Decisions, decisions. - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

555Ann555 · #1 01-19-2006, 01:26 AM

Been drawing up some sketches to try and decide exactly how I want our wedding cake to look. Mo says he has no favourite, they all look fine. Big help

So I thought maybe you could all help me?

The icing will be ivory fondant and the decoration on all of them is either black ribbon or in the case of #1 black icing.

My big brother Alex says his favourite is the one with the thin black ribbon wiggly lines.

I'm torn between #2 with the thin black ribbon and #1 which is a sort of floral motif... I was really keen on #3 for a while and I think it could look really elegant if it was done well. The problem is that I've seen something similar done badly, the ribbon was slightly twisted and it immediately drew your eye to the fault

Can you please excuse the squiggly lines?

I had seen something similar to #4 in a magazine but the knots were more complex and the hearts less bulky but I couldn't copy the knots! I did try, but had to use simple trinity ones instead...

Let me know what you think... Which would you choose? (I realize not everyone wants black, but if the ribbon or icing was in your colour theme which would you pick?)

gymrat · #2 01-19-2006, 02:11 AM

What is going to be your topper (if you are having one)?

I picked #1 but also like #3. 1 sort of reminds me and Roseprincess's but with MORE detail. I have seen style 3 with a bouquet of flowers on top and it was stunning.

cru5h · #3 01-19-2006, 02:17 AM

They're all nice. I can see why you're having a hard time choosing. I think I like Celtic best.

ljeagle · #4 01-19-2006, 02:22 AM

I like # 3 but it is what my cake will look like but square...

syringa · #5 01-19-2006, 02:32 AM

I had a bride this past summer who used #3 with a band of black ribbon around each layer, then flowers on top. It was very striking. I really like #1 though.

555Ann555 · #6 01-19-2006, 02:41 AM

I was going to have flowers on top and maybe one at the side. My flowers are very spring like, green lilac, cream and green roses, maybe some lily of the valley... The thing is that I love #1 but I really thing that flowers would be OTT with it

The would work well with any the others.

So... If I do want #1 I'm going to have to track down another topper but I hate most of the traditional ones, that's why i was going for flowers... I did really like the monogrammed on that Suzy posted (I think it was you anyway!) and LJ didn't you source a monogrammed one too? I found one on-line but it was extortionate so that wasn't possible.

ETA: I should have said; they are square I just drew them in profile for simplicity.
This will give you an idea of my flowers though it's a very fuzzy picture... I'm not having the baby's breath because I don't like it, and a couple of the other flowers were changed but this is the colour and style...

PlanetClaire · #7 01-19-2006, 02:44 AM

Hands down, no doubt about it #1

I think flowers as a topper would be lovely.Matching your bouquet or colours. Are you looking for the "bride and groom" sort of topper?

Complicated Woman · #8 01-19-2006, 02:49 AM

I like cake #1 the best. It looks so elegant and I think the black and white design will be very dramatic. They are all very nice, though. I understand why you are having a tough time!

555Ann555 · #9 01-19-2006, 02:51 AM

I don't like the bride and groom ones...

Do you think #1 could work with flowers if I had just the cream roses in a square shape?

EDIT I was thinking as I typed, got a bit confusing!

PlanetClaire · #10 01-19-2006, 02:53 AM

Huh? Say again? LOL

Heather · #11 01-19-2006, 02:54 AM

I like the Celtic inspired of course. Us Scots have to stick together.

PlanetClaire · #12 01-19-2006, 03:01 AM

LOL @ Ann! Gotcha now!!!

How about the green and cream roses in a circle- a little contrast with the cream colour of the cake ! I don't think I like square inside the circle.

Aren't I opinionated tonight?!

Complicated Woman · #13 01-19-2006, 03:09 AM

If I had #1, I wouldn't have a topper at all, I think it would look lovely and understated with just the floral design.

Lizbet · #14 01-19-2006, 04:06 AM

I voted for #1. I have seen it before and think it is lovely and elegant.

I also like #2 for an understated look.

I agree with #3 on the possibility of having the ribbon "off" a little. Just a small wiggle in the design could really affect the whole look. But, when done right it is beautiful.

The reason I wouldn't choose #4 is that I, personally, am not fond of hearts as decoration.

I think you could make flowers work for your topper no matter which design you choose. But, the cake design will affect the amount and complexity of the flower topper. The more elaborate the cake design, the more subdued you'll want the flowers, and vice versa.

