Using fresh petals on a wedding cake, would it work?

[Ratfinkle]

I have offered to make SILs wedding cake, having made my sisters a few years ago. I am an amateur but feel fairly confident about the various techniques needed to make something half decent.

SIL would like a plain three tiered cake with fresh petals scattered over it on the day. I'm happy to make whatever she likes but am concerned that the fresh petals are going to end up looking a bit rubbish!

My worries are

1. Will they fall in the right place and won't they blow/fall off during the day. Isn't it much easier to control flower paste in advance than hope for the best with the petals.
2. Will they wilt by the time the cake is cut?
3. Will the cake lack drama/structure because the petals are so flat? She wants something simple and understated which is great, but I am worried it will look like a cake with petals dumped on it.
4. I have been googling /pintesting for inspiration but am yet to find an example of a cake with fresh petals that matches what she wants, which makes me think there is a reason!

What a nice thing to do for your SIL! I had fresh flowers on my wedding cake - the florist put them on in the morning as the room was being set up. They were small clusters of flowers, with short stems pushed into the top of the icing, then lots of petals scattered over and around. It was lovely! I agree that if it's a tiered cake you'll want a bit of height and that just petals might not have enough impact. Can you have a practice and show her what you mean?

Thanks fizzy a practice is a good idea! Your wedding cake sounds lovely.

Flowers on the top would make a good centre piece but I think she just wants the petals...

Could you ice flowers onto it and use something like these edible petals?

Could you make some paste petals and see what she thinks of those, maybe?

You can crystalize rose petals, and possibly other types of petal as well.

I had a 3-tier cake with a few roses shoved in the top as a sort of focus, then lots of red rose petals. They survived 8 hours until the cake was cut. I think some flowers would be easier to make look good rather than only petals.

Ooh I didn't know you can crystallize rose petals, will look into that! I think she wants a very au natural look, so wants to avoid paste petals...

We've had an email chat and I think she may be thinking a few flowers on top would work, and the petals scattered round. I would feel more confident with that rather than just the petals, I know fresh flowers look lovely.

Thanks for the advice all!

If you are using fresh flowers you need to be aware that they can be sprayed with insecticides and other chemicals which may be toxic. For this reason the British Sugarcraft Guild advise against using fresh flowers on cakes that are to be eaten.

Well made sugar flowers/petals really are impossible to tell from the real thing unless you're very, very close. Perhaps you could consider a course?

I had fresh rose petals on my (home-made) wedding cake, supplied by Country Roses. Looked great - got them 24 hours in advance and just heaped them up when the cake was assembled at the venue.

I wouldn't do it if the cake was going to be displayed outdoors (the wind would be a problem), but indoors is fine.

PM me if you want a picture for inspiration.

Try eatmyflowers.co.uk

I had crystalised violets on my wedding cake, that we had picked together.

I second midori. I am involved in the cake industry and it's not advised.

my crystalised violets were easily identifiable from the real thing - they tasted wonderful!