The ceremony is over, fun has been had, drinks have been drunk, and now it is time to cut the cake. Finding the perfect cake for this special time can more challenging than originally thought. Use these tips and ideas to learn about the world of wedding cakes.

The wedding cake is one of the favorite parts of the reception with everyone enjoying the delicious treat and celebrating the newlywed’s happiness. While it may seem that the concept of serving a wedding cake is a relatively new idea, many don’t realize is that it is an extremely old tradition, dating back to ancient Rome and the Middle Ages.

Unlike today, where we serve heavily decorated sweet cakes, the Romans would serve loaves of wheat bread that were broken over the heads of the couple. This tradition was meant to bring them luck and prosperity, and the crumbs that fell on the floor after the bread was broken were meant to symbolize fertility for the married couple. A tradition that was similar to the throwing of the bride’s bouquet, is that the single female guests would stand around the couple while the bread was being broken, and would gather the crumbs on the floor which would mean that they would be the next to get married. In the Middle Ages, the wedding cake consisted of biscuits or scones that the guests would bring themselves. At the reception, they were stacked on top of each other for the bride and groom to kiss over, which was to bring them good luck for the future.

The ornate wedding cakes that are served today were not seen until the seventeenth century in France, when bakers would stack wheat buns on top of each other and decorate them with icing. Today, different countries and regions have their own traditions, however most wedding cakes are traditionally multi-layered or tiered, and are decorated with heavy frosting or icing, with a statue of the bride and groom that is placed on top. At the reception, the newlyweds typically cut the first two slices of cake, with the groom placing his hand over the bride’s. The couple then feeds the slices of cake to each other that is meant to symbolize the support that they will provide to each other throughout their marriage. After the wedding, most couples store a portion of the cake that they eat on their first anniversary, or their first child’s christening.

In the Southern US, it’s common to have a cake pull, which is the tradition of having small silver charms that are meant to symbolize children, marriage, wealth, which are attached to ribbons, and placed inside the cake. At the beginning of the reception, typically after the bride and groom cut the cake, the bridesmaids, gather around and pull the charms out to see which one they will get. Although this tradition still remains in most weddings, most cake pulls now take place happens at the bridesmaid’s luncheon.

Despite the popularity of the traditional white-tiered wedding cake, many brides are now breaking this tradition, and looking to a wider variety of sources to find inspiration for their wedding cake. The options for a modern wedding cake are unlimited, and many often try to incorporate different shapes and colors. The possibilities are endless, so be creative, and have fun when brainstorming ideas for your wedding cake.

Amidst the seemingly infinite pool of detailed decisions to be made in preparation for your 2009 wedding, there is one timeless tradition that accompanies every wedding that can truly personalize your day to make it uniquely your own: your wedding cake. If you’re looking for just the right touch to distinguish your matrimony from the rest, consider these funky, classic, and sophisticated twists on the traditional white layers to customize your 2009 wedding cake to make it a suitable symbol of your union.

For the Classic Duo (Traditional Wedding Cake):
Still in love with the traditional white layers but craving a style that separates your cake from the rest? Consider this twist on a classic favorite: a harmony of clean-cut lines adjoined with a circle-shaped center and top-cake. This 2009 wedding cake trend perfectly commingles the old with the new, using a mesh of circles and straights to create a cake suited to the contemporary classicist.

For the Winter Wedding (Themed Wedding Cakes):
What could better match your wintry theme than a stunning cascade of snowflakes swirling down your cake? No matter what the season, your 2009 wedding cake can be dressed appropriately to the occasion, be it snowy or sunny. This wedding cake trend may just outshine the rest with its strategically placed glowing lights to symbolize eternal commitment.

For the 80’s Baby (Grooms Cake):
The grooms cake is a popular 2009 wedding cake trend; in this case it’s made to look like a giant Rubik’s cube as a humorous ode to the 80’s-- a celebration of the past as you look toward the future. Don’t be afraid to unleash your playful, funky side with this additional wedding cake.

