Wedding Cake Tip #3 - Watch Out for Fresh Blooms

Flowers are magnificent to view and beautiful to smell. They have an infinite number of uses and are almost always used in wedding celebrations. Whether the couple orders large displays for the altar and church, simple bouquets for the female participants, or centerpieces for the reception dining tables, flowers play a major role in the wedding theme. Brides go to great lengths to order flowers whose colors match her wedding day ensemble. And, of course, she wants her wedding cake to look just as fabulous matching the theme of the reception.

Indeed, exotic flowers and fresh blooms have been used by restaurants to create lovely looking and unique tasting salads. Herbs, seeds and other edible plants are used as garnishes, bases for savory creations, and simply to add zing to a special dish. And since most wedding cake bakers are also master culinary artists, they invariably find ways to incorporate fresh blooms in the wedding cake's appearance or design.

There are several ways in which flowers can be used with the wedding cake but both the bride and the baker must pay particular attention to fresh blooms. Whether the blooms or petals are placed directly on the cake as part of the design, or sprinkled around the cake on the table for visual effect, precautions must be taken.

Here is our FIVE point checklist when using fresh blooms with wedding cakes.

1. The most important point to watch out for when implementing fresh blooms into the wedding cake and overall theme is whether or not the blooms are edible. Probably the safest way to avoid any unforeseen tragedies, such as accidental poisoning is to avoid the use use of blooms that cannot be eaten!
2. Another point to consider, especially when placing petals around the cake on the table is whether or not the flowers stain. The venue may not appreciate their linens being permanently soiled. In fact, you may lose part of your deposit if the tablecloths are ruined. Likewise, if you rent linens to be used at a self-serve hall or home reception, the rental company is not going to let you return damaged goods. In this instance, when using "spread-around" fresh blooms, you might be better to supply your own dessert table tablecloth that you can discard after the reception.
3. When using petals to decorate the table around the wedding cake, you need to watch out for petals that fall on the floor. If too many petals are strewn about, the activity from the guests will cause the petals to float to the floor. This poses two problems. First, petals are slippery which causes a hazard when walking. Second, the petals can stain the floor. If using blooms or petals, be careful how many are distributed. A smaller amount is just as spectacular and actually looks better than heaps or mounds.
4. Before agreeing to a particular type of cake design, couples should obtain a copy of the venue's policies. You may think that the wedding cake would not be an issue, and that you have free reign over your own wedding, but in reality, the venue may not permit petals or fresh blooms of any kind. Or, they might not allow you to buy your blooms wherever you want! They may be afraid of damage, as well as the liability with their insurance company.
5. Allergies are another problem. Having the fresh blooms touch the same cake that people will eat can pose issues for many guests.