Jacqueline · #15 01-19-2006, 12:53 PM

i would say number 4, in fact it has given me somethhing to look in to

Marrying_the_Good_Husband · #16 01-19-2006, 02:01 PM

I voted #1, but I think they're all pretty.

wembley · #17 01-19-2006, 03:55 PM

I voted for #1 but I think #2 is pretty is a softer way. I think any of the four would be beautiful, especially with the flowers on top.

Marge129 · #18 01-19-2006, 04:08 PM

I voted for #1, but I also like #4.

555Ann555 · #19 01-19-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlanetClaire

LOL @ Ann! Gotcha now!!!

How about the green and cream roses in a circle- a little contrast with the cream colour of the cake ! I don't think I like square inside the circle.

Aren't I opinionated tonight?!

It's not a circular cake, it's square. I just drew it from the front to save some time & effort! I wouldn't put a square of flowers on a round cake either!

Thanks for all the input ladies!
I really appreciate it.

I'm going to show the baker the pictures in a couple of weeks time so she can tell me whether she can do #1 or not. I'd rather have #1 but if it's too complicated and she's likely to mess it up then I'd go with #2 coz I think it'd be really hard to mess it up

It's not a professional baker we're using, it's a family friend who makes quite a lot of wedding cakes. Most of her designs that I've seen have used bought decoration; ribbons, diamonte strips, and other little bits and pieces so I don't know how skilled she is at icing free-hand or whether she's artistic enough to translate someone else's design. I'll let you see the only cake of hers that I have on my PC. This is the cake that put me off #4 a little coz I immediately saw the twisted black ribbon, not the rest of the cake

Marrying_the_Good_Husband · #20 01-19-2006, 05:53 PM

I see what you mean. Your eye DOES immediately fall to the imperfection of the ribbon. Maybe you should ask her what she could handle. Unless she's extremely artistic, she might not be able to replicate the designs you're wanting. I would assume icing is a difficult medium to work with as it is.

Maybe if you like the celtic knots or something you could look for some sort of applique to stick on the icing, as she's comfortable using that--I guess just make sure it's something that's ok if it's a little "off."

555Ann555 · #21 01-19-2006, 05:56 PM

Well #2 is just thin black ribbon so I don't *think* you could mess it up. I deliberately made that one with wavy lines because of what happened with the one above! I guess I'll ask her and hope that she's honest coz I'd hate a screwed up version of #1

ETA: I have a slight worry about implying that she might not be talented enough to her face though

I guess I could ask if she thought it would be too complicated or time consuming rather than outside of her abilities... What do you think? I don't want to embarrass her.

Complicated Woman · #22 01-19-2006, 06:00 PM

Ann, I agree about the twisted ribbon. I do think that because your cake will be square, it will be easier to put the ribbon on neatly.

ETA: To be clear, I was talking about cake #3 with the thick black ribbon. You can put a ribbon flush around a square without it getting bunchy. I don't think you can make it wavy without it getting twisted.

Marrying_the_Good_Husband · #23 01-19-2006, 06:57 PM

You know, I don't think you CAN put a ribbon down all squiggly without it bunching up or twisting or folding over itself to make the curves.

Everybody take a ribbon now and try....

That's a good way to phrase it, though. Ask her what she'd be willing to do, as you don't want to put too much of a burden on her.

roseprincess · #24 01-19-2006, 07:01 PM

I couldn't vote b/c I like all of them...

Ann, did you see the pic I posted of my wedding cake? It is sort of like the #1 design you posted, and I used a floral caketopper that echoed my bouquet. I can't remember now, do you have your gown yet? Because I chose the design of my cake based on the fact that it was very similar to the embroidery on my gown... It's one of those little details that may or may not be a "unifying" thing for you.

Lizbet, I remember I really loved your cake. Wasn't it square layers? I remember it had a beautiful detail, maybe you could post some pics for Ann to see?

I do agree that it'd be much more tactful to ask the baker if she thinks that a particular design would be too complicated/time consuming, instead of "outside her abilities".

edited b/c I'm so sleepy most of what I typed came out as gobbledygook...

Lizbet · #25 01-19-2006, 07:07 PM

I loved my cake, too, roseprinces. And, I'd love to show it off again.

The pics are a little fuzzy, because they're compressed. But, you can see the design pretty well. The "ribbon" is actually colored fondant. The bow on top is also fondant. The rest of the icing was buttercream.