Honeymoon Flight Cake

Step 1

Make your guest smile with this delightful bridal balloon. Dried beans, inserted before inflation, help shape and steady the balloon, which is then taped to dowel rods.

Step 2

Using Color Flow Mix, make 16 Color Flow stars. Outline a pattern of a star using tip 2, then flow in centers. Make extras to allow for breakage and let dry.

Step 3

Make 350 drop flowers using royal icing: 175 yellow using tip 31 and 175 peach using tip 193. Add tip 14 green star centers and place 3 stamens in each.* Make extras to allow for breakage and let dry.

Step 4

Ice I-layer 6 in. round and 2-layer 8, 12, and 16 in. round tiers smooth and prepare for push-in pillar and stacked construction.

Step 5

6 in. tier: Cover sides with tip 7 basketweave. Pipe tip 104 ribbon swag at bottom border. Position flowers and add tip 352 leaves on top border and cascading down sides.

Step 6

8 in. tier: Divide cake into 8ths. Pipe tip 125 ruffled garland 1 1/4 in. deep between division marks. Add tip 16 e-motion above garland. Pipe tip 18 c-scroll shell top border. Add tip 21 bottom shell border; position flowers and add tip 352 leaves. Attach stars at garland points using dots of icing.

Step 7

12 in. tier: Divide cake into 8ths, marking cake side 2 in. from top edge. Pipe tip 21 bottom shell border, then pipe tip 125 ruffled garland between division marks. Add tip 16 e-motion above garland. Pipe tip 18 c-scroll shell top border. Arrange flowers at division points, add tip 352 leaves. Attach stars at garland points using dots of icing.

Step 8

16 in. tier: Divide cake into 10ths, marking cake side 2 in. from top edge. Pipe tip 21 bottom shell border. Add tip 127D ruffled border, pipe tip 126 ruffled garland between division marks. Add tip 16 e-motion above garland. Pipe tip 21 c-scroll shell top border. Attach clusters of drop flowers centered between divisions marks at top border. Add tip 352 leaves. Attach stars at garland points using dots of icing.

Step 9

For balloon "strings": Cut four dowel rods into 10 1/2 in. lengths. Cover dowel rods with ribbon, glue in place. Using ribbon, make 5 bows, gluing one to the end of each rod and keep one for the top of balloon. Set aside.

Step 10

At reception: Assemble tiers on pillars. Position Floral Puff Accent. Place approximately 2 tablespoons dry white beans in balloon and inflate. Push ends of ribbon-covered dowel rods in cake top, position ornament, position balloon on dowel rods and tape in place to secure. Place curling ribbon and bow on balloon, secure with double-stick tape.

*Remove drop flowers before serving.