It can be so overwhelming not only choosing the type of flowers for your wedding cake but also how they are made. Fresh flowers? Sugar flowers? Wafer paper flowers? Pressed dried flowers?
Let’s break it down.
I’ll start with fresh flowers because I have some strong opinions about this.
Fresh Flowers
Before discussing fresh flowers, please note this is not one of my cakes. I'm using it as an exaggerated example of fresh flowers being used on cakes. I am very much reluctant to place fresh flowers on my wedding cakes. When I use the word “fresh” I am talking about real flowers, typically from a florist. The reason why is that there are so many real flowers that are not food safe and even worse, can be toxic. Did you know that baby's breath is toxic? It is one of the most common filler flowers in arrangements, especially paired with roses. You especially do not want to use fresh flowers on a naked cake as pictured here. The risk for contamination is high. Flowers coming from most florists have been treated with pesticides although there are florists who either grow their own organic flowers, or order flowers from an organic flower farm. Flower food is often given to flowers at florists to help them last longer. I recently read about the ingredients in flower food and many products out there contains bleach. If you are going to use fresh flowers on your cakes, be sure to research the types of flowers and where they were grown. Always opt for organic flowers if you are going with real ones. Fresh flowers can be used on your wedding cakes, and there are steps that I can take to be sure the flowers and stems do not touch the cake. As I am not at ease placing fresh flowers on cakes, you will need to sign a release should you decide this is the way you wish to go.
Pressed Dried Flowers
With pressed flowers, these are real flowers that have been dried. You have to be careful when choosing your pressed flowers also. Most commonly, pressed flowers are processed for scrapbooking and other non-edible designs. They do look lovely on cakes, however you need to choose the right ones. The cake in the photo is one of mine that I used pressed flowers on that are edible and organically grown.
There are specific processes that a flower grower must go through for food safe flower pressing. First and foremost, seek out an organic flower grower who has experience pressing flowers for cakes. If a client requests dried pressed flowers on their cakes, I do have a flower grower who specifically grows flowers on her organic flower farm for use in baked products. She is my preferred vendor for pressed flowers for cakes.
Sugar Flowers
This is my favorite topic regarding flowers for wedding cakes. 😉 What are sugar flowers? They are made out of gumpaste, which is an edible medium similar to fondant, but dries harder. They are most often built in layers on a stem made out of floral wire and floral tape. I specialize in sugar flowers, making them and teaching how to make them. I can make a sugar flower inspired by any real-life fresh flower, in any color, and making them look completely realistic looking to their fresh counterpart. There are many benefits of sugar flowers as opposed to placing fresh flowers on your cakes. Let’s talk about these benefits.
1) They won’t contaminate your cake. They are a great food safe alternative to fresh flowers. You won’t need to worry about chemical residue or bacteria being transferred onto your cake and possibly making someone sick.
2) Customization is endless. They can be sized appropriately for your cake so they are not too large or cumbersome. They can be colored to match exactly to your wedding colors. Fantasy flowers can be made in metallic colors. The flowers can be made to look unbelievably realistic.
3) You won’t see wilting or brown edges on the petals as the night goes on.
4) Greenery can also be made with your sugar flowers. Greenery gives life to your flowers and can be made in shades of green from sage all the way to dark forest green. The types of greenery are endless!
5) They really step up the wow factor on a cake. Guests will stare in awe, shocked that the flowers are not real.
6) You can preserve sugar flowers and use them as a keepsake from your wedding. I’ve seen them preserved in a shadow box, a bell jar with a base, or you can store them away.
Now Let’s Talk About Wafer Paper Flowers
Wafer paper flowers are my second-best types of flowers to use on cakes. What is wafer paper? It is an edible paper made out of potato starch. It starts out stiff and brittle like thin cardstock, however when you add a small amount of moisture to the paper it becomes flexible. Flexible enough to cut out petals and shape them. The sunflowers in the photo are beautiful, light and airy. I have made sunflowers as a sugar flower and also in wafer paper. Both designs have their place. The wafer paper ones pictured here were perfect for the vintage design that I had in mind. Like sugar flowers, most are built on a stem made out of floral wire and floral tape. They are more flexible and less fragile than sugar flowers which gives them an appeal. All the benefits listed above for sugar flowers also pertains to wafer paper flowers.
When would you use sugar flowers and when would you use wafer paper flowers? It really is a matter of preference. Personally, to me, wafer paper flowers have more of a light and airy feel to them.
I would use wafer paper flowers in vintage or romantic designs. I love the look of this wafer paper David Austin rose that I made for this classic, romantic wedding cake.
Sugar flowers can be made to look to have more realism to them. They tend to take color more vibrantly. If you are looking for a flower to look very close to the real thing in nature, I feel sugar flowers have more of that appeal. Here is an example of a red rose bouquet that I made as a sugar flower. Realistic looking, huh?
I hope this blog has given you some great insights to choosing the right flowers for your wedding cake.
If you are seeking a wedding cake baker for either yourself or someone you know, get to know my wedding cake process here. As a wedding cake maker, I look at wedding cakes not only as a cake to bake, it’s an experience with many perks along the way.
Have a great day!
Patty