Photo credit theknot.com
Shawn & Kasey at their wedding in 2004
The history of the wedding cake dates all the way back to the Roman Empire. The tradition of breaking cake over the bride's head symbolized the breaking of the bride's virginal state and dominance of the groom over his new bride. It is not surprising why this tradition faded...and faded fast.
In Medieval England a common custom was to create a pile of sweet buns in front of the new couple. Their success of kissing over the pile would symbolize many children in their future.
A tradition that is still seen today (although seldom) is to place a glass ring and other small trinkets inside the cake attached with ribbons. The single woman who found the ring would be the next to marry.
The history of the color of the wedding cake has changed meaning several times. White was first used because fancy ingredients were expensive and hard to come by. Because icing is made with refined sugar, the whiter the cake, the more affluent the family appeared. Later white symbolized purity (also true with a white wedding gown). In more modern times, the color white only symbolizes a celebration.
Still considered a standard tradition at most wedding receptions today is the cake cutting ceremony where the newlyweds cut the cake together and feed each other the first piece jointly, symbolizing that they will share all aspects of their new life; together.
Shawn & Kasey at their wedding in 2004
Photo from Kasey's private collection
Lastly, saving the top layer of the wedding cake also has changed meaning throughout history. Originally, it was assumed that a christening would soon follow the wedding ceremony. Couples would save the top layer of the lavish cake and serve it at the christening of their first born child. More recent, this period of time has lengthened and a new tradition was born (no pun intended!). Couples now celebrate their first anniversary by eating the top layer of their wedding cake served exactly one year ago.
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