Wedding Cake Traditions
Wedding Cake Traditions
The Wedding Cake is the one menu item your guests can’t wait to taste!
Besides the tradition and symbolism of the bride and groom cutting the wedding cake, there’s also the important details to decide such as the design and shape of the cake, the flavors, and which of the Top 20 Songs to play for the cake cutting ceremony. Hopefully you’ll gather some good tips from this post.
At Bella Sera our design team believes the wedding cake is the main focal point and centerpiece of the reception. The wedding cake is said to be only outclassed by the beauty of the bride. So true! It is always prominently and beautifully displayed in our ballroom with gorgeous linens, candles and embellishments, and unique backdrops that compliment the design of each custom designed wedding cake.
Just look at these beautiful wedding cakes and how each one is an expression of the personalities and design style of our brides and grooms; from the colors, design, cake tiers, frosting, flavors, cake toppers, and of course, the cake bases and table décor. It’s no wonder why everyone waits anxiously to indulge in this decadent dessert.
Wedding Cake Traditions: Cutting the cake
The cake cutting tradition dates back many, many years. However, the modern cake-cutting ceremony signifies the first joint task that the bride and groom perform together as husband and wife. This tradition is very special and is one that is practiced at nearly every wedding you will attend. The bride with the “help” of the groom cuts the first piece of cake. The Groom feeds the bride first and she feeds him second. The tradition of feeding the cake to each other signifies a commitment to take care of one’s partner and provide the sustenance the other person needs in the marriage. Neither partner touches the other during the feeding. By not touching each other during the feeding, each person pledges to perform their tasks unaided.
Cakes, as well as bread have always been part of the celebration of a marriage. The ancient Romans considered bread to be a symbol of fertility. Some believe that a couple was not considered married until they had broke the bread and eaten it together.
The cake is also the last thing that guests eat, which leaves a definite lasting impression. Since it is the last formal ceremony of the wedding, etiquette states that guests may leave after the cake cutting. This is why you will see many grandparents or elderly guests leave a reception after they have had cake and coffee.
Wedding cake designs can be elegant and extravagant, artistic, or just downright fun.
Feeding Each Other Cake is another one of the popular Wedding Cake Traditions
Another act of the traditional cake cutting ceremony is when the bride and groom or couple feed each other a small bite of cake. This can be romantic and sweet, symbolizing a commitment to provide for one another and a show of love and affection.
Saving the Top Tier Wedding Cake is outdated
Most couples cannot resist saving the top tier of their wedding cake to eat on their first anniversary or a christening ceremony. In the past, christenings were often within a year of the wedding so this made perfect sense. Now, most couples are more likely to create a small cake eating ceremony around their first anniversary.
The White Wedding Cake
White cake or icing was a symbol of money and social importance in Victorian times, so it was highly desired. It was said that the fine white sugar needed to create white icing was extremely expensive and the lighter the cake, the more wealthy the family would appear to their guests.
The white of the cake was simply a representation of the bride as the main focal point of the wedding.
Wedding cakes can be any color, but most people still feel the base color beyond the decorations should be white. White is, of course, the color of purity and traditionally this cake was referred to as the “bride’s cake.”
Choosing your Favorite Wedding Cake Flavor Besides White
Café Latte Cake
Classic Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting
Decadent Chocolate
Hazelnut Praline
Italian Rum
Lemon Cake with Lemon Butter Cream Frosting
Old Fashioned Carrot Cake
Pink Champagne Cake with Raspberry Mousse Filling
Pink Strawberry Swirl Cake
Spice Cake with Caramel Buttercream Frosting
Tres Leches Cake
From decadent fillings to extraordinary design and cake table décor, your wedding cake can easily become something that guests will brag about for a very long time.
Winter Wonderland Themed Wedding Cakes
To create the perfect mood for the cake cutting ceremony, you’ll want to be sure to pick the perfect song to top it all off. You’re sure to find one from this list of
“The Top 20 Wedding Cake Cutting Songs”
- Ain’t That A Kick In The Head – Dean Martin
- Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast
- Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
- Chapel Of Love – The Dixie Cups
- Candy Man – Christina Aguilera
- Cut The Cake – Average White Band
- Eat it – Weird Al Yankovic
- Happy Together – The Turtles
- Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
- How Sweet It Is - James Taylor
- I Do (Cherish You) – 98 Degrees
- I Got You Babe – Sonny and Cher
- It’s Your Love – Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
- Love And Marriage – Frank Sinatra
- Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
- Recipe For Love – Harry Connick Jr.
- Sugar, Sugar – The Archies
- That’s Amore - Dean Martin
- The Sweetest Thing – U2
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
So now that you know the reason for the cake cutting ceremony, don’t forget to share it with your fiancé. Your guests will also enjoy learning about the reason behind the cake cutting, so ask your DJ to make a short introduction before you cut the cake explaining the symbolism behind the tradition. When shopping for inspirations on design, colors, tiers, flavors and decor embellishments, it’s best to choose a baker who has been in the wedding business for several years to ensure the design is perfect, the flavor is amazing, and that there is plenty of cake for all of your guests. Have fun with the whole experience, and don’t make your cake an after thought or last minute decision.
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They don’t have to follow the book! Do what you want. You can have your cake and eat it too. If you enjoyed these tips, be sure to share this post with a friend.
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