Is it safe to ship sugar flowers? what if they break?

I've shipped thousands of flowers since I started my shop, and I've found the best way to safely package your flowers is with lots of padding and fragile stickers! I've had very few packages arrive damaged. However, I can't guarantee what happens at the post office once I drop off your order. I always recommend ordering far in advance to account for damage or delays, and to order extra flowers if you're in a time crunch. In the unlikely event that your flowers are damaged during shipping, please contact me and we’ll work together to figure out if you need a replacement or a refund.

Why does my white sugar flower look ivory?

Every Sugar Flower is created by me from small-batch handmade gumpaste. Because I do not run a large industrial manufacturing facility, my flowers will not be the same “bright white” shade that you will find from other companies. The white flowers have a soft creaminess to them, which makes the flowers look less commercial and more handcrafted. However, if you leave the white flowers exposed to UV light for too long, the color will become even more ivory so I recommend storing the flowers away from UV light or in an archival safe container.

Are Sugar Flowers edible?

Sugar Flowers are made with edible ingredients (gumpaste, egg whites, sugar) however they also contain non-edible materials such as wires which are used to hold the petals together and arrange the flowers. The wired flowers are not meant to be eaten, and should be removed prior to serving your cake. Here's the youtube video I recorded to answer this question:

What if I've never used sugar flowers before?

When you order your Sugar Flowers from Kelsie Cakes, you’ll feel totally comfortable decorating the cake yourself. I’ll provide videos and tutorials to take you through every step, from unpacking the Sugar Flowers to actually putting them on the cake. It’ll be our little secret about how simple it is to transform a plain cake into an edible work of art. 😉

How do I take care of sugar flowers before I use them?

Sugar Flowers are shelf-stable at room temperature, due to their sugar content and low moisture. Keep the flowers out of direct sunlight (it can fade the colors) as well as extreme heat/cold, and especially out of humidity. Some refrigerators (especially walk-in coolers) nare very humid and can cause the flowers to melt, so I recommend placing the flowers on your cake right before delivery or pick up.

How do you ship sugar flowers?

I ship all orders through USPS or UPS. Each package is carefully packed up by me to ensure a safe trip for your delicate-but-durable Sugar Flowers. There is lots of soft padding to keep your flowers safe!

How long does shipping take?

The standard shipping takes 2-5 business days to arrive. All in-stock flowers ship within 2 business days. For flowers that are made to order, you can expect them to ship within 2 weeks from placing your order

Do you offer local pickup options?

Yes, if you live in the Tampa Bay area, local pickup is available. You can select this option when checking out. After you order, I'll be in touch to coordinate a pickup date and location.

Can I request a specific delivery date?

Yes! I do my best to accommodate specific delivery dates but additional fees may be added for rushed orders. Please select your event date on the product page prior to adding to your cart!

Help! My flower arrived broken after shipping!

Yikes! I hate when that happens!! CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM! After you fill out the form (it's super quick! you'll need your order number + photos of the damage) I'll be in touch with our next steps!

Do you offer refunds?

Digital download products are not eligible for refunds. Sugar Flowers are created to be used as cake decorations. Due to the nature of these products, refunds are not offered unless otherwise specified in writing. If your flowers were damaged during shipping, please reach out to fill out a claims form. Refunds may be given for flowers damaged during shipping.

Do you offer returns?

Sugar Flowers are created to be used as cake decorations. Due to the nature of these products, returns are not offered unless otherwise specified in writing. If your flowers were damaged during shipping, please reach out to fill out a claims form. Replacement items may be eligible for flowers damaged during shipping.

How can I request a custom order?

Click here to access the inquiry form!

What is the process for working with you?

If you have a specific design in mind, you’ll fill out my quick questionnaire with your cake’s details: size, colors, floral inspiration. A highly trained sugar artist (that’s me!) will sketch a design that reflects the style and inspiration of the event’s centerpiece (that’s your cake!), and after you approve the design, I’ll carefully craft each flower and leaf by hand. Every flower will be photographed for you to confirm the final design before shipping, then carefully packaged (seriously, I can spend hours delicately wrapping up individual petals) and shipped to arrive before the event. Finally, the fun part: unboxing! You’ll receive an email with resources and videos to show how to unwrap, store, and use the Sugar Flowers on your cake – no matter what size. I’ll personally follow up with you to see if you have any questions about the final arrangement. If any flowers were damaged during shipping, we’ll work together to figure out if you need a repair, a replacement, or a refund.

What if I only make sugar flowers in-house?

I love this question! When I’m working with you to create the Sugar Flowers for your cake design, you are the visionary. I’m here to help make your life easier, because let’s face it, creating wedding cakes is a huge endeavor and you don’t always have time for making flowers. My goal is for your Sugar Flowers to elevate and complement the detail and artistry that you put into every one of your edible masterpieces. You can think of me as your “white label” sugar artist.

Do you offer wholesale?

At this time, no. Please email kelsie@kelsiecakes.com for any questions regarding wholesale.

I need help with my sugar art business. Can you help me?

