How Can Flowers Be Used to Decorate a Wedding Cake?

Flowers can add color, personalization, and a touch of elegance to even the plainest wedding cake -- and at a fraction of the cost of sugar-paste flowers or other decorations. If you choose to decorate your cake with flowers, think about a color scheme; it makes sense to stay within the realm of your wedding colors, but you can include multiple shades in the same color family. Next, decide which type of flower you'd like on your cake. Repeating the flowers in your bridal bouquet is fine, but so is choosing other flowers you may love and were unable to include in your bouquet.

Another option is to use edible, crystallized flowers. These sweet, nonperishable blooms are actual blossoms that have been treated to make them stiff (like sugar flowers) and have a fine dusting of sparkle. Not only are crystallized flowers exquisite, but they also won’t wilt, turn brown, or need to be kept in water beforehand. Once you’ve narrowed down your flower choices, consider the decor design you want for your wedding cake. Do you want blossoms on every tier, edging the bottom layer, or simply topping the cake? Do you want whole flowers, flower petals, or both? When selecting your wedding cake, keep in mind what you’ve envisioned so you can choose the appropriate cake style. For an elaborate floral arrangement, icing decorations should be kept to a minimum; for a simple cake topper, additional patterns and adornments are welcome. For a firm foundation, fondant icing works well since it can’t be smudged; but buttercream will also work if a professional applies the flowers. Keep in mind that all fresh flowers used on a cake must be free of any harmful treatments, so make sure you tell your florist what the flowers will be used for. Finally, consider ordering extra flowers to use on your cake table as decoration.