u/ForsakenWin4173

Hi!

Our wedding is in October, and we ordered a small cake for photos/cutting. Although we're not making the cake, we will have to add any non-edible decor ourselves on the day. We have a small (silk) floral arrangement that we'd love to add to the side of the cake, but I'm struggling with how to make sure it'll hold. (And also to make it straightforward enough that I can delegate!)

The details:

• 2-tier round cake, 6" on 8"
• Gorgeous plasterwork-inspired design on 8" cake, smooth fondant on 6"
• Vintage ceramic 'bride and groom' topper
• Flowers to be placed vertically at the joint between the two tiers, like so:

rough sketch of idea (not to scale)

The topper placement is easy; there's a hole in the bottom of it, so I'll put a wooden chopstick up there and fill the gaps with some cotton balls so it doesn't rattle around. The other end of the chopstick can then be shoved down into the cake.

Cake topper!

The flowers are giving me more of a challenge. The arrangement was originally designed as a wrist corsage, so it's all one solid piece already - no stems to factor in:

flower arrangement!

flower arrangement - back view

My initial thought was to poke a few 3" U-shaped hair pins through the backing leaves (behind the flowers) and glue them in place so they can be shoved into the side of the top cake at about a 45 degree downward angle, like so:

another rough but hopefully illustrative sketch, also one of the pins

I was about to poke the holes when I thought to double-check here to make sure that would be able to support the arrangement on the cake.

What do you all think? Could this work? Is there an existing method that would work better? I can't be the first person to attach a single-piece arrangement to the side of a cake, so there must be a trick to it! Any and all help is appreciated!

Hi everyone! Any makeup folks in the group who can tell me how to articulate to my MUA what I'd like to be done differently on the day?

I had my hair and makeup trial and I'm super happy with the hair. The stylist understands the assignment and knows exactly what she wants to do differently next time! I also got the pins I plan to use on the day alongside the pearls and they're gorgeous!

Must show off the hair pins!!

I'm *mostly* happy with the makeup. I'm planning to bring my own lip color that's closer to my natural color (and so I can reapply as needed over the course of the day), so that's not a concern despite it not being quite right in the trial.

However, my laugh lines and wrinkles seem way more prominent with this makeup than with what I usually use myself. I'm not sure what products she used (powder vs creams, etc.) since I wasn't facing her work station, but I suspect what I use when I do my own is more moisturizing, less mattifying, maybe a bit lighter coverage in those areas too? I love the overall look and I got the full glam with plum/gold that I wanted, but after an hour or two my face was feeling dry and tight, and I felt almost like it aged me.

📸: Photos and videos from my trial

📸: Photos from a previous formal event and a photoshoot, both of which I did my own makeup for

The lines are still visible in the photos of the makeup I did myself because they're part of my face - I don't want to eliminate them with botox or anything because it's what I look like, but they feel less prominent / not dry and craggy in those, compared with the bridal trial.

My usual products, and what I used in the second set of photos:

• Laneige cream skin toner/moisturizer (plus Water Bank Blue cream moisturizer the night before)
• Supergoop unseen sunscreen (spf + primer)
• Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later eyeshadow primer
• Urban Decay eyeshadow
• Urban Decay waterproof fine point eye pen
• E.L.F. Lash Xtender mascara
• NYC (rip lol) brow powder/wax
• Armani Luminous Silk foundation
• Rare Beauty liquid highlighter
• Huda Beauty Lipblush (for both liquid blush and lip stain - this is the lip color I'll bring to use on the day)
• Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray

I went to the trial having used the first item on the list only.

Additional notes/thoughts:

1. The first version of the look had basically just black eye makeup, and when I asked for a bit of color (plum) she added the liner underneath my eyes. Since I have hooded eyes and prefer no undereye liner (both aesthetically and because it makes my eyes itch lol), I think I'll ask that she use the plum on top instead, with no undereye.
2. Generally warmer tones - looking back at the photos I think I'm looking unusually pale! Using my own lip color will help with that, but maybe dark brown/plum instead of black liner, a bit warmer (and a bit more) blush, a more gold-tone highlighter, etc.?
3. I think I need to request a "dewy" rather than matte finish - I don't usually have dry skin, it just looks like it here!

I'm planning to write up some follow-up notes to send to her so I want to be as precise as possible and use correct MUA language - any advice for this is welcome! I want to be helpful rather than critical, and I also want to look great on the day.

She asked what makeup I use and I could remember some brands in the moment but not specific products, so I'm planning to send her the list above with color/shade details. I'd love to know what else might be good to include. Thanks in advance!