I very much prefer to work with fondant... that being said - I'm somewhat pleased with how this one turned out. All buttercream, real ribbon (which stained slightly from the butercream despite being backed with press n'seal) fresh flowers. As we all know, every cake has a 'back'... much to my dismay, this venue chose to place the cake right at the top of a stairway so there was a 360 view... aagghhh!!