A Brief History of the Wedding Cake

Why do we have wedding cakes? What’s all the fuss about? What sparked the idea?

It may surprise you to learn that wedding cakes were originally not cakes at all. They were simply a pile of unsweetened biscuits and small cakes, stacked high.

In Roman times, the groom symbolized his dominance over his bride ceremoniously, by smashing the cake over her head. (Yikes!) There are accounts of people in medieval England bringing small cakes and placing them in a stack between the bride and groom. If they were able to kiss over the entire stack, it was a sign that they would bear many children.

By the late 19th century, the wedding cake tradition was in full effect. However, it was just one tier as opposed to the three or four tiers that are popular today. The traditional wedding cake was all white with white decorations on it, a symbol of the couple’s purity. Today wedding cakes are all but white. The design and composition of your cake will often match the colors and style of the entire wedding.

Customarily, the cake-cutting ceremony was done solely by the bride, who would then serve the entire cake to her guests. As cakes became larger and more complex, an assistant was needed in order to effectively serve the guests.

It used to be commonplace to save the top tier and serve it for your one year anniversary; however, modern day bakers recommend ordering a freshly made cake for such an occasion.

Progressive bakers are creating masterpieces custom tailored to their client’s taste. You can get themed cakes. Cakes for each table. Three tiers or four. White, red, fondant, buttercream, fruit stuffed, pastel yellow, cream cheese… and of course, cupcakes. From their humble biscuit beginnings, wedding cakes have evolved and continue to become more elegant (as well as outrageous), yet the traditions that accompany such creations endure.

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