The obvious reason for choosing sugar flowers on wedding cakes is that they do not wilt!So often have I been to weddings, especially in conservatories or marquees, where the flowers are not going to last the day out.

I was taught that real flowers do not mix with food as they may have been sprayed with chemicals to last longer. My worry as a cake decorator rather than sugar craft designer is less obvious; should water droplets from flowers touch the sugar icing the sugar dissolves, creating perfect little holes...guess who gets the blame!

Some of the more typical concerns people have when deciding upon sugar flowers vs. real flowers are:

Colour: Can the designer match the flowers of your choice?

Good communication between your florist and wedding cake designer should achieve excellent results. Giving a colour swatch is helpful, but if possible the florist's the best link here. A good florist will have a reliable supplier, and will be able to maintain the colour consistency as close as nature allows...It follows that the flowers may vary in colour come the day, but the sugar flowers will not!

Are there limitations in the flower grouping?

Creating displays on wedding cakes with sugar flowers is a skill which involves understanding the limitations of working with sugar; transport is the cake creators biggest headache, but, as you can see at wedding cakes by Franziska , floral arranging can still be spectacular!

Will the decorator be able to create my unusual flowers?

This is an interesting one...Often it is the florist who has this particular nightmare; for wedding cake designers a good photograph is all that's needed (plus lots of patience, knowledge and skill) to bring your flowers to life.

If you decide to invest in a beautiful wedding cake, why not choose one you can enjoy looking spectacular all day, with the added bonus of the sugar flowers lasting for years afterwards to remind you of this special moment.

Written by Franziska. Wedding cakes by Franziska