First, consider your wedding's theme. A rose wedding theme, for example, would call out for rose themed cake decorating flowers. A fall wedding theme would suggest fall blooms, such as asters or mums. Also think about color. If you've chosen blue as a dominant theme color, you may have trouble matching this shade with a natural blossom, however silk or candy flowers may work very well with your design.
Will your cake be large or small? Tiny flowers might be lost on a huge cake. Will the reception be formal or casual? Orchids might make an informal cake seem "overdressed," while daisies could fall short in a formal setting. Will the flowers be the only decoration on the cake? If not, try to choose something that will blend well. An elaborate topper works best with simple cake top flowers.
Make it your business to know which cake decorating flowers contain naturally occurring toxic chemicals, and avoid them. Some popular flowers that should NOT be put on a cake include the following.
- Poinsettias
- Rhododendrons
- Azaleas
- Buttercups
- Daffodils
- Jasmine
- Begonias
- Pansies
- Roses
- Violets
- Poppies
- Snapdragons
- Nasturtiums
When choosing a wedding cake decorating flowers, consider leaves, too. If the flower's greenery is attractive, you may wish to include some. What about delicate flowers that wilt soon after picking? You could find a faux version. Or you could embed a small flower vial (available from florist's shops) in the cake, and add water for a live bouquet. Will your cake be refrigerated before the wedding? Some flowers will close if they're kept too cold.
What if you want to use cake top flowers from your own or a friend's garden? How can you make sure there are no critters lurking deep inside, just waiting to crawl out onto your cake? Instead of washing them under a running tap, submerge the cake wedding flowers for a while in a bowl of cool water. Agitate them gently every now and then. Any stowaways will dislodge and float to the surface. This method is less likely to damage delicate blooms, too.
If you've got your heart set on something exotic and can't find it locally, you can always order it from a company that specializes in shipping flowers. Make sure to let them know it's for a wedding cake, though. Ask specifically whether pesticides or chemical fertilizers have been used.
Simple or showy, brilliantly colored or pastel, cake decorating flowers make great wedding cake top flowers to add to the beauty of your wedding reception. Choose the right flowers and your cake will be unforgettable.