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Ugh. Fresh Flowers on a cake?

post #1 of 15
2/7/13 at 7:57pm
Thread Starter 

I am doing a wedding cake for one of hubby's co-workers.  It is a totally simple (plain) fondant cake.  She wants flowers but doesn't want sugar flowers - she wants real flowers.  I've sent her links regarding what flowers you can/cannot have on a cake as well as how flowers should be handled prior to being put on a cake.  This is the email I rcvd. from her today:

 

Can you do me a favor and email me exactly how you want the flowers for the cake so I can send it to the florist.  We keep going back and forth....so I'd rather you explain it in great detail how you want them so that she knows and has them that way ready for you the day of the wedding.
 
The thing is, I don't have a clue how to have the flowers prepped!  Help!  
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post #2 of 15
2/7/13 at 8:16pm

It would be the same if she wanted silk flowers or real.

 

Get the bride to find a picture of the exact arrangement she wants.  She needs to email that to her florist--who will of course match the cake flowers to all the others being used for her wedding.

 

The florist will know how to wire the clusters together.  The bottom end will have florists tape all over the outside of it.  You then need only to have a way to protect the cake from this taped stem--and you only have to say how long you want the stem to be sticking out past the flowers.

 

You can tell the bride to tell her florist to make the stem 6 inches because this can be cut shorter onsite. 

 

In addition to other tools, take along a sturdy pair of wire cutters. 

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post #3 of 15
2/7/13 at 8:18pm

I have been a Manager/floral designer for 30 plus years now. If she is going to go through an experienced florist they will know how to prep the flowers for on the cake. If I were the florist, I would be telling her I would be the one putting the flowers on the cake. I would get the bakers phone number and find out what time they would be delivering so I could make sure I would have enough time to set the flowers for wedding and do the cake. Out of all the weddings I have done, I can not remember any that I did not put the flowers on the cake myself.

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post #4 of 15
2/7/13 at 10:01pm
Thread Starter 

This is the cake/flowers she is looking for.  Since this was my first time putting real flowers on a cake I asked her to find out how her florist would be prepping the flowers so I could prepare for what was coming my way.  I also wanted to put the flowers on as I wasn't comfortable leaving a prefect cake to only have a florist (possibly) mess with it... This is the cake she wants:

 

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post #5 of 15
2/7/13 at 11:26pm

I usually tell my brides to have the flowers (provided by the florist) at the venue in the arrangements they want them.  I bring with me wire cutters, flower picks, extra fondant and scissors.  I put the flower bunches in the flower pics and press into the cake in the spots I want them.  its fairly simple most of the time.  Sometimes I use straws instead of the picks if I am using individual flowers or small bunches.  hth! Good luck!

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post #6 of 15
2/7/13 at 11:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kvand View Post

I usually tell my brides to have the flowers (provided by the florist) at the venue in the arrangements they want them.  I bring with me wire cutters, flower picks, extra fondant and scissors.  I put the flower bunches in the flower pics and press into the cake in the spots I want them.  its fairly simple most of the time.  Sometimes I use straws instead of the picks if I am using individual flowers or small bunches.  hth! Good luck!

oh I should have mentioned the little bit of fondant is to use to stick in the flower pics to hold the flowers are not stable or to plug the end of the straw so nothing leaks into the cake

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post #7 of 15
2/8/13 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 

What I initially said was that I wanted to know how the flowers would be prepped and I would plan accordingly.  It sounds the florist wants me to tell them how to prep them??  wth??

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post #8 of 15
2/8/13 at 3:28pm

For one thing, non-toxic flowers with no pesticides or other chemicals.

I hope I die before "your" is the official spelling of the contraction of "you are."

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I hope I die before "your" is the official spelling of the contraction of "you are."

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post #9 of 15
2/8/13 at 4:05pm

Maybe she didn't show the photo to the florist, so she doesn't know whether the bride wants a cascade of flowers down the front, or just a small bunch like the picture...

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post #10 of 15
2/25/13 at 9:01pm
Thread Starter 

Maybe I'm just freaking out because it is a wedding cake but this was the latest email I received and it has me overly nervous.  I'm feeling like I may be getting in over my head with regards to placing the fresh flowers on the cake - I have zero experience doing this!  When the plan was for me to get a prearranged bunch of flowers that I would simply place on the cake using a flower pick I felt good...now?  Not so much. I don't want me to botch her wedding cake because I screw up the flowers... Will sticking flowers wrapped in tape be OK/safe to eat?  Will sticking that many flowers into a single tier compromise the integrity of the cake?  Should I encourage her to hire a professional cake artist? Help!:

 

I just wanted to follow up with you and let you know that I heard back from my florist.  She will not be able to bundle the flowers for the cake like a bouquet however they will all be wrapped with florist tape. She also explained to me that they will need to be poked through the cake in order for them to hold, being wrapped will provide protection and nothing will seep into the cake.
 
 
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post #11 of 15
2/26/13 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 

Anyone have experience with this?  (see my last post...and - THANK YOU!) 

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post #12 of 15
2/26/13 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 

Oh!  And ranunculus - are they toxic??  That is one of the flowers she is using.

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post #13 of 15
2/27/13 at 4:54am

There are edible flowers. You can sugar frost them. Have a look at this site.

 

http://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers/EdibleFlowersMain.htm

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post #14 of 15
2/27/13 at 6:45am
this post may help you out a lot. the best suggestion ive found here is finding a wide straw for your wires and using chocolate or royal icing to hold them in place.
its also pointed out you shouldnt use floral tape directly because latex is a very common allergy and you dont want to take that chance. heres a link:
http://cakecentral.com/t/632290/for-those-who-stick-wires-in-cakes
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post #15 of 15
2/27/13 at 11:45am

I put real flowers on wedding cakes all the time. The florist will know what to do. I call the florist 4 days before the wedding to confirm their delivery time of the flowers to the venue. Since I put the flowers on the cake I don't want to deliver the cake before the flowers will be there.

 

i insert a straw into the cake where the flower is going. Then I put the stem (trimmed to 2"-3" long) into the straw. Never had a problem.

 

i do request the use of non toxic flowers but no florist uses flowers that hasn't been sprayed with pesticides at some point. The flowers would be half eaten by bugs and extremely expensive to purchase. I think if you require this you won't find a florist able to provide the flowers.

"who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?"
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"who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?"
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