Are you looking for creative ideas to decorate your wedding cake? Do you want it to match the theme you’ve chosen for your ceremony? Would you like to easily make some of this decor yourself?
You’re in the right place.
As a wedding florist, I often collaborate with other event professionals. This means I frequently work with the catering team to create the floral decorations for the cake or dessert table.
Today, I’m sharing some of my expertise along with pro tips I’ve gathered from the bakers I’ve worked with, so you can plan an amazing decoration for your wedding cake 🍰.
The decoration of a cake can be done by a professional if it is intricate, or you can do it yourself or enlist the help of a friend or family member. To get inspired, look at your bridal bouquet, the centerpieces created for the meal, or, of course, the theme of your ceremony. Be careful not to overcrowd the cake; try to use no more than two types of decorations (like flowers, ribbons, beads, or figurines). If using fresh flowers that are not edible, be sure to wrap the stems in plastic wrap before carefully placing them on the cake. Lastly, keep timing in mind, as the floral decorations should be added as close to serving time as possible!
Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:
- Ideas for decorating your cake
- Unique ideas to spice up traditional tiered cakes
- The latest decor trends for wedding cakes
- How to adorn your cake with flowers for a bohemian yet romantic buffet
How to Decorate a Wedding Cake? Some DIY Ideas!
The centerpiece of your dessert table, the wedding cake is not something to overlook! In this first part, I’ll share some decor tips I’ve learned from professional bakers and caterers during my various collaborations with them on wedding projects.
Draw Inspiration from Your Theme
Since it comes at the end of your wedding meal, your cake is somewhat the highlight of the event. In this sense, it should align with the decoration theme you’ve chosen for your ceremony. Therefore, on your cake, you can find:
- The colors of your wedding
- The same flowers as your bridal bouquet or hairstyle
- Some reminders of your wedding dress (pearls, ribbons)
- Wedding cake toppers that reflect your chosen wedding theme (rustic, bohemian, romantic-chic, etc.)
However, I want to emphasize that the decoration of your cake should remain simple and elegant. Remember: sometimes less is more! To avoid any tackiness, do not mix more than two elements for decoration. For example, if you choose to add pearl cake decorations and flowers, there’s no need to include additional items that will overwhelm the overall look.
Mix Geometric Patterns with Romantic Details
To create a decor that is both modern and festive, you can opt to design gold geometric patterns (diamonds, 3D geometric shapes, sleek lines) and pair them with a few pastel-colored flowers. This will give you a trendy creation that will amaze all your guests!
Bet on Color …
If your cake has a solid white or monochrome frosting, you can elevate its appearance by dressing it up with vibrant colored flowers, which will beautifully tie in with your overall decor theme.
However, try to avoid using more than three different flowers and colors to maintain a cohesive aesthetic throughout.
👉 This “Rule of Three” applies to all aspects of decorating your ceremony. It is believed that having more than three different patterns, flowers, or colors can disrupt the harmony of your decor. To avoid this pitfall, be sure to establish a color palette for your wedding before making any investments in accessories or scheduling appointments with vendors (caterers, florists, wedding planners, etc.).
… Or Stay Monochrome!
If the shape of your wedding cake is intricate and elegant, you might choose to keep it monochromatic by adding decorative elements in the same color. This will create a very pure effect that echoes the pristine color of your wedding dress, for instance.
📷 If you decide to go with this option, remember to take photos of your cake against a colorful background to make the details stand out!
A Tropical Cake?
Does your wedding decor feature tropical flowers? Why not combine tropical flowers and fruits to create a colorful and appetizing decoration for your cake?
Since tropical plants are often very colorful and vary greatly in both texture and shape, you might choose to create a contrast by decorating only part of your cake. This will highlight the whole design while giving an impression of lightness and elegance.
Multiply Mini Wedding Cakes for a Trendy Buffet
One of the latest trends in wedding cakes is to forgo the traditional tiered cake and instead offer your guests several cakes in a variety of shapes, flavors, and colors.
In this case, feel free to create a three-dimensional display by placing some cakes higher than others on stands. The idea is to break away from the traditional tiered cake design and create a display that has a significant visual impact.
Get Inspired by an Artistic Pattern!
