You walk into the wedding reception and it’s often staring at you – whether from the corner of the room or
front and center on the dance floor. The wedding cake is a frequently photographed part of the wedding
reception. How did the wedding cake come to be such a prominent part of the special day, and what part
do you want it to play in your special day?

Legend has it that the first wedding cakes came to be to signify luck and fertility. In Roman times, grains
of wheat represented fertility and were thrown at the newly married couple (which through the years has
morphed into throwing rice, and sometimes bird seed). The ancient Greeks and Romans were also said
to have a tradition where the groom broke bread over the brides heat to symbolize the end of her purity
and to represent good luck and fertility. During the Middle Ages, wedding cakes started to be high
stacked, and newlyweds would kiss over it. If they were able to successfully kiss without knocking the
cake over, it was believed they would be blessed with many children.

The earliest wedding cakes were often plain and simple (often thought to be like what we today know as
fruitcakes). However, by the 18th century, sugar was more affordable and white icing began be used as a
symbol of the bride’s purity as well as an indicator of the bride’s family’s wealth. Through the years, color
was added to the icing, and tiered cakes and elaborate designs were seen as greater affluence and social
status. That’s when the tradition of the couple feeding each other cake also became more prominent and
believed to symbolize a promise of looking out for each other forever.

The cutting of the cake takes on a symbolic meaning as well. The groom places his hand over that of the
bride’s, showing his support and promise to take care of her and the future. The couple is encouraged tocut from the bottom
tier as a reminder of the relationship’s longevity. The top layer was saved for a oneyear anniversary, to manifest good luck and prosperity.

Wedding cakes have come a long way since those early years, yet traditional wedding cakes remain a
huge staple at most weddings today.

The options are endless for couple’s today. When thinking about your wedding cake, think about a flavor
and style that represents you and your personality. Once the venue and menu has been decided, many
couples choose to find a cohesive flavor profile from dinner to dessert. And you don’t just want your cake
to look good, you want it to taste good, so make sure you have a taste test on what you’ll be serving your
guests. You’ll also want to have a good idea of the general look and feel of your wedding so that your
cake compliments your wedding day. Things such as your color schemes can carry through to your
wedding cake design. An open and honest conversation with your baker will help you work out all these
details.

Today’s weddings aren’t just about the cake. Full dessert buffets have included truffles, chocolate covered
strawberries, cupcakes, cookie trays or ice cream sundae bars. The possibilities really are endless.

Contact us to find out about our wedding reception options and how we can help you make your special
day an event to remember. Once you have the venue booked, we can help you with all your wedding
arrangements, including finding that special wedding cake and wedding day menu.