The first thing to consider when makeing wedding towel cakes is what kind of towels to use. The usual "recipe" calls for two bath towels, two hand towels, and two washcloths, all white. But you can adjust towel cakes to include any type or number of towels you want. If you know what color towels the couple would prefer, choose accordingly. Don't skimp on quality. You'll only save a few dollars, and the appearance of your towel wedding cakes will suffer.
Let's say you've decided on the above 2-2-2 recipe for your wedding towel cakes. Here's how to put it all together.
- Fold each bath towel in half lengthwise. Then fold each again the same way, so that you have two long strips. Make sure the edges stay even.
- Roll one of the strips into a snug cylinder shape and secure with safety pins.
- Starting from the end of the first strip, wrap the second strip around it, continuing the cylinder, and secure the ends (turned under) with either safety pins or decorative straight pins. This forms your bottom tier.
- Repeat the steps, first with the hand towels and then with the wash cloths, to make the middle and top tiers.You may wish to adjust the folds (for example, folding in thirds instead of quarters) to make your tiers the desired height and diameter. Play with the proportions until you get it right.
- Stack the finished tiers of your towel cake with the folded sides facing upwards, then safety-pin them together in at least two places each. You can hide these pins later with decorations. For a larger cake, add more towels and wash cloths, and more tiers if necessary.
Decorations for your towel wedding cakes are limited only by your imagination. The tiers of wedding towel cakes would look elegant "belted" with wide ribbon. Or tie smaller bows and pin them here and there. Faux flowers are another possibility. Pearl-topped straight pins inserted around the edges give a finished look, help hold the cake together, and are a gift in themselves. Make sure, though, to warn the recipient of the hazard.
For a fun cake topper, find two trial-sized bottles of body lotion or scrub, preferably with spherical caps. Dress the bottles as a bride and groom, complete with veil and fake-fur hair. Safety-pin the two together, then fasten them on top of the cake with more pins. You could add a puff-type bath scrubber behind the couple for stability and flair.
Your finished towel wedding cakes will have to sit on something, and a pretty bath tray would be perfect. You might want to buy the tray before putting the towel cakes together to make sure of a good fit. You could also set the cake on a matching round bath mat or rug. Surround the cake with scented flower-shaped soaps. Tie a bow around the handle of a fancy pumice scrubber and lay it beside the towel cake as a "server."
For a beach or summer wedding, you could make two-tiered towel wedding cakes from two beach towels. Fold one towel lengthwise in thirds (or quarters for a very wide towel), roll it into a cylinder, and pin. This will be your top tier and the core of your bottom tier. Fold the second towel in thirds, then in half or thirds once more, and wrap it around the first towel to form the outer portion of the bottom tier. You'll need to experiment to get the pinned spots to come where you want them. Instead of adding decorations, tuck beach items down between the layers with just the top halves showing. His-and-hers flip-flop sandals, sunscreen, and a rolled-up beach bag would work well. You could also use this idea with regular towels and tuck in bath items instead.
Though it may turn out a little on the "dry" side, your towel wedding cakes are sure to draw lots of admiring "oohs" and "ahs."
