I know I'm crazy for throwing this out there, but just wanted a few opinions on this one. I'm doing my first wedding cake next Sat. and the bride is very low keyed. Her wish is for a 3 tired white cake with ivory fondant with a chocolate brown satin ribbon around each tier. She has given me the choice of fresh vs. silk. So--- opinions pls?

Thanks!
Melissa

I'd tend to think fresh flowers (like good gumpaste flowers) are very special -- they are fragile, one-of-a-kind. You may not be able to find every color, however (like real blue roses).

Good quality silk flowers also look good (and are a good choice is the "real" flower is poisonous). If they are nicely arranged, they can be saved as a decoration.

Since you are already doing a satin ribbon, maybe do some contrast with ivory (fresh) roses. But if the bride's bouquet is silk, then I'd likely do silk flowers.

I don't know if that helps much...

If its not gumpaste then it's fresh for me.

Silk flowers have fewer issues. You won't have to worry about insects, insecticides, wilting, etc. If the bride doesn't care, I'd go with silk.

I love to use silk flowers on my cakes. I keep a good supply on hand so I can pick the perfect ones for my cakes. One of my customers even return them to me, and I really clean them and use them again and again and again on her cakes. I just do this as a hobby (they pay for supplies), and I don't have time to make flowers even though I know how. I am have a fulltime job as a teacher, and I am busy grading papers on nights and weekends so the silk flowers are easier for me.

Fresh flowers can be poisonous. Make sure you look into that...

Fresh flowers look more classy to me (just a personal choice).....also "looks" more expensive, I'm sure there are great silk ones out there, but by the time you buy really nice ones, you could have gotten fresh one. I think it just has more of a wedding feel to use real, but like I said....personal choice.

I do appreciate your input. Yes-- I know to be careful of certain fresh flowers, I mentioned that to the bride. I think I can do a really beautiful job with silk, so I'll check that out first.

Second, it's stayed hot here (No. Calif) and that could be an issue as well. I'm staying confident that all will work out and I'm excited.

I'm also doing a small cake for the bride's daughter as a little surprise for her. I heard that she was very excited to be "getting a daddy" and thought it would be fun for her to feel extra special. So-- once again the silk came to mind. Thought I would make hers very simple but have it mirror the large wedding cake.


thanks-
Melissa

I don't like silk flowers at all. So it has to be either gumpaste or fresh flowers.

All you have to do or the bride is talk to a florist and let them know you want to put the flowers on the cake they have non-poisonous flowers. If its indoors or outdoors you do not have worry about insects also.

for looks, I prefer fresh. A beautiful live blood-red rose on a white cake is the most beautiful thing in the world to me.

For ease of decor, food safety, etc., I tell my brides that I recommend silks. Silks can look pretty 'real' (unlike the plastic flowers that just look cheap).

With over 30 years experience, I think I've done maybe two cakes that they insisted on me using silks. Fresh is definately better/prettier in my opinion.

HTH!

Jen