Image courtesy of Crumbs! Cake Art
Image courtesy of David Jones
Image courtesy of Lighthouse Photography
Image courtesy of Photography by Pippin
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Once you've chosen your theme or wedding colours, it's then time to use your creativity again and organise a scrumptous and attractive cake that will be the talk of the town!
the historic symbolism of the wedding cake
The baking of the wedding cake happens to be one of the oldest traditions in modern culture. Over three thousand years ago, at the time of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, there is evidence that a cake was part of most wedding celebrations. An offering of fruit, nuts and honey cake was made to the Household Gods to get them to approve the marriage and to bestow their blessings on the couple.
Julius Caesar took the tradition to Britain when he conquered it in 54B.C. The wealthy British families took up the practice of sharing wedding cake with the village folk who would join in the bridal procession.
At Scottish weddings the bridegroom would break an oatcake above his bride's head. They then distributed the pieces which were consumed with a glass of whisky. As the years progressed, fruit buns were substituted for the oatcakes and biscuits. The buns were piled up and set before the newly married couple who kissed over the piled cakes so that they might be blessed with many children and life-long happiness and prosperity. It was the French chef, with his love of fancy food, who iced the wedding cake with a crust of hardened white sugar. Then came the tradition of cutting the cake and toasting the bride and groom as we know it today in Australia.
All countries throughout the world have followed similar customs of baking and eating special cake for their weddings. Brides in Asia, India, China, Africa and the Pacific Islands believe wedding cakes represent their fertility as the ingredients used are the result of their plentiful harvests.
When it comes time for the cutting of your own wedding cake, take a minute to think about the symbolic meaning passed down from the Romans through the centuriesÉ the blessings of happiness, prosperity and children.
choosing your cake
As weddings now are more personalised, the choice of cakes is limitless.
Tradition calls for a tiered rich fruit cake covered in sugar dough icing, piped and decorated. One of the tiers can be saved for a future significant occasion such as the first anniversary or the christening of the first child. If you wish to save a tier then only the traditional fruit cake is suitable (keep it in a tin wrapped in a brandy soaked cloth).
However if you're not interested in saving some of the cake then you can choose any type you wish - chocolate, cheesecake, carrot cake, hazelnut torte or even a black forest cake! You can still have the traditional white icing and decorations or you may decide to have something completely different. Croquembouches are a popular alternative - a tall pyramid of small cream puffs held together by caramel and set in a cloud of spun sugar - a descendent of the original 17th century pile of buns.
If you have Italian heritage you may want a rum-filled cream cake. If your background is Greek your traditional cake is baked with sesame seeds, honey and quince - to symbolise that marriage is for better or worse. You could even give your guests a choice by making each tier a different flavour - chocolate, banana, madeira, orange. You may order the cake of your choice from a specialist cake store, bakery, your caterer, your reception venue or a special occasion cake decorator. Before you decide, visit several wedding cake specialists and look at their sample books and pictures, ask about pricing and ask to taste their cakes before you place your order.
Order your cake at least two months before your wedding allowing plenty of time for the baker's preparation of the actual cake and whatever decoration you choose. Regarding the size of the cake, allow one slice for each guest at your wedding and some extras for people you want to send slices to - approximately 60 grams per person. If you want to save one tier this will be additional. Standard cake shapes such as square and round will keep the cost down. Unusual shapes can add extra cost as can unusual or intricate decorations.
design and decorations
Although round and square shaped cakes are the most popular you can choose any shape you would like - heart shaped or oval, for example. And the decorations are limited only by your imagination...
Keeping with the theme you have chosen for your wedding you could decorate your cake with:
- artistic arrangements of gum-paste flowers which look like they were stolen from your bouquet
- an array of fresh flowers cascading down the tiers
- multi-coloured icing sculpted to match the lacework or embroidery of your gown
- colours to match the bridesmaids' dresses
- a symbol of your lifestyle or hobbies sculpted in icing, such as a surfboard, tennis racquet or snow skis
- a motif to match your wedding stationery
- delicately hand-blown glass ornaments
- horseshoes, cupids, hearts, lovebirds, doves, wedding bells, delicate orange blossoms, a church or even bears
- ribbons to compliment your colour scheme
Many wedding cakes are still iced in white or cream but you can choose any colour of the rainbow to co-ordinate with your wedding theme. Even black!
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