Wedding Cake Flower Arrangements: A Step-By-Step Guide

Flowers are a classic and elegant way to decorate a wedding cake. Whether you're using fresh flowers, sugar paste flowers, or a combination of both, they can add a special touch to your big day. When choosing flowers for your wedding cake, it's important to consider safety first and avoid any toxic or poisonous flowers that could make your guests sick. You also want to make sure that the flowers haven't been treated with any pesticides or chemicals.

One option for adding flowers to your wedding cake is to use them as a topper. You can coordinate with your florist and baker to choose blooms that match your bouquet, centrepieces, and other arrangements. Another idea is to create a cake meadow by filling your dessert station with lush blossoms, which can also be used to repurpose some of your ceremony floral arrangements. If you're looking for a more subtle approach, consider using pressed or dried flowers, or even hand-painting flowers directly onto the cake using food colouring.

When adding flowers to the sides of a cake, you can wrap the stems with floral tape to prevent any fluids from leaking into the cake. Alternatively, you can use bubble tea straws to secure the flowers at different angles. Adding fresh flowers to your wedding cake right before the event will ensure that they look their best throughout the entire celebration. With a little creativity and planning, you can create a stunning floral wedding cake that will wow your guests.

Using fresh flowers

Choose the Right Flowers:

Firstly, it is important to select flowers that are safe to use. Avoid flowers that are toxic or poisonous, such as daffodils, baby's breath, poppies, lilies, and azaleas. Opt for edible flowers like roses, lavender, pansies, and carnations. If you want to add greenery, herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves are a great choice.

Source Your Flowers:

When sourcing your flowers, consider buying them from a florist, a grocery store, or a flower market. Ensure you purchase more flowers than you need to account for any wilting. Select a variety of large flowers and small flowers to create a balanced arrangement.

Keep Flowers Fresh:

To prevent wilting, follow the instructions on the packet of flower vitamins and keep the flowers in water until you are ready to use them.

Prepare the Flowers:

Before placing the flowers on the cake, wrap the stems with floral tape or plastic wrap to prevent any fluids from leaking into the cake. You can also use food-safe wax or chocolate as a seal. If you plan to use leaves, glaze them to ensure they are bug-free.

Timing:

Fresh flowers should be added to the cake no more than 24 hours in advance. It is best to add them the morning of the wedding or a few hours before the event to ensure they look their freshest.

Placement:

When placing the flowers on the cake, you can either lay them on top for easy removal or insert shortened stems wrapped in plastic wrap directly into the cake for more stability. Play with height and dimension by varying the placement of the flowers.

Design Inspiration:

There are many ways to design a floral arrangement for a wedding cake. You can create a cascading effect with flowers tumbling down the sides, use flowers as a topper, or encircle each tier with flowers and greenery. For a minimalist look, use a single type of delicate flower, or echo the bridal bouquet by using similar flowers and colours.

Using sugar flowers

Sugar flowers are a great way to decorate a wedding cake. They are made from gum paste or fondant, with the former being the best option for intricate details. While sugar flowers are more expensive than fresh flowers, they offer several advantages.

Firstly, sugar flowers won't wilt, so you don't have to worry about them losing their freshness due to heat or humidity. This is especially beneficial for outdoor receptions. Secondly, sugar flowers are always in season, so you can have your favourite blooms on your cake regardless of the time of year. For example, white peonies in December or sunflowers in July.

Sugar flowers are also highly customisable. They can be made in any size or shape and can be dyed or painted to match your wedding colour palette. This makes them easy to scale, whether you're creating a dainty, simple cake or a multi-tiered showstopper.

Additionally, sugar flowers will last forever, even at room temperature, so they can become keepsakes that remind you of your special day. You can display them in a vase or on a shelf in your home as unique mementos.

If you're looking for ready-made sugar flowers, Kelsie Cakes offers pre-designed sugar flower bundles and arrangements in various colours and styles. CaljavaOnline also has a wide range of sugar flowers and leaves, including peonies, magnolias, roses, dahlias, and more.

Using artificial flowers

Step One: Choose the Right Flowers

Decide on the colour scheme, size, number, and theme of the flowers. Silk flowers are the most realistic and premium option for artificial flowers. Ensure that the dyes and materials used on the flowers are non-toxic.

Step Two: Trim the Flowers

Modify the length of the stems according to your desired arrangement. For flowers that need to lay flat on the cake, make the stems as short as possible. If you need to anchor larger, heavier flowers for stability, keep the stems longer.

Step Three: Clean the Flowers

Thoroughly wash every part of the flower, including the stems, petals, and leaves, to remove any dirt that may contaminate the cake.

Step Four: Dry the Flowers

Gently shake the flowers to remove any trapped water, and then dry them with a paper towel. Turn the flowers upside down and dab them to ensure all water is removed from the petals.

