Tradition plays a big role in many weddings. A traditional wedding cake is one such example, symbolizing and celebrating a couple’s newly established partnership with their guests. Wedding cakes look great too, and express the beauty of this shared tradition.
Throughout the wedding planning process, you’ll have opportunities to opt for a more traditional affair, or something more updated. Don’t fret; you can easily blend the two, and even very modern weddings can still include a traditional cake! Explore these time-tested wedding cake traditions that can help make your wedding special.
Wedding Cake History
Naturally, wedding cakes have changed considerably over time. The first versions of this celebratory dessert were not the elaborate, tiered cakes we know today; rather, they evolved from simple breads.
Some of the earliest wedding cake traditions originated in ancient Rome, where a loaf of barley bread was broken over the bride’s head as a token of good fortune and prosperity. In medieval England, couples kissed over a stack of spiced buns, with a successful kiss believed to ensure a prosperous marriage.
By the Victorian era, the wealthy began to design ornate cakes. Queen Victoria’s 1840 wedding cake had three tiers, weighed 300 lbs, and was decorated with white icing. Over time, wedding cakes continued to evolve in appearance, flavor and decoration, but their significance as a symbol of celebration, prosperity and the couple’s union has remained.
Wedding Cake Traditions
1. Cutting the cake: The cutting of the cake is a time-honored tradition. It was first introduced as a symbol of unity and shared responsibility, marking the first act of overcoming life’s challenges together. Usually, this brief ceremony is performed when the married couple clasps their hands together to slice the first piece of cake together. And while you’ll undoubtedly be focused on sharing this moment with your new spouse, wedding guests will have the opportunity to witness this act of unity and marital strength.
2. Three layers: The traditional wedding cake has three tiers, each smaller in circumference than the one below it. The convention states that the three levels represent the tenets of prosperity, good luck and fertility. The bottom layer is cut on the night of the wedding, distributed to guests and typically enjoyed together.
Historically, the top tier was preserved for the couple’s first child’s christening. In the 19th century, couples were generally expected to have children soon after marriage. Wedding cakes of those times were often made with fruitcake that could be preserved for long periods. As couples began waiting longer to have children, the tradition evolved. Today, it is more common for newlyweds to save the top tier and freeze it for a year to enjoy it together on their first anniversary. This newer tradition gives couples a chance to revisit their wedding day and celebrate their first year of marriage.
3. Cake toppers: Traditional wedding cake toppers frequently feature the couple standing together to symbolize the new union and life the newlyweds are embarking on. Conventional figurines still remain popular, though modern couples often put their own spin on this wedding cake tradition. Some choose toppers featuring their initials or shared last name, while others incorporate their pets, favorite hobbies, travel destinations or other details that reflect their relationship. Custom figurines modeled after the couple can offer another playful take on the classic topper. Simple floral arrangements or a personalized message are common alternatives.
4. Fruit toppings: Fruit doesn’t just add color to your wedding cake; it also signifies luck, prosperity, and fertility for the happy couple. Fruit can be used as a garnish or can be integrated into the cake itself for flavor. Fruits also help preserve the cake and keep it moist longer, which can be helpful if you’re freezing your cake for your first anniversary.
5. Sending a slice home: Cakes were not always served as dessert at weddings. Instead of a slice to be eaten at the wedding’s reception, the cake was once considered more a party favor to be sent home with guests. Traditionally, single guests would place the cake under their pillow while they slept to inspire sweet dreams about their future partners. There are still some who believe that just the act of taking a cake home helps to bring about good romantic fortune in any person’s life.
6. Smashing cake into faces: The meaning of this messy ritual has changed over the years and opinions on its merits vary. Many believe cake smashing stems from the ancient Roman tradition of breaking bread over the bride’s head; however, some question these antiquated origins. In modern times, the smashing of cake can be a moment of levity and a great memory to share with one’s partner, if they are comfortable with it.
Despite the tradition’s exclusion from some modern weddings, the practice is still immensely popular. The TikTok hashtag #cakesmash and other similar tags earn millions of views per year. Ultimately, whether you and your partner decide to include a cake-smashing moment, either due to its traditional meaning of good luck or as a playful exchange between the spouses marking the last leg of their wedding celebration, should be up to you.
7. Cake pulls: Also known as cake charms, a wedding cake pull is a Southern US tradition with roots in the Victorian Era. It is a simple but fun activity performed by bridesmaids, friends, or anyone else who wants to join in the fun. Guests pull on a piece of ribbon or string of pearls attached to a small metal charm tucked between the layers of the wedding cake. The charms are made of food-safe material in simple, recognizable designs that are said to indicate the participant’s future.
Traditional charms have established meanings that range from obvious (baby shoes = upcoming pregnancy) to fun (alligator = you’ll live a long and enjoyable life) to fanciful (frog = you’ll meet your prince or princess soon) to hopeful (bird = a new opportunity will present itself). If you expect your wedding guests to be unfamiliar with this tradition, you can make a brief guide explaining what each charm means and make it available to guests at the wedding reception. Pull cakes usually contain eight charms, but you can add as many or as few as you’d like!
8. Never refusing a slice of cake: This one’s for wedding guests. It’s a convention to always accept a slice of wedding cake when offered. To refuse is bad luck! With that in mind, make sure your wedding cake is something guests will enjoy! This can be more difficult than it sounds, especially for larger weddings. It can be hard to please everyone, and ultimately, the flavor and style of wedding cake should be based on what the happy couple wants.
There are certainly a lot of options to choose from: vegan and gluten-free cakes are now a viable option for many weddings and can be more inclusive of individuals’ preferences and dietary restrictions. But if these modified options don’t appeal to you, consider offering more than one dessert! That way, guests can enjoy the cake-cutting ceremony and then serve themselves their favorites. Options include donuts, cookies, or a second, modified-ingredient cake.
The skilled bakers and pastry chefs at Frost Artisan Bakery can help you plan a memorable and inclusive wedding dessert with multiple offerings, including constructing your perfect wedding cake.