Let’s talk Cake Florals
Who’s bringing the stems to the table?
Designing a floral cake starts with asking the right questions.
Are you in love with heavy rose cascades, or do you have a vision of a pressed flower cake? Maybe you’re planning on turning your venue into a whole forest inside your industrial loft? Or are you skipping the flower bouquets and bar arrangements but still want to see blooms on your cake? There’s no wrong answer- but these are questions you should ask yourself early in the planning stages when booking your cake and your florist.
Tying your cake florals in with the rest of your décor is a classic method of creating a cohesive look between some of the major elements in your reception space. But this leads us to the most important question:
Who is providing the stems for the cake?
Bouquet by Songbird Floristry
Photo by Freckle & Flirt
If you’ve already hired a florist for your event, requesting extra stems for your cake is a simple add on. But it’s important to be specific and to send them reference images that showcase the style of arrangement, and to let them know how much cake you’re ordering.
If you just request extra stems- that’s exactly what you’ll get, extra stems. Some florists have more discretion here than others- I’ve walked into venues and found a bucket of blooms waiting for the cake, and at other times been handed a dixie cup. Give your florist the information they need to provide you with the correct amount of blooms for your vision.
Pros to going this route-
You’ll save money ordering stems from a florist vs hiring me to source them for your cake. They’ll match perfectly. You have access to a wider variety of flower styles, and more control over the entire look. If you’re planning on any sort of floral arrangements or bud vases on the cake and dessert table, the colors will be perfectly harmonious.
Considerations-
Decorating a cake with florals on site is a rush, I love doing it! But on site arrangement means a longer set up, and that time needs to be factored into the delivery timeline and associated costs. Some styles of floral arrangements require structural support as well, so it’s important that everyone is on the same page regarding the final design and what it’s going to take to get there.
But what if you don’t have a florist at all, or if you’re DIYing your wedding flowers?
I am happy to provide stems! I work with great wholesale florist who lets me wander through their back cooler, and will break into bundles for me so I can pick and choose the right quanitity for your cake. And in the summertime, I have a running order with a kid in my area whose parents help her run a flower business with her home-grown blooms. Once a week I get a beautiful drop off of dahlias, greenery, and other food safe flowers, all lovingly grown on their property.
This is perfect solution when you aren’t already hiring a florist, but it can get expensive, and I can’t always be specific about what you’ll receive. It’s a long drive to my wholesaler, and whatever source I’m using- I am limited to what’s in the cooler on that weekend.
