Creating A Towel Wedding Cake Centerpiece: Step-By-Step Guide

A towel wedding cake centerpiece is a thoughtful, practical, and beautiful gift for a bridal shower. It is easy to make and can be customised to fit the wedding colour scheme. The basic materials required are towels (2 bath, 2 hand, and 2 wash), ribbon, silk rose petals, silk flowers, safety pins, scissors, and wire cutters. The first step is to fold and roll the towels, securing them with safety pins. Repeat this process for all three layers of the cake. The second step is to stack the layers and add ribbons. Finally, add the decorative details such as flowers, petals, and embellishments.

Fold and roll towels

To make a towel wedding cake centerpiece, you will need a set of towels, including two bath towels, two hand towels, and two washcloths. You will also need some large safety pins, ribbon, and scissors.

To begin, fold each hand towel in half lengthwise twice. Then, start rolling the towels up from one end, securing the ends with two large safety pins, one at the top and one at the bottom. Repeat this process with the washcloths. For the bath towels, fold them in half lengthwise and continue folding until the width of each towel is roughly six inches. Then, roll the two bath towels together in the same way as the hand towels and washcloths. By now, you should have the three layers of your "cake."

The number of folds you make will depend on the size and thickness of your towels. Thick, high-quality towels are best for this project. You can also use different colours and sizes of towels to create a unique design.

Secure with safety pins

To secure the towels for your wedding cake centerpiece with safety pins, you will need six large safety pins, measuring about 2" long. You can match the colour of the pins to your towels.

First, fold and roll the towels. For the hand towels, fold each one in half lengthwise twice, then start at one end and roll the towels up together. Secure the ends of the towels to themselves with two large safety pins, one at the top and one at the bottom of each layer. Repeat this process with the washcloths and set them aside. For the bath towels, fold each one in half lengthwise and repeat the folding until the width of the towel is roughly six inches wide. Then, roll the two bath towels together in the same manner as the hand towels and washcloths. You should now have the three layers of the "cake".

Next, stack the layers and add ribbons. Cut three lengths of ribbon—60", 40", and 30"—and tie them around each layer of the cake, respectively. Trim the ends of the ribbons on an angle with sharp scissors. Finally, stack the cake layers, starting with the largest layer at the bottom and centering the bows at the front.

You can also add a wooden dowel through the stacked layers to help stabilise the cake for transport, especially if it has lots of decorations or embellishments.

Stack the layers

Now that you have your three layers of towels, it's time to stack them on top of each other to create your cake. Before you start stacking, lay your cake board down first. Place the largest layer at the bottom, followed by the middle layer, and finally, the top layer. Make sure to centre the bows at the front of each layer as you stack them.

If you're planning on transporting your cake, you might want to consider adding a wooden dowel through the centre of the stacked layers to hold them together and add stability. This is especially useful if you have a heavily decorated cake with lots of draped details or embellishments.

Once your layers are stacked, you can start adding your decorative details. Cut the stems of your large flowers or flower groupings to about six inches long and gently push them into the top centre of the cake. Sprinkle silk rose petals around the cake, placing a few on the layers, too.

Feel free to get creative with your decorations! You can make your cake tall and skinny or stout, and choose any colour or theme you like. If you're making a two-layer cake, you can skip the washcloth layer on top and hide them in the second layer instead.

Add ribbons

Once you have rolled and secured your towels, it's time to add the ribbons. Cut your ribbon into 60", 40" and 30" lengths. You will need three lengths of ribbon for each layer of your cake. Tie the longest piece of ribbon around the bath towels in a bow and trim the ends at an angle with sharp scissors. Dull scissors will fray the ribbon, so be sure to use a sharp pair. Repeat this process for the other two layers, using the remaining lengths of ribbon. When you are happy with the bows, stack the layers of your cake, starting with the largest layer at the bottom and centering the bows at the front.

If you are transporting your cake, you may want to add a wooden dowel to hold the layers together. This is particularly useful if you have a heavily decorated cake with lots of draped details or other embellishments.

Finish with decorations

Once you've assembled your towel cake, it's time to finish with decorations. There are endless ways to decorate your towel cake, and you can make them tall and skinny or stout, and in any colour or theme you like.

For a simple but elegant look, use ribbon to wrap around each layer of the cake. You can use a single colour, or layer different colours and widths of ribbon for a more complex design. Tie a bow at the front of each layer, trimming the ends of the ribbon at an angle with sharp scissors. You can also add a wooden dowel to hold the layers together, which can be decorated with a ribbon.

Flowers are a popular choice for towel cakes. You can use silk flowers, either in a single colour or a mix of shades, and place them on top of the cake or push them into the layers. If you're using fresh flowers, you can place them in water tubes and secure them to the cake with ribbon. You could also add silk rose petals or other flower petals around the base of the cake and on the layers.

For a more whimsical touch, consider adding a cake topper. This could be a simple decoration, such as a large silk flower or a group of small flowers, or something more personalised, like the couple's initials or a motif that reflects their interests.

Other decorations could include:

• Pearl sprays
• Gold or silver ribbon
• Rhinestones or other jewels
• Butterflies
• Feathers
• Baby's breath
• Seed pearls
• Cake stand
• Cake knife

Frequently asked questions