Hello Friends!

I need some more advice on the wedding cake I will be doing this weekend. I am attaching a picture of what the bride gave me. The cake is from Wedding Cakes by Dawna.

The bride has requested that the cake be done in buttercream instead of fondant which is fine with me. She has also requested that in place of the pink...she would like to use blue. She said she will be using light blue, dark blue, and white hydrangeas to be placed on top of the cake.

I would like to go with a light blue shade that will blend with the hydrangeas to replace the pink shade. I will be using Wilton paste icing color. What colors would you mix to get close to this blue shade.

I did a test of a little sky blue and royal blue and it looked pretty good. I am wondering if I should use just a little royal blue. What do you guys think...I am worried that the flowers might clash!!!!

Well, I just got a call from the florist stating that the hydrangeas are all 1 shade of light blue!

I have decided to go with all white tiers except the big chocolate tier. I would like to add brown and just a little bit of blue accents. How does that sound???

Any advice of what colors to mix will be great!!!!

One more question...do I need to put wax paper under the hydrangeas???

Are these toxic flowers???

Please help!

Anyone???

Wilton Delphinium Blue is the color I would use. It's a denim-type of blue, which can be lightened or darkened by the amount you use. It's beautiful when used as a stripe in a bag over white icing.

Theresa

The cake sounds really pretty. It makes sense to cut down on the blue given all the blue flowers, maybe just do 2 blue layer (not the top one) or make the blue accents heavier on a layer or two.

I found this list of toxic flowers, hydrangea made the list.

http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowersnot.htm

Thank-you!

I do have that blue shade and will give it a try.

I am assuming that I should cut a piece of wax paper cut to size for the top tier and then place the flowers on top of the wax paper????

I have always used non toxic flowers!!!

Do you guys usually just set the flowers on the paper or do you use a mound of icing to stick them in???

Help!!!!

I would give more caution to what I use between the hydrangeas and the top of the cake. Neither waxed paper nor parchment are infallable, and will eventually take on moisture; therefore you risk any toxins from the flowers bleeding through.

Get some Glad Press N Seal plastic and attach that to parchment, then apply parchment side down on the cake. This will give you double the protection, with a plastic layer in between. The Press N Seal is transparent, so if you trim it just right, it won't show under the flowers.

Theresa

Thank-you Theresa!

The florist called me back and told me that she will have the topper fixed up in some water so the flowers do not wilt.

I am assuming she will have them in some kind of little bowl. I am going to take some extra dowel rods with me along with the parchment paper and the press and seal wrap.

I will have to wait and see what they have made up when I get there.

The florist also told me the hydrangeas are a very light shade of periwinkle...not baby blue. Does that sound right??? Her floral shop is very far away so I do not want to have to drive all the way over there.

Then the delphinium blue should be perfect. You may want to make a trial run with it, and see if it needs a touch of pale pink added to it to get the exact color.

Glad to have helped!

Theresa

Here are some pictures I found online. What colors to mix to get a very light shade of blue???

Isn't periwinkle a little blue and violet???

I will see if I can find a better picture...give me your opinions!

Thanks...as always!

From what the florist described...I think they will be very close to what is on this cake.

Advice...please!!!!

Wow, Traci that sure is going to be one beautiful cake! I agree with the delphinium blue, the sky blue is a little too aqua almost Tiffany box blue. Please post when you are finished.

I will do a practice run on a small amount of icing to see what I get. I am hoping the flowers will have some other shades in them so that the icing should blend.

I really love the cake with the pink accents by Dawna. In a way...I kind of wish that I could have done it in fondant to get it closer to the original.

If it was any other color besides blue...I would not be so nervous!

well, now don't forget that you can always use some petal dust to blend in an appropriate shade, too. try pink and lavender to see how it mixes onto the blue.

Theresa

Ok..this is what I would probably do. Like you said...top & bottom tiers white...middle stays the same. Probably would want to keep all the bottom borders of each tier brown for continuity. I've attached 2 versions for you to help with getting a visual...I know that always helps me...LOL On the first one, just imagine the dots on the bottm tier, on the ribbon, as blue...they were waaayyy too small for me to fool with...LOL. Hope this helps

I like the second idea best, but try these with your computer before deciding --

the second largest tier -

either all blue dots and bow, mixed blue and white dots with a blue or white bow, or a blue bottom border.

Just suggestions --

Theresa

Just remember, if you mix colors, let it sit for a few hours as it might change shades on you. HTH

Thanks Jenn T!!! These are wonderful suggestions!!!!

I will keep you posted on what I decide!!!!

Here's another option...a little more like the pink version, with the bottom tier being the solid blue, the ribbon blue....and some hydrangeas on top...

I was gonna recommend the bottom be blue, i like this second picture with the blue bottom better than the white. That will be a fun cake to do. post it when your done! GL!

Back to the color of the hydrangeas for a minute...I happen to love them, it's one of my favorite flowers. The periwinkle blue ones that I have seen have a bit more purple than the pictures of the blue ones posted here.

I have attached a photo of some hydrangeas. The bush all the way on the right I would call blue and the one on the left I would call periwinkle. Just my 2 cents!

I'm wondering if you could vary the shades of the ribbons or polka dots on different tiers to be slightly different blues somehow so that they would blend with whatever color the flowers turn out to be.

Thank-you all for the wonderful tips!

JennT,
I totally love the second version with the blue bottom! I have decided to go ahead and keep the tiers white...because I am so uncertain of the shade of blue!

The bride wants the cake to be decorated with buttercream instead of fondant and she does not like the little bow around the chocolate tier. I think I will add some kind of swirls or scrolls to the plain tiers and mix in some of the blue shade with maybe some little dots. I like the idea of keeping the borders brown.

What tip will make that border??? A round tip 12??? Any thoughts????

I truly wish she would have kept the cake pink...I think it would be much easier to match!!!!

Thanks to ALL for your advice!!!

I really like the last one best. That extra incorporation of the blue really made the difference for me!

Theresa

I really like that version as well...but have decided to go with white tiers just in case.

I made a duplicate top tier for the bride and like the way it came out. I mixed in some brown and blue.

The design on the cake will not be exactly like the picture...but it will have the large chocolate tier with the big white dots.

I think once the flowers and everything are put on top it should all come together...I HOPE!!!

Will post a picture soon!!!

Wish me luck!!!!

Well...the cake is finished and was delivered today. I will post pics soon.

Overall...I think the cake looked ok...but I am always my worst critic.

Thanks for all those who helped!!!!