What are weddings without wedding cakes? Unless you have a civil wedding where you get married in front of a judge, sign the marriage contract and that’s it, wedding is supposed to be happy and merry with all the good material things in it. Gifts (money or in kind), delicious food, sweet wine, enjoyable entertainment and the cake are all part of making the wedding day a successful one. But what is it with cakes? Can you get married without one?

Well, technically you can. However, the traditional history that comes with it dictates that you should have one. Apparently, wedding cakes are said to have come from the Roman Empire. In the days of the empire, the cakes were usually loaves of barley bread. The groom will eat a piece of the loaf and then break the remaining piece over her wife’s head that would signify the groom’s breaking of the bride’s virginal condition and his superiority over her.

Today, that is no longer being done but the tradition remains. Different cultures and society have the cake but with different significance and procedures. One very popular tradition is the cutting of the cake where the bride (or groom in some…) cuts the cake and shares it with her husband. This signifies the upcoming loss of her virginity while vowing to live their lives together. In other customs, they have a large layered cake. During the reception, the bride and groom will cut the cake starting from the bottom up which signifies the couple’s climb to success! Amid those differences, the basic concept remains. The cake is used to signify the couple’s future and to wish them well in their marriage.

The cake can come in different forms and sizes. Traditional cakes are normally layered and are white in color. They are normally white as a sign of purity (the same reason why the bride’s wedding gown is white…). But in today’s world, the color no longer matters. We often see chocolate wedding cakes which of course is color brown. This doesn’t mean that the bride is no longer pure but it goes to show how far society has changed from being traditional to being open-minded. Weddings should not be governed by traditions but instead be governed with what matters most…love. If your loved one, wants a brown cake then so be it.

Cupcake wedding cakes are also popular nowadays. Instead of having a big humongous cake, small cupcakes are placed on ascending layers that give the illusion of a larger cake! What’s more, having this type of cake in your wedding is much cheaper than getting the traditional one. So if you are on a tight budget or you simply want a bigger budget on your wedding gown, then you can opt to get this cake instead of the old school cake.

Yes, the cake is an essential part of the wedding. Though not required, it adds meaning and life to the wedding ceremony especially unique wedding cakes.