers

Flowers are a beautiful addition to your towel cake. You can use silk flowers, or real flowers, depending on your preference. Push the stems of the flowers into the layers of the cake, nestling them in between the towels. You can also add some smaller flowers or petals on top of the cake for extra decoration. If you're using silk flowers with long stems, you may want to trim the stems to the appropriate length before placing them into the cake.

Cake Topper

Add a cake topper to give your creation a whimsical touch. This could be a simple decorative item, or something more personalised, like the initials of the couple.

Filler Items

Add some extra gifts or decorative filler items to your cake. For example, you could include wooden utensils sticking out from the top of the cake, or small gifts like candles or coffee mugs. These items can be placed in between the towels, or on top of the cake.

Ribbons

If you haven't already, add some ribbons to your cake. You can tie them in bows, or simply wrap them around each tier and secure them with glue or tape. You can also use the ribbons to cover up any rubber bands or safety pins holding the towels together. Choose ribbons that match the colour scheme of the wedding, or add some sparkle with gold or silver ribbons.

Your towel wedding cake is now complete! This unique and thoughtful creation is sure to be a talking point at the bridal shower, and the happy couple can enjoy using the towels in their new life together.

Frequently asked questions