Whether you’re a cake decorator, a sugar artist, or an aspiring entrepreneur, I hope that I can share some of my experience and knowledge with you! CHECK OUT MY FAV BIZ TOOLS + RESOURCES HERE Or if you’d like some more hands-on, one-on-one type action, I’d love to chat with you over Zoom (or Google Meet, which is just as easy to use and free). You can schedule a 45-minute design call with me here. My fees start at $100. We don’t just need to design a wedding cake during this time! Feel free to pick my brain, and let’s nerd out about cake and sugar flowers together 🙂 SCHEDULE A CALL WITH ME HERE

Do you offer refunds on digital products?

Digital download products are not eligible for refunds.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What’s the best way to time my delivery for maximum freshness?

When ordering flowers from The Shop, I recommend scheduling delivery 1–2 weeks before the event to give you plenty of time to unpack and prep.

If you really want a “but how far in advance is too far?!” answer, I’d say to order within 6 months so the sugar flowers will look their best (when stored correctly).

For custom orders, we’ll coordinate the delivery date together as part of the ordering process.

If you’re unsure, feel free to ask me for advice based on your specific event date!

Can you ship directly to my cake decorator or vendor?

Yes! When checking out, you can input the shipping address of your cake vendor or decorator to have the flowers sent directly to them. Just make sure to coordinate with your vendor so they know to expect the delivery.

If you’re ordering custom sugar flowers, I can also coordinate directly with your baker for delivery.

Do sugar flowers ever go bad?

Nope, sugar flowers don’t expire, but their appearance can fade or become brittle/wilted if exposed to moisture or improper storage conditions. Properly stored, they’ll remain stunning for months and even years!

Is the calendar dropdown for the shipping date or delivery date?

The calendar dropdown on flower product pages is for the estimated delivery date.

If you want the flowers to arrive closer to your event, simply select a delivery date that works best for you!

I recommend selecting a date that’s at least a week before your event.

When should I order sugar flowers for my wedding or event?

Sugar flowers don’t expire, but they’re most vibrant and fresh-looking when stored properly! For weddings or events, I recommend placing your order at least 4–6 weeks in advance to allow for your preferred delivery date and shipping times. Rush processing is available for faster turn-around times and rush fees will apply.

How to Unwrap Your Sugar Flowers

For Sugar Flowers with individually wired petals, like open roses, peonies, cosmos, and orchids

watch more on Youtube

When your flower is shipped to you, it will be tightly closed up.
Kind of like how a real flower would ship in bud form!
But instead of sticking in some warm water to help it open up
(don't do that!!) →
unwrap the foam then carefully pull each petal away from the center
The flexible floral wire stem will bend so the petals can open up!

– Donna

"Kelsie is my go-to gal for all my flowers. She makes them so lifelike that my clients can't believe they’re sugar. Kelsie is phenomenal, artistically, and brilliantly talented. I work with Kelsie exclusively. For anyone who is a cake artist, this is the girl you should be going to – your cakes will be showstoppers – guaranteed!"

“Kelsie is phenomenal, artistically, and brilliantly talented. I work with Kelsie exclusively."

Phenomenal, Artistically, And Brilliantly

– Hope

I just found my brand new favorite business for my cakes. Thank you so much Kelsie for the sweet note and the flowers look AMAZING. They came before the actual due date, were packaged SOOO well, and such amazing quality for the price. I was recently on a show competition with many other pastry chefs and we talked about how we don’t have time to make flowers, now I’m going to recommend them all to buy from here.

“I just found my brand new favorite business for my cakes."

brand new favorite

Arranging Sugar Flowers on a cake doesn't have to be complicated!

Watch the video for a quick and easy way to place flowers on your cake.

Floral Arranging on Cakes

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For flowers with individually wired petals (like an open rose), removing a broken petal is a simple fix to make your flower look as good as new. It'll be our little secret, no one will ever know the difference!

In the unlikely event that your Sugar Flowers ordered from Kelsie Cakes are damaged during shipping, please contact me to file your claim. Send in photos of the broken flower and packaging, and we’ll work together to figure out if you need a repair, a replacement, or a refund.

Repairs

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Always store Sugar Flowers in a cool, dry, dark place.
Moisture, humidity, and sunlight can damage flowers and cause them to melt or the colors to fade.
If refrigerating your cake, keep in mind that the moisture of your refrigerator can affect the flowers.
If you have a high humidity refrigerator or walk-in cooler, consider placing the flowers on the cake right before serving, or you can store your cake inside a sealed cardboard box to reduce condensation and humidity damage.
You can place desiccant packets in the storage box as well.

STORAGE

Two

To Remove Sugar Flowers from the box
Carefully remove your Sugar Flowers from the packaging.
Bend the flexible floral wire stem and lift the Sugar Flower out of the foam
Gently open up the petals for flowers that have individually wired petals (such as open roses).
If you are not using your flowers immediately, the box they arrived in is the perfect place to store your flowers

The Unboxing Experience

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The Resources

– Barbara

"I ordered these beauties for a Vow Renewal Cake Topper. The customer service was incredible! I felt very comfortable ordering them and decorating the cake myself because they provided a video taking you through every step! From unpacking the Sugar Flowers to actually putting them on the cake. It was so simple, and everyone loved them!"

incredible

“The customer service was incredible!"

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