For the Whimsical Couple (Cupcake Wedding Cake):
Cupcakes are a modern 2009 wedding cake trend for the couple that favors the easygoing and effortless. These cute wedding cakes are designed to look like elegant white flowers; cupcake wedding cakes can give a free flowing flair for the couple that is more fanciful than formal.

For the Marked Mates (Monogrammed Cakes/Toppers):
Spell out your new couple-dom with a monogrammed wedding cake, a popular 2009 trend. Nothing can better personalize a wedding cake than having both your initials written right on it, linked together. This trend is perfect for the under, or over, stated matrimonial occasion.

from www.getmarriedcanada.com

Wedding cakeshave long been a tradition of wedding day celebrations. The two most widely known traditions are that of cutting the cake and saving the top cake for your 1st year wedding anniversary.

What is 'Cutting the Cake'?

The cutting of the cake is a classic wedding tradition where the bride and groom cut the cake together and then feed each other a small piece of it. After this occurs, the guests are served.

When Do we Cut the Cake?

The cake is cut just before dessert is served or after guests have received their coffee and tea service.

How is the Cake Cut?

The bride holds the knife with her right hand and the groom places his right hand over top of hers. They then pick up the knife together and cut through the bottom layer together.

Why and How do we Feed Each Other?

Feeding the cake to each other symbolizes the commitment to provide for one other. When feeding each other cake, be sure your photographer is ready for this memorable event!

How is the Cake Served?

After the bride and groom have cut the first piece and then fed each other, the bride cuts pieces and serves her parents. The groom then cuts pieces of cake for his parents and serves them. The remainder of the cake is then cut and served by the waitstaff or caterers.

Saving the Cake Top

Another well known tradition is to save the top layer of the cake by freezing it and eating on your one year wedding anniversary.

How Do You Keep the Cake Fresh?

It is really difficult to keep a frozen cake fresh when you go to eat it one year later. The best thing to do is to wrap the cake in saran wrap very tightly, then wrap it again in tinfoil, and then package in an airtight Tupperware container.

from www.ebrides.ca

Aside from a bride in her dress, nothing says wedding like the cake!

Like many wedding traditions, the wedding cake is evolving to meet the needs of today’s couples. All but gone is your grandmother’s fruit cake and today we see cupcake trees shaped to look like a wedding cake. In either case, the wedding caketradition continues to symbolize the sweetness of life and live, fertility, prosperity and community as you share your cake with friends and loved one.

Bakers: When choosing a baker, remember to use advice from other wedding vendors that you are using as will as friends recommendations. But don’t stop there. Ask to see a business license indicating that they may legally prepare and sell food. This is your assurance that they pass a local health and safety inspections. As hosts, the welfare of your guests is easy to ensure through the use of reputable businesses. You may pay a few dollars more, but a good reputation is its own insurance.

The Shop: Professional cake decorators will have a showroom with a selection of false cakes on display to help you visualize what your cake will look like. Generally, the bigger the display, the busier the shop. This is a good sign that they are well referred and are likely to do a quality job for you. A prominent display of current and past thank you notes are always a good sign.

Photos: Look for photo books containing pictures of their own work, not someone else’s in a magazine. Anyone can buy a magazine but few people can prepare these works of art. The simple truth is that no one can duplicate the work of another decorator exactly and they should tell that up front. Remember to discuss in detail what differences may be expected when re-creating a cake from a magazine photo.

Sampling: When the time comes to sample the wares of a potential baker, you should be able to select 2 – 4 complimentary samples for tasting, though additional samples may be available for a fee. Try it before you buy it. If you don’t like the samples, discuss this with the baker, perhaps another selection will be more to your liking.

Decisions: If you think you’ve found your baker, reserve them with a deposit. Most bakers are only able to do a limited number of orders due to the high labour requirements and perishable nature of a wedding cake. First come, first served is normal and a modest deposit will ensure your order and allow you to stroke something off your list. Once booked, final decisions on size and style may wait until 3 -4 weeks before the wedding. Final payment is usually due before the wedding.

Tips: The best bakers are in demand, shop at least 3 months ahead.

Plan to spend 2% of your budget depending on style and size.

Bakers don’t make bouquets and florists don’t bake cakes.

from www.foodtv.ca

Marriage by Chocolate