Cake Flowers: Beyond the Flavor

When it comes to weddings, the bride is naturally the star of the show, but these days, it seems like the wedding cake itself has taken on a bigger role. Wedding cakes have far surpassed the traditional white tiered cake with only a simple groom and bride figurine at the top. As couples are putting more thought into planning their weddings and really letting their creative sparks fly, you can find a wide range of showstopping wedding cakes unveiled that are created to match the bride and groom’s personality and taste. To make your wedding cake one to remember consider having it decorated with gorgeous flowers and foliage for cakes to really give your guests something to fawn over.

It’s not just about the flavor of the cake. Your wedding cake will be one of the most photographed items at your wedding, so you want to make sure it’s as stunning as the venue. Foliage for cakes has been an increasingly popular way to decorate wedding cakes and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Whether your cake is frosted with fondant, buttercream, or the new trendy “naked” icing, we can help you pick out the best foliage for cakes to suit your dream wedding.

Choosing the Right Foliage for Cakes

There are many different types of flowers and foliage for cakes that can give you the design and style you’re looking for. Romantic blooms like roses and peonies are popular design options as they give your wedding cake an elegant appeal. If you’re a more adventurous bride, you might want to mix things up by adding unique foliage for cakes like protea or brightly colored orchids to create an exotic design. When deciding on how to decorate your wedding cake with flowers, it’s best to talk to your florist so we can guide you in which flowers and foliage will work. It’s also advisable to know which flowers and foliage for cakes are safe and which can be dangerous--even if you’re not eating the decor.

Many types of flowers and foliage are safe and easy to use for wedding cake decorating. A few of these safe flowers include:

• Roses

• Peonies

• Sunflowers

• Lavender

• Gerber daisies

• Carnations

• Orchids

• Lisianthus

• Freesia

• Scabiosa

• Hypericum

• Seeded eucalyptus

• Thistle

• Dusty miller

We will be able to tell you which flowers we have available from the list, plus many more that are perfectly safe for decorating.

While most foliage for cakes is used for decor only, there are a few flowers that are actually edible and can be a creative twist for your wedding cake.

• Edible flowers include:

• Hibiscus

• Lavender

• Calendula

• Pansies

• Roses

• Violets

A few flowers that you want to avoid because of their toxicity levels include:

• Daffodils

• Calla Lilies

• Holly

• Mistletoe

• Sweet Pea

• Poinsettia

• Lily of the Valley

Whether you’re interested in edible flowers or just want to know the different types of foliage available for cakes, schedule a consultation with us so we can guide you in the right direction to help you choose the best flowers to make your wedding cake shine.

Decorating with Flowers for Cakes

There are many different and beautiful floral styles that can transform your wedding cake. Varying textures and colors can be achieved with orchids, dahlias, and tulips to give your cake a fresh springtime or summer feel. Deep burgundy roses and greens like eucalyptus can turn your white cake into a stunning holiday centerpiece. The possibilities of cake design with flowers are endless.

While designing a cake with florals is fun to do, you’ll want to have your florist take the reins because we can not only lend our creative talent to your cake, but we can also help save you time on your wedding day. To learn how the magic happens, here are a few steps we take when decorating with foliage for cakes:

1. A good florist always tries to decorate with organic flowers and foliage. However, flowers are cut and cleaned to ensure you have the best quality foliage for cakes no matter where they came from. To begin, we gently wash the stems and buds. This helps to wash away any dirt that could still be lingering on the plant.

2. Next the stems are cut about an inch or more in length to make sure the flower remains fresh and the stem doesn’t close off–just like when you get your flowers freshly cut before being arranged in a vase.

3. The stems will then be wrapped and ready to insert into the cake depending on the pattern and design discussed. Some stems will be wrapped with a wire if your wedding cake design calls for a unique positioning of the buds.

4. Cakes must be decorated no longer than 24 hours before serving and kept in a refrigerator to make sure the flowers stay fresh. Most florists will decorate your cake the day of the wedding to make sure the flowers look as beautiful and perfect as the day they were picked.

The best way to highlight these beautiful florals is by starting with a simple and neutral cake base like the naked cake or a pure white buttercream base. The wonderful thing about decorating with foliage for cakes is that these lovely stems are all that is needed to really make your wedding cake stand out.

At Leaf + Petal, our wedding cakes are designed using the highest quality florals and greenery and arranged on your wedding day. From garden roses to dahlias and orchids to protea, we have a plethora of flowers and foliage to ensure you get the wedding cake design you’ve been dreaming of. Contact us today to set up a consultation to discuss how we can make your New Orleans wedding an affair to remember!