Step Five: Decorate the Cake

There are two common ways to decorate a cake with artificial flowers:

• Placing the flowers on the surface of the cake: Use a piece of wax paper to cover the area where the flowers will sit. Apply a small amount of buttercream or icing to stick the flower to the wax paper. This method allows for easy removal and prevents contact with the edible portion of the cake.
• Embedding the flower stems inside the cake: If your flowers require stability, wrap the stems in plastic wrap before inserting them into the cake. This method ensures the flowers stay in place and follow your desired design.

Remember to always place a note or sign indicating that the flowers are not edible, and enjoy creating a beautiful and safe wedding cake decoration!

Hand-painting flowers

Preparation:

Before you start painting on your cake, it is important to sketch out your design and practice on a flat surface. This could be food-grade acetate paper, parchment or wax paper, or even a plate. It is normal to have to try out a few times before getting your desired result.

Materials:

For hand-painting flowers, you will need:

• A chilled and frosted cake
• Palette knives and/or paintbrushes
• Acetate food-grade paper (optional)
• Bowls or a baking sheet for mixing buttercream and food colouring
• Buttercream frosting (Swiss meringue, vanilla American or Italian meringue)
• Food colouring or edible paint
• Sanding sugar, sugar pearls, gold leaf foil sheets, or other cake decorations (optional)

Painting:

Once you are happy with your design, it is time to start painting. Use a very well-chilled cake, as it is harder to paint on a soft cake. You can also paint directly onto a marzipan or fondant-covered cake. If the cake starts to get soft while you are painting, put it back in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.

Techniques:

There are several techniques you can use to paint flowers on a cake:

• Palette knife painting: Use buttercream frosting and palette knives to create your design. For flowers, use a round palette knife for the petals and a small knife for the stems and leaves.
• Paintbrushes: You can use paintbrushes with buttercream, food colouring, or edible paint. For finer details, such as leaves, use a small paintbrush.
• Watercolouring: Use water-based food colouring or edible paint on a frosting or fondant-covered cake.
• Airbrushing: This technique requires an airbrush machine.

Colours:

When mixing colours, use a cookie sheet, plate, or bowl and add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of frosting for each colour. Then, add a few drops of food colouring and mix well. If using gel food colouring, it is recommended to mix it with water or vodka to thin it out.

Finishing touches:

Once you have finished painting your flowers, you can add some optional decorations, such as sanding sugar, sugar pearls, or gold leaf foil sheets. Use tweezers to place these decorations exactly where you want them.

Using pressed flowers

Pressed flowers can be a beautiful and unique way to decorate a wedding cake. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use pressed flowers to create a stunning and romantic wedding cake:

Choosing the Right Flowers:

• When selecting pressed flowers for your cake, ensure they are specifically marked as "edible". Some pressed flowers are sold for crafting and may not be safe for consumption.
• Look for organic flowers that have not been treated with pesticides or harmful chemicals. You can often find these at farmer's markets or specialty stores.
• Consider the colour scheme and theme of the wedding when choosing your flowers. Dried and pressed flowers come in a variety of colours and varieties, such as roses, pansies, lavender, and daisies.
• Order the flowers well in advance, especially if they are being shipped internationally, to avoid delays and ensure you have them in time for the wedding.

Cake Preparation:

• The type of cake and frosting you use is important when decorating with pressed flowers. A fondant or buttercream-frosted cake works well.
• If using fondant, cover the cake tiers with a thin layer of homemade marshmallow fondant.
• If using buttercream, create a textured or smooth finish, depending on the desired look.

Attaching the Flowers:

• Before attaching the flowers, consider creating a barrier between the cake and the flowers by placing a cake board on top. This will make it easier to remove the flowers before serving and prevent any potential contamination.
• Use edible glue or royal icing to attach the pressed flowers to the cake. For larger blooms, you may need a dab of royal icing for better adhesion.
• Start attaching the flowers around the front of the cake, building up the pattern in broken rings. This creates the effect of moving bands of flowers growing from the base of each tier.
• Fill in any gaps with smaller flowers or leaves to create a full and lush arrangement.
• If you wish to add stems and greenery, you can use edible paint or edible-ink pens. Create thin stems with the pens and paint larger, more elaborate stems for a more authentic look.

Final Touches:

• Pressed flowers can be used as a standalone decoration or paired with other elements like butterflies or ribbons.
• If desired, add butterflies or other edible decorations to enhance the design and create a whimsical touch.
• Cover the joins between the tiers with thin ribbons that match the colour scheme.
• Ensure the cake is protected from any pollen or insects that may be on the flowers.
• Place the cake in a prominent position at the wedding venue, where guests can admire its beauty and detail.

Frequently asked questions