OK... I am going to be making my FIRST wedding cake for May 3rd.

Four tiers, each one decorated differently, but with a real ribbon around the base.

What goes first? The piping or the ribbon?

For example the bottom tier will have cornelli lace. Do I put cornelli lace all over it, even where the ribbon goes?

TIA, MessyBaker

sorry, I don't know the answer to your question, but would love to know as I haven't done my first wedding cake either. Just wanted to say congratulations on getting your first wedding cake. Good luck.

I have seen it done both ways, but I put the ribbon on first then do the lace. If you do the lace first, it makes the ribbon uneven. The ribbon needs a smooth surface to lay flat.

I hope this helps.

i would pipe first, and then put the ribbons over top of the decoration. good luck with your first cake and make sure to post the pictures!

I haven't used the real ribbon myself, but I believe you put the ribbon on and then pipe, especially if you'll be piping a border against it. If you're afraid of it bleeding (if you don't use any type of backing on the ribbon) then I would wait until the last possible minute to put the ribbon on and in that case just leave enough space for where the ribbon will be and do the piping around that and add the ribbon afterwards.

[That's my story and I'm sticking with it!] Seriously, I believe that's the correct way and if I'm wrong I'm sure you'll hear it and why in a few minutes.

I would take the mark the side of the cake the same width as the ribbon....do the cornelli lace up to the marked line...then, apply ribbon.

I have various accidents and I would sure hate to have to remove icing from the ribbon had I applied the ribbon first.

One idea....utilizing Sugar_Plum_Fairy's backing idea would be to cut

http://cakedeco.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=9845&p_catid=173

to the same width of the ribbon and the length to go around cake...affix it to cake....do the lace work up to top of it then apply the ribbon....all is well, right?

i think that since you will be doing cornelli lace on the layer that you should put the ribbon on first. Because cornelli lace isnt suppose to have any visible ends to it. And if you make it first and then put on the ribbon you will have a bunch of the lace cut off and a whoel bunch of ends. Thats just my opinion. Good luck!!

Thanks for all the helpful responses.

The ribbon will not have a border of icing at the bottom. I kind of like the idea of marking the cake where the ribbon will be and adding the ribbon after.

One more question......

I want to paint the piping with luster dust. Can you do that do buttercream icing after it crusts? Or do I need to use royal icing?

I agree with all4cake .... do the lace, leaving enough blank space to apply the ribbon. You don't want to lay the ribbon on top of the lace ... it will be bumpy, wont' lay flat and just wont' look right ... in my ever so never humble opinion.

I like to apply the ribbon last because I usually put it on at the reception site ... that way, I know the icing is crusted (no wet spots soaking thru the ribbon).

You can use the press-n-seal wrap behind the ribbon, but it's so much easier to just spray Pam on the ribbon before applying. It darkens the color a little, of course, but it still looks very pretty.

Ohh well thank you! haha. Unfortunately i dont have many pointers. That was my first cornelli lace cake. I had it on the wilton tilting turn table which i actually thought helped since it was on an angle and i was able to see what i was doing. Other than that i just piped away! haha. Im sure it will turn out great! Cant wait to see it!!

Truth be told, I don't use ribbon because of the chemicals used in manufacturing and/or processing...the majority of folk that want ribbon on a cake want their "matching" ribbon on it. For the very reason it is recommended that you wash clothing before it's worn, that ribbon ain't safe to wear much less be touching something that will be consumed...not FDA approved for food contact. That is why I suggest a barrier more than a spraying of pan spray or spreading of shortening for the ribbon....much more at stake than just a ribbon that won't darken or get grease spots....



This above comment is in no way intended to undermine anyone's choice of decorating...

According to this post http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-262103-mix.html+luster+dust+buttercream someone tried it and it didn't work. Sorry. I thought I had read about someone doing that successfully. Maybe it was the new Wilton products that are sparkly and sold in tubes (I think). The one's I can never find.

Thanks anyway, at least I know not to try it!