Wedding Cake Flowers: A Guide To Floral Cake Decor

Flowers are a classic and elegant way to decorate a wedding cake. Whether you're going for a minimalist, asymmetrical, or cascading floral design, there are a few things to keep in mind when adding flowers to your wedding cake. Firstly, it's important to choose edible flowers that have not been exposed to pesticides or other harmful chemicals and are non-toxic. Examples include carnations, roses, sunflowers, and hibiscus. You can also use herbs like thyme and rosemary as greenery. Secondly, prepare the flowers by cutting the stems and covering them with floral tape or cellophane to prevent any leakage into the cake. Finally, when adding the flowers to the cake, use toothpicks, flower picks, or straws to avoid poking the stems directly into the cake, which can be unsanitary and affect the stability of the cake. Add the flowers to the cake as close to the event as possible to ensure they look their best.

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

When choosing flowers for a wedding cake, it is important to select non-toxic varieties. While the flowers are intended purely as decoration and not to be eaten, they will be very close to the cake. Carnations, mums, roses, and spray roses are all excellent choices as they are readily available, non-toxic, and safe.

In the summer, there are more locally available edible flowers, such as pansies, lilacs, and lavender. However, it is important to ensure that any edible flowers have been specifically grown for consumption and are free from pesticides or harmful chemicals.

It is also crucial to consider the flavour profile of the flowers and how they will complement the cake's taste. For example, the boldness of flower arrangements and colours can be used to bring out the wedding couple's personality or the emotions they wish to invoke in their guests.

When in doubt, it is always best to consult with a professional florist or baker to ensure the safety and aesthetics of the final product.

Greenery: Use herbs like thyme, rosemary and bay leaves as food-safe greenery

Adding flowers to a wedding cake is a beautiful and elegant way to decorate it. However, it is important to ensure that the flowers and foliage you choose are safe for this purpose.

Herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves are excellent choices for food-safe greenery on a wedding cake. They not only add a natural look to the cake's appearance but are also fully edible. Thyme has a delicate feel, while rosemary has a stiffer texture and a pretty colour. Bay leaves resemble rose leaves and can be placed alongside flowers for a harmonious look.

When using herbs as greenery, you can follow these steps:

• Cut the herb stems to the desired length, typically around 2-3 inches.
• Wrap the stems in floral tape to create a barrier between the herbs and the cake, preventing any leakage of fluid that may affect the taste.
• Poke holes in the cake with a cocktail stick or a toothpick if you plan to insert the stems directly into the cake. The cocktail stick method is recommended if you want to insert the stems into the cake instead of just laying them on top.
• If using toothpicks, cut the stems off the herbs at the base of the leaves and insert a toothpick into each stem. Then, carefully stick the toothpick into the cake, ensuring that the base of the herb does not touch the cake.
• Arrange the herbs on the cake to create a natural and elegant look.

Remember to choose fresh and high-quality herbs, preferably those that are organic or grown without the use of harmful pesticides. This ensures that your decorations are safe and free from potentially harmful chemicals.

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

To secure flowers on top of a wedding cake without damaging it, you can use the toothpick method. This is a good way to ensure that no part of the flower touches the cake. It also leaves a much smaller hole in the cake compared to other methods.

First, cut the flower stem off right at the base of the bloom. Then, insert a toothpick into the space where the stem was. Finally, carefully stick the toothpick into the cake, ensuring that the base of the flower does not touch the cake. The flower will now be securely in place on top of the cake.

This method can be used for a variety of floral designs, including minimalist, asymmetrical, and lush garden-style arrangements. It is also suitable for different types of flowers, such as roses, spray roses, and muscari.

Timing: Add flowers to the cake just before the event to ensure they look fresh

To ensure that the flowers on your wedding cake look fresh, it is best to add them just before the event. Many flowers will last for 4-6 hours without a water source, but some flowers, like orchids, hydrangeas, and gardenias, require a water source to look their best. If you are using flowers that need water, use water tubes to keep the stems hydrated. For other flowers, use plastic straws cut into 2-3" sections to hold the stems. This will keep the cut stems separate from the cake, so you don't have to worry about the flowers being organic or edible, and it will also protect the flavour of the cake.

If you are using a florist to add the flowers to your cake, it is a good idea to ask them to add the flowers at the venue, so they don't risk damaging the cake during transport. You should also ask your florist to use flowers that are optimally hydrated, and to wrap the stems in floral tape to prevent flower secretions from leaking into the cake.

If you are adding the flowers yourself, you can use a variety of methods to attach them to the cake. You can use toothpicks, flower picks, or bent straws to stick the flowers to the cake without having to insert the stems. You can also use a blob of frosting to stick the flowers to the cake, which can be removed before serving. If you are using a blob of frosting, you can ask your florist to create a small bouquet or corsage that can be stuck to the frosting.

It is important to note that not all flowers are safe to use on cakes. Some flowers, like mistletoe, poinsettia, holly, and sweet pea, are toxic. Other flowers, like hydrangeas and baby's breath, are popular for cakes but contain toxic chemicals. If you are using flowers that are safe to eat, make sure they have not been exposed to pesticides or harmful chemicals.

Flower care: Hydrate flowers overnight and wrap stems in floral tape to prevent leakage

Flowers are a beautiful addition to a wedding cake, but they need to be prepared carefully to ensure they don't wilt and that no flower secretion leaks into the cake.

Firstly, choose flowers that are safe to be placed near food. While the flowers are not intended to be eaten, it's important to select non-toxic varieties. Good options include carnations, mums, roses, and spray roses, as well as sunflowers, hibiscus, nasturtiums, rosemary, thyme, chamomile, and violets, and many more. Avoid toxic flowers such as mistletoe, poinsettia, holly, sweet pea, lily of the valley, daffodils, azaleas, and calla lilies.

Once you've selected your flowers, let them hydrate overnight in clean water. This will ensure they are well-hydrated and less likely to wilt. After they have been fully hydrated, cut the stems to a length of approximately 2-3 inches. Then, wrap each individual stem with floral tape. Floral tape is a special type of tape that sticks to itself and usually comes in different shades of green. Tightly wrapping the stem with floral tape and twisting the end will prevent any fluid leakage.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your flowers are well-hydrated and securely wrapped before placing them on your wedding cake.

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