The tradition of wedding cakes go all the way back to the Roman Empire. During that era, it wasn’t cake at all, but a loaf of bread that the groom broke over the bride’s head to symbolize his dominance in the union and to bring the couple good fortune.
The couple would then eat a few crumbs of the cake to bring good luck fertility to the marriage. Guests would then rush to try to get some of the crumbs on the floor so they too would have luck and fortune.
Icing on the bridal cake first appeared in the 17th century and was all white symbolizing the purity of the bride. However, the ingredients were so expensive to make the icing pure white that it became a status symbol and if you had white icing on the cake, it meant your family was wealthy. Obviously the wedding cake has since evolved and now can be very elaborate creations of all flavors and colors. I have even had a couple have Wedding Pie instead of cake which was a Medieval English tradition, and matched the theme of their wedding.
No matter what you decide for the design of your cake, there is still something to consider before you actually cut your cake on your wedding day. Are you going to be dainty and nice to one another?
| Using forks is very dainty! |
Or are you going for the “all out war?”
| Hint: Heather wants a war! |
If you choose the latter, you MUST kiss and make up!
But the most important part of all of this is to be in agreement prior to the cake cutting as to how it is going to go. If the bride has spent hours getting ready and had her hair and make-up done professionally, the groom can easily be in the dog house by smearing icing all over her face. At the same time, the groom will not want to be upstaged by his new bride in front of all of his friends and family!
This could feasibly be one of the most important decisions to make on your wedding day to ensure a happy wedding night!