Some cakes are true works of art. If you dream of having such a cake, you can ask the baker to create a design on it for you.
To inspire your choice of patterns, you can check out walls wallpaper samples at a hardware store or online. These catalogs are an endless source of inspiration to find harmonious and unique designs that you can replicate.
👉 Decorating a cake with drawings is a complex task that requires professional experience! Indeed, there is no room for error. If you choose this type of decoration, I recommend that you entrust this task to an experienced pastry chef, whose work you should have seen in photos beforehand.
Bring Your Wedding Cake to Life!
Perfect for echoing the decor of your venue and your bridal bouquet, flowers are ideally suited to create a festive, original, and elegant cake decoration.
What Flowers Should I Choose to Decorate My Wedding Cake?
Before diving into the decoration, it’s important to choose the flowers you’ll be using for it. You have several options to consider.
🔸 Edible Flowers 🌼
Do you want the decoration of your wedding cake to be completely edible? That’s possible!
To do this, you need to get some edible flowers. Choose them to be consistent with the rest of your wedding floral arrangements, both in style and color.
To find edible flowers, I recommend that you order directly from your florist, making sure to specify that they are intended for consumption. There are indeed suppliers of flowers and foliage that specialize in the production of organic and consumable plants. These are guaranteed to be free from chemicals and selected for their quality.
However, since this is a rather specific request, please allow a lead time of at least ten days before your order can be fulfilled. These plants have a limited lifespan: if possible, pick them up on the morning of your wedding and quickly place them on the cake afterward.
🔸 Non-Edible Flowers: Choose Wisely 🌻
If you can’t find edible flowers, you can select non-edible flowers from your florist or pick them directly from your garden, and prepare them to decorate your cake.
⚠️ Some flowers can be very toxic to humans! Before using them for your decoration, even if they are protected, make sure that the varieties of flowers you have chosen are not toxic.
Here are some flowers that you can safely place on a cake:
- Carnation
- Rose
- Lisianthus
- Baby’s Breath
- Waxflower
🛑 On the contrary, avoid at all costs: Lily of the Valley, Peony, Lily, Aconite, Snapdragon, Oleander, Holly, Foxglove, Spurge, Larkspur, Solomon’s Seal, Datura, Calla Lily, Anemone…
The Tutorial: How to Decorate My Tiered Cake with Flowers?
The decoration should be done as late as possible, ideally right before serving.
To start, it’s important to prepare the chosen flowers:
➡️ If they are edible flowers: cut the stems, leaving about one centimeter.
➡️ If they are non-edible flowers: cut the stems, leaving two to three centimeters. Then, wrap the stems in plastic wrap, making sure to cover the cut part of the stem where the sap is leaking.
👉 Whether you’re using edible or non-edible flowers, you can wrap them in plastic wrap by placing a very thin piece of damp cotton against the stem. This will help to hydrate the flowers if it’s very hot, if the cake is decorated with flowers in advance, or if the flowers tend to wilt quickly when out of water.
Next, place them directly on the cake, making sure to hide the stems. Create small, harmonious arrangements in terms of both shapes and colors. If you’re unsure how to arrange the flowers, take inspiration from centerpieces, the bride’s hairstyle, or her bouquet.
If you choose to create multiple clusters of flowers, you can follow these tips to create something visually appealing:
✔️ Create at least 3 small flower arrangements (always use an odd number)
✔️ If you have 3 groups, make one of them noticeably larger than the others. Nearby, place a smaller group. Finally, position a medium-sized group of flowers further away from the other two. This will create a balanced look!
🎀 You can mix flowers with accessories like beads and ribbons…
👉 If you’re feeling uncertain, don’t hesitate to try it out a few weeks before the event. This way, you’ll see how to approach it: take some photos to use as a reference!
You might also consider asking a close friend or family member to take on this task, as they are likely to be more available than you that day, helping you avoid extra stress…
You now have everything you need to create a cake decoration that will impress all your loved ones, whether you do it yourself or have it done by a professional! Looking for beautiful and easy-to-use accessories for the big day? I invite you to visit the shop section of our flower website to explore our stunning 👑 flower crowns 🌺 that are of high quality. These bohemian and ultra-feminine floral adornments can be worn by the bride, the bridesmaids, the flower girls, and even the kids…
