Decorating wedding cakes with flowers is a classic and elegant way to add interest and decor to the traditional tiered pastry. In this article, I’ll dive into five lovely ways to decorate these special occasion cakes with fresh florals.

But first—it’s confession time: One of my guilty pleasures as a floral designer is looking and lusting after all the extraordinary beautiful and artistic wedding cakes on Pinterest.

I can lose hours at a time of looking, pinning, downloading, and screen-shotting photos and ideas of all the most exquisite, mesmerizing creations. I especially love those decorated with fresh or dried flowers and foliage. And the ones that are hand-painted with florals with an arrangement of cut blooms complimenting the painting, bringing the cake to life—oh, I love those!

Gorgeously Decorated Wedding Cakes With Flowers—Doing Research for Your Designs

The wedding cake game has been elevated to works of art that are almost too beautiful to eat—almost. I had found myself thinking in these moments of captivation, I understand where Marie Antoinette came from when she made the ill-fated comment of "Let them eat cake." Maybe all of the world's problems can be solved by an elegant, delicate, and divine piece of gorgeousness? (But that’s just wishful thinking.)

One of the most important elements of every wedding is the cake. It is placed on a pedestal at the reception, a centerpiece that can speak volumes about every couple's unique style and personality.

It is one of the most anticipated parts for the guests—getting to have a piece of carefully crafted sugary deliciousness after trying to restrict themselves to look and feel good for the wedding is a true highlight (or is that just me?).

For the happy pair, the cake symbolizes the first act of coming together as a married couple as they perform their first task as a unit by cutting the cake. According to tradition, the wedding cake symbolizes prosperity, good luck, and fertility for the wedded pair. 

Tips for Decorating a Cake with Flowers

1. Do your research first when using fresh flowers. This should absolutely be your first step.

2. Make sure any flowers you will be using have not been exposed to any pesticides or harmful chemicals. You also need to ensure that the flowers you plan to use are not toxic or poisonous to humans or in general.

3. Ensure your edible flowers have been specifically grown for consumption. Pay attention to the cake’s flavor profile as well as the flowers. How will they complement each other?

Now for the inspiration! Here are a five of my favorite cake decorating trends!

1. Fresh Floral Wedding Cake Topper

Instead of the traditional cake topper, why not use flowers to create the cherry on top?

Take inspiration from the colour scheme, the bridal bouquet, or the tablescape and make it an extension of the overall design theme, emphasizing the bridal couple's look and feel for their wedding.

The venue or season can also inspire the cake topper. Using seasonal foliage or foraging from the venue can be a great addition to the cake topper. This can bring vibrancy and vivaciousness to the cake, giving it life.

2. Cascading Florals as Wedding Cake Decor

Reminiscent of a waterfall (which is wildly romantic), create a cascading design tumbling down or spiraling the cake. This will give the cake a lush and bountiful feeling.

You can use orchids and roses for a delicate, elegant look. For the modern bride, lighten up a darker, moodier colour scheme with exotic, oversized flowers and plants to create an overall feeling of luxe abundance. Fresh or dried fruit can also be incorporated to underline the passion of the wedding couple.

3. Edible Flowers for Decorating Wedding Cakes

Various flowers are safe for consumption and decoration (some even have health benefits).

When using edible flowers specifically, they can be even more incorporated into the design of a wedding cake. You can also use the flowers in different forms—dried or pressed or dusted-up as confetti to create different textures.

Arranging the natural, edible flowers along the top edge or in a floral wreath design will be perfect for an authentic, bohemian wedding or if the couple is very casual and easy-going. To add some whimsy and enchantment to the romantic occasion, you can also arrange small edible flowers like confetti all over the cake.

4. Minimalistic Wedding Cake Florals

For the right occasion or bride, less is more. Dried flowers and other elements, such as a pinecone, can work wonders for the minimalist.

You can also use the bridal bouquet's central bloom to repeat on the wedding cake to bring unity to the wedding's overall design. However, there is no need for a simplistic theme to be boring or ordinary. A person's creativity can really come out to play and bring attention to the detailed beauty of the natural elements in a simple design.

5. Bright Colours in Wedding Cake Floral Designs

Wedding cakes evolve into whatever the couple wants, so anything goes.

Striking, bright colours can truly bring out the wedding couple's personality or the emotions the couple wants to invoke in their guests.

You can have a ton of fun and use colourful, mixed blooms in pink, orange, and yellow such as ranunculi, daffodils, tulips, or a waratah to create splashes of colour against a white backdrop, for example.

The boldness of the flower arrangements and design on the cake can make a lasting impact on the guests. Now all you have to hope for is that it tastes just as beautiful as it looks!

While using flowers to decorate wedding cakes is not a new concept, it is one of the most lovely and glamorous ways to decorate a wedding cake and celebrate the beautiful beginning of a couple's marriage story.

Using natural flowers in any form means you can never go wrong in creating stunning wedding cakes that celebrate the delectableness of romance!