Wedding Cake’s Traditions

Traditions have been associated with wedding cakes for centuries. Some of these traditions have passed the test of time, and are still being honoured today, but some are no longer practiced. Here’s a look at some wedding cake traditions and their significance.

The wedding cake was originally made of many little wheat cakes, which were broken over the head of the new bride. This tradition was meant to bestow fertility and good luck to the new bride in her married life. This is one wedding cake tradition, which – fortunately for the bride – is no longer practiced.

The cutting of the wedding cake signifies more than just the end of the wedding formalities. In the past, the wedding cake was cut only by the bride, and was symbolic of her upcoming loss of virginity. But today, this tradition includes the groom as well, and cutting the cake and sharing the first bite with each other symbolizes the promise the wedded couple has made to share a whole new life together.

According to another tradition, if an unmarried person sleeps with a piece of a wedding cake under their pillow, they will dream of their future spouse that night.

The top tier of the wedding cake was traditionally kept and used at the christening of the couple’s first child. But today, this custom has been modified slightly, and the top tier is saved to be used at the couple’s first anniversary.

Another tradition was to place charms, which were attached to ribbons, in the wedding cake. A bridesmaid would pull at a ribbon, and depending on the charm that she uncovered, her fortune would be indicated. Here are the charms that were used, and their respective meanings:

• A heart: Will bring love.
• A clover: Meant good luck
• An engagement ring: You’re the next to wed
• An anchor: Adventure will come
• A flower: Love is going to bloom
• A horseshoe: You are lucky in life