Traditionally, your Wedding Cake symbolises happiness, prosperity and fertility.
The cutting of the wedding cake has always been one of the highlights of the wedding and is on the photographer’s “tick list” for the occasion.
Guests can’t wait to see the bride in her beautiful gown, next they want to see the bridesmaids and check out their dresses. After them, the wedding cake, usually placed on its own small table, is the most important aspect of your wedding reception that your guests want to see.
The wedding cake is a focal, decorative feature of the wedding reception and is just as important as the table settings and floral displays.
There are many customs regarding the number of tiers for the wedding cake.
Traditionally, there were three – the bottom largest layer is cut at the reception and the size of this layer is determined by the number of guests, to ensure they all get a slice! The middle layer is kept for the First Year Wedding Anniversary and the top, smallest layer is kept for the Baby’s Christening.
It is necessary for the middle and top layers to be made from fruitcake as it has the best keeping qualities if you are having a traditionalist wedding. There is nothing to stop you from serving all layers of the cake at the reception particularly if the cake is also the dessert. You may choose a single layer cake or two tiers and there have been wedding cakes with many more tiers than three. Again, it is a personal choice and the decision belongs to the bride and groom.
The options for your wedding cake are endless – how many tiers, the type of cake, the colour and type of icing, the shape of the cake, round, square, heart-shaped, octagon or a mixture, the decorations, the wedding cake topper, flowers, piping style and more; the list is endless.
Generally speaking, the wedding cake is matched to the overall tone of your wedding. The flowers in your bouquet can be the inspiration for the exquisite sugar art flowers decorating your cake. The colour of the bridesmaid’s dresses can be matched with ribbon on the cake sides. The pattern of the lace on your bridal gown can be imitated in royal icing patterns on the sides or a middle tier of your cake.
Novelty cakes and novelty toppers of the bride and groom are proving very popular and can add a little humour. Perhaps the groom is a sporting enthusiast or there was a special event that drew you to one another that you would like to incorporate in the decorations of your wedding cake. Cupcakes or miniature versions of the wedding cake are a fun memento of your wedding day for your guests.
There is now a company that can provide an exact replica of the bridal couple moulded in clay as a permanent keepsake with the bride’s hairstyle, dress and bouquet perfectly matched as well as the grooms suit, hair colour and style. Details of this supplier are available if you are interested.
It is recommended that you decide on the style of your wedding cake and order it at least twelve to sixteen weeks before the wedding. Your wedding cake can be delivered and set up at the reception venue for you if you request this service. Please confirm with the reception venue that a cake table is provided and its location in the room. Please advise if you require a length of matching ribbon (if selected for the cake) to tie around your cake knife.
Congratulations to the bride and groom, their families and friends joining together on a wonderful, memorable occasion to share in the joy of this beautiful couple’s first step into married life as husband and wife.
My sincere best wishes for your future and may your wedding cake complete your ceremony with a tasteful, unforgettable finish.
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