Wedding Cake Traditions: From Ancient Bread to Royal Icing
So many wedding traditions have long histories and interesting origins. Our classic tradition of serving cake for weddings comes from two different sources. First Ancient Rome — one of the prime sources of Western culture — where bread was broken over a bride’s head to bring good luck. The Roman wedding ceremony was finalized with the bread (aka: cake) made of wheat or barley, and whatever crumbs fell were gathered up by guests as tokens of good luck.
The Evolution of Style and Social Status
Moving closer to our own style of cake as ritual, in England and early American, we’re talking 1700’s here, cake was a sign of social status, as it was quite the luxury, and so including one in one’s wedding was prestigious. These cakes were often fruit cakes, but iced with tiers much like the ones we see today. Even the icing itself holds significant, being traditionally white, which for some reason was a symbol of money.
The Birth of the Modern Wedding Cake
In 1882 the modern wedding cake was born when Prince Leopold, an English Duke, had a cake made that we would absolutely recognize today. After this, the layered cake became popular, topped with luscious dense icing and stacked in tiers. All modern wedding things seem to have a Queen Victoria connection. She used that white icing for her cake, which became known as ‘royal icing.’ Everyone followed what Queen Victoria did, her influence was enormous.
Symbolism and the Cutting Ritual
The cutting of the cake is a big deal and certainly echoes that breaking bread over the bride’s head thing. Almost 100% of the weddings I’ve shot have included the bride and groom slicing a piece of their wedding cake together, hand in hand, and feeding each other a piece. It is supposed to represent their commitment to each other and the shared lives they will live. It also marked the beginning of a husband’s power over his bride and meant to ensure fertility, which to be fair, meant survival.
The Cake Smash Tradition
The cake smash tradition has evolved over the centuries. In ancient Rome, brides were expected to end the wedding festivities by having a barley cake smashed on their heads. Frankly, I think smashing the cake in each other’s faces is simply a funny way to conclude the evening after a full day of celebrations. It’s a great way to let loose and lead into a high-energy exit and start the newlywed’s life together! If you decide to do a cake smash, I suggest you kindly remind your fiancé to respect your dress, hair, and make-up.
Key Milestones in Wedding Cake History
- Ancient Rome: Bread/barley cake broken over the bride's head for luck and fertility.
- 1700s: Fruit cakes become a prestigious sign of social status.
- Queen Victoria: Popularized white "royal icing" and layered cakes.
- 1882: Prince Leopold introduces the modern tiered cake structure.
- 1950s: First appearance of bride and groom figures as cake toppers in the U.S.
Modern Trends and Photography Tips
Cake toppers are very popular and have become creative and trendy. You can even have one custom made to look just like you, or even your pets. A photo of your wedding cake is a must-have! Another cake-related tip: Order a small, personal cake for the two of you to cut together and then take home to freeze, and just order several delicious sheet cakes for your guests to enjoy after! A sheet cake is so much easier to cut than a round cake, and it’s really easy to prepare in the kitchen and immediately serve after you’ve cut your own cake.