Fresh Flowers On A Wedding Cake...yay Or Nay?

Decorating By Cinnabear14 Updated 8 Sep 2015 , 4:57pm by Cinnabear14

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Cinnabear14 Posted 7 Sep 2015 , 8:32pm
post #1 of 22

I am doing a simple rustic wedding cake in 6 weeks and it looks like she wants fresh peonies on the top of the cake. I read somewhere you have to be careful with fresh flowers. Admittedly I am not very skilled at  making fondant flowers...is there a way I can give her what she wants without compromising her guests health???

21 replies
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Narie Posted 7 Sep 2015 , 9:08pm
post #2 of 22

Fresh peonies in October???  Peonies bloom in May.

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-K8memphis Posted 7 Sep 2015 , 9:15pm
post #3 of 22

you could keep the flowers in a bowl/container/plate that will protect the surface of the cake -- florists have all kinds of little goodies that will do this for you and still all be pretty -- if you are in the states you can check around the big hobby stores too

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CatPoet Posted 7 Sep 2015 , 9:18pm
post #4 of 22

You can now a days  get peonies in the flower shop, all year round, they are  just way more expensive off season.  I know some one that wanted off season peonies  for her wedding, she changed her mind when she got to know it would  20 dollar per flower.

The problem with flowers on a cake is, you have to find a safe, none sprayed source  and  both flower and sap need to be edible just to be say and  the pollen should be removed.

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costumeczar Posted 7 Sep 2015 , 11:26pm
post #5 of 22

I say no to fresh flowers. I share an office with a florist who's told me all kinds of horror stories about how flowers are grown in countries that don't use the same regulations about fertilizers and pesticides. Let your mind go to the most disgusting source of "fertilizer" you can, and that's what they're allowed to use in a lot of countries. He tells his brides to NOT use fresh flowers on cakes.

Even if you were going to use organic flowers, which are pretty much impossible to come by, would you want to drink the water that the stems have been in? If not, don't put them on a cake.

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Norcalhiker Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 12:01am
post #6 of 22

I agree with costumeczar about no fresh flowers. Pesticides are a real issue.  Moreover, nearly all the popular wedding flowers are toxic.  Peonies are toxic from root to blossom--to humans and pets alike.  

People can ask for the moon, but it's up to the professional baker to know her/his craft to know what is safe, and what it not.  There are so many incredible sugar artists who sell beautiful, safe edible sugar flowers.  

if the bride is old enough to marry, then she's old enough to understand that safety comes first. And I doubt she wants a bad case of diarrhea on her wedding night.

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Cinnabear14 Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 12:14am
post #7 of 22

That's  what I thought too. Flowers should be in vases, not on cakes. I'll have to see if we could possibly use plastic  (shivers) flowers, if I can't get edible sugar flowers. Unless I take the next 4 weeks to practice making them. It's  my good friend's daughter that's getting married, so I'm sure she will understand. If anyone has a favorite sugar artist, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks all, you rock!!

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Singerssoul Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 12:19am
post #8 of 22

I offer fresh flowers, but I order from a place that offers only edible flowers and herbs. I have told my brides that anything outside of those, I will not put on a cake and I would not recommend they do so either. 

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Cinnabear14 Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 12:24am
post #9 of 22

I  will now check on edible flowers. Thanks so much!

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costumeczar Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 12:38am
post #10 of 22

I sell peonies in my online shops, but they're really not that difficult to make. They have a lot of petals, but you can use my super duper patented (not really) method of wiring a lot of petals fast and have  peony petals done in about half an hour. 


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Cinnabear14 Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 12:42am
post #11 of 22

You have no idea how helpful this is!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

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costumeczar Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 12:44am
post #12 of 22

You're welcome, don't be afraid, they're really not that difficult!

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Cinnabear14 Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 1:16am
post #13 of 22

They are going on top of buttercream, so I might put them on a clear plastic base so they don't melt ;)

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CatPoet Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 9:23am
post #14 of 22

Cinnabear14 

Ann Readon has how to make  chocolate flowers on her blog and they do look like old fashion peonies. Maybe that  could be something?   How to cook that is her site and it easy. 

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Shockolata Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 11:28am
post #15 of 22

@costumeczar  was the first website yours? I had lots of fun reading the responses to scammers. Love the other articles, too.

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costumeczar Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 11:30am
post #16 of 22

Yes, that's mine...I think that the scammers have put me on some kind of list, they won't answer me anymore. worried.png I need to make up another fake email to respond to them.

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Cinnabear14 Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 3:55pm
post #17 of 22

I see you also have a site for Twig molds? This cake I'm making has long twigs up and down...do you think this is something I should also invest in? Clearly I can't just pick outdoor twigs to press up against this cake, lol. It's very simple and rustic, so the twigs would add to the charm? 

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Cinnabear14 Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 3:59pm
post #18 of 22

Or could I just make them out of chocolate? They are pretty thin, so they might be too fragile?

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Cinnabear14 Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 4:04pm
post #19 of 22

UGH! I was all set to make peonies, but my bride said she made a mistake, she wants Hydrangeas!!! @costumeczar , can I make these using your peony method?????


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costumeczar Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 4:50pm
post #20 of 22

Not really... Here's the wafer paper version https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input?qtc_tLabels1=9405510899236529263099

I'm sending you a message too, watch for that because I have more info I can't post on here due to it being a business-y type of thing.

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costumeczar Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 4:55pm
post #21 of 22

I sent a message, but it said "message sent" then an error message, so if you don't get it let me know.

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Cinnabear14 Posted 8 Sep 2015 , 4:57pm
post #22 of 22

Got it thanks! Ordering now :)

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