5 Wedding Cake Traditions and Their Meanings

The moment you’ve been waiting for is here. You are getting married and you are anxious about every aspect of the ceremony and the reception. Especially the Wedding Cake Traditions, that is the one thing that captures all of the guest’s attention. This beautiful wedding cake though isn’t just a modern convention. It comes with a long history that dates back to medieval times.

A wedding cake initially was not a cake at all. It was more of a stack of buns, even though its symbolism is the same as today. When you cut the cake there are many dos and don’ts, as well as various traditions that you need to follow. All those originate from these times and they are still one of the most impressive parts of the reception.

So, for your own wedding, you need to be extra careful about your wedding cake’s decision. The cake must be a reflection of you and your spouse as a couple, not just a beautifully decorated and extravagant cake.

So let’s break down where all of the traditions the concern the wedding cake, have come from.

Wedding Cake Traditions – All the Traditions Explained

Cutting the Wedding Cake

One of the most well-known traditions about wedding cakes is the moment of the cutting of it. In the past, the cake used to get cut only by the bride. However, this tradition has altered and now both wife and husband cut the cake together. Only after the cakes are cut your guests will get to taste it. After this the couple’s first kiss and dance follow, probably the most swoon-worthy part of the reception.

Feeding of the Cake

After the previously mentioned tradition, of cutting the cake, the couple often feeds each other a piece of it. It’s a very sweet moment and shows how the couple cares for each other. Who wouldn’t want a spouse willing to feed them cake? Nowadays though, many couples turn this tradition into a child’s play. You often see that they smash this precious first bite into each other’s faces. It’s playful, funny, and it will definitely release some of the day’s stress. If you prefer to go this way, make sure that your photographer will capture all the fun!

Multiple Tiers

Imagine a wedding cake. I’m sure that what you pictured is a white multi-tier cake, correct? But why do we need multiple tiers? This is a tradition that originated in medieval times. Then, bakers would stack up many layers of buns, as high as they possibly good. This stack was given to the newlyweds as a wedding dessert.

When this cake was given to the couple they had to go through a challenge, as they should try to kiss over all those layers of cakes or buns. If they managed to do that successfully, then a long and happy life was guaranteed to them.

Other traditions about the wedding cake’s tiers explain the significance of the multiple tiers. In more detail, the bottom tier is the one supposed to be eaten in the ceremony, the middle tier is given to the guests that attend the reception, and the top tier must remain intact by the couple.

In the 19th century, the couple had to save the top tier until the christening of their first child. However, in the later centuries until today, couples don’t immediately start a family. For this reason, this tradition has changed and the couple keeps the top tier until their first wedding anniversary.

Lucky Charms

Another fun tradition is the addition of various gold or silver lucky charms into the wedding cake. This is a tradition that also applies to the cake of the bridal shower. Every charm that is inserted and baked into the cake has a different meaning. People who will find them will gain different lucks from them. Some examples can be an airplane for a trip in the near future, a heart for love, and an armchair for happiness until the old age. You can try this tradition and bring smiles to the faces of your guests.

White Wedding Cake

It’s so difficult to imagine a wedding cake that it’s not white. Even though nowadays food coloring is available and you can get any cake color you would like, the cake continues to remain white, or light-colored. This is purely because in the past centuries the icing was made from sugar and there weren’t any culinary colors to alter it in any way.

There are many traditions that surround the wedding cakes. Some of them are sweet and symbolize the connection that the couple has, while others are fun or just a matter of habit. Still, a wedding reception is not complete without a cake. So, for your special day make plans for one the will both impress your guests, but also one that will validate the feelings that you have.

Hope all clear about Wedding Cake Traditions, stay in touch with Smart Online Wedding.