How To Bling Your Wedding Cakes With Rhinestones

Adding rhinestones to wedding cakes has become a popular trend, adding a touch of glamour and sophistication to the wedding celebration. However, designing with rhinestones requires careful consideration of safety, aesthetics, and technique. This guide provides essential tips for creating stunning and safe rhinestone-adorned wedding cakes.

1. Understanding Rhinestone Types

Edible Rhinestones: Made from sugar, gelatin, or isomalt, these are safe to consume but the downside is that they are not as sparkly as the facets are not machine cut to the precision of a regular glass rhinestone.

Non-Edible Rhinestones: Made from plastic, glass or crystal, these are purely decorative and must be removed before consumption. There are many different types of rhinestone embellishment, but the most common for cake decorating are non hotfix flatback rhinestones, flatback pearls and crystal shapes. Pearls are a great addition to a wedding, anniversary or christening cake as they are delicate, luxurious and regal looking – perfect for decorating a sophisticated caked.

2. Design Planning

Theme and Colour Scheme: Match the rhinestones to the wedding's theme and colour scheme for a cohesive look. Use a rhinestone colour chart or ask your crystal supplier to help you match your colour scheme. Common colour themes for weddings are:

• Traditional – Use Clear rhinestones, opals and white/ivory pearls to suit the traditional white wedding theme.
• Rustic vibes – Soft pinks, forest greens and hints of gold work well with the rustic woody look.
• Bold jewel tones – Go for sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red and amethyst purple to express your bold side.
• Calm neutral shades – warm coffee brown, soft mauve, cream and light gold offer a calm but contemporary style.
• Vintage pastels – Springtime pastel shades are always popular for weddings, featuring pale blues, pinks, lilacs and lemon yellow.

Cake Size and Shape: Consider the size and shape of the cake when planning your design. Larger cakes can handle more bling, while smaller cakes may require a more subtle approach.

3. Applying Edible Rhinestones

• Materials Needed: Edible glue or royal icing, tweezers, pick up tool, beading tool, a soft brush.
• Procedure:
  1. Clean Surface: Ensure the cake surface is clean and smooth.
  2. Apply Adhesive: Use a small brush or beading tool to apply edible glue or royal icing where you want the rhinestones, ensuring the bead of glue or icing is smaller than the rhinestone.
  3. Placement of Rhinestones: Carefully pick up each flatback rhinestone with tweezers or a gemstone pick up tool and place it onto the bead of adhesive.
  4. Let it Set: Allow the adhesive to dry completely before moving the cake.

4. Using Non-Edible Rhinestones

• Safety First: Clearly communicate with clients that these rhinestones are decorative and must be removed before consumption.
• Application Techniques:
  • Ribbon Method: Attach rhinestones to a ribbon or a food-safe band that can wrap around the cake.
  • Individual Placement: Use a non-toxic adhesive to place rhinestones directly on the cake. Ensure they are large enough not to pose a choking hazard and are easily removable. Embellishing with non hotfix rhinestones is a skill, but with practice and patience it is easy to learn and a great way to express your creative side.

5. Balancing Aesthetics

• Symmetry and Patterns: Create symmetrical designs or thoughtful patterns for a visually pleasing look or why not introduce flatback rhinestone shapes to create intricate patterns.
• Highlight Key Features: Use rhinestones to accentuate specific features of the cake, like the top tier or the base.

Pear shaped and round rhinestones to create intricate patterns

6. Combining with Other Decorations

• Complementary Elements: Pair rhinestones with other decorative elements like pearls, flowers, lace, or fondant details for a multi-textured look.
• Colour Balance: If using coloured rhinestones, balance them with the overall colour palette of the cake.

Clear, AB and white opal rhinestones to co-ordinate the wedding colour scheme

7. Storage and Transportation

• Careful Handling: Transporting a wedding cake embellished with rhinestones requires meticulous planning and careful handling to ensure that the cake and its delicate decorations arrive at the venue in perfect condition.
• Ensure the cake is on a sturdy, thick base that won't bend or buckle during transport.
• Place the cake on a flat, level surface in the vehicle, such as the floor of the backseat or the boot.
• Use a box that is slightly larger than the cake and strong enough to support its weight.
• Handle the cake carefully to avoid dislodging the rhinestones.
• Temperature Control: Store and transport the cake in a cool environment to prevent melting or shifting of decorations.

8. Professional Consultation

For complex designs, consult with a professional cake designer or decorator.

Conclusion

Designing a rhinestone-adorned wedding cake is an art that combines creativity with meticulous attention to detail. By choosing the right type of rhinestones, applying them carefully, and balancing them with other design elements, you can create a breathtaking centerpiece for any wedding celebration. Always prioritize safety and communicate clearly with clients regarding non-edible decorations. With these tips, your rhinestone-adorned wedding cakes will be both safe and stylish.