Types of wedding cake

Watching the newlyweds cut the wedding cake at their wedding in Kent is almost as much of a highlight as them actually saying “I do”.

Why do newlyweds cut the wedding cake?
The bride and groom cut the cake together to symbolise their first shared duty as a married couple. It also makes a great photo opportunity for the assembled well-wishers.

The cutting of the wedding cake is supposed to symbolise the first shared duty as a married couple but it also makes a great photo opportunity for your Kent wedding photographer and any other guests that have brought their own cameras along.

Wedding cakes date back to roman times where they would have been shared amongst guests during the actual wedding ceremony rather than the reception afterwards.

In the UK and Kent, earlier cakes were similar to the traditional shape that we still see today – a flat, round cake baked with fruits and nuts – said to be a symbol of fertility.

What are wedding cakes made of?
Traditionally, a wedding cake will be made up of three tiers of iced fruit cake. With a traditional wedding cake like this, many couples still choose to save the top tier of their wedding cake for either their first wedding anniversary, or the christening of their first child. The tier of the wedding cake is usually frozen until it is needed. If you are planning to do this, check that the cake is suitable with your caterer before you do go ahead.

In recent years, wedding cakes have changed shape, size and style so much that almost anything goes and couples are free to choose a wedding cake that fits their wedding perfectly.

Available in all shapes and sizes, wedding cakes are now as varied as a basic sponge or a tower of profiteroles or mini doughnuts, where guests will be served with a single profiterole or doughnut rather than a more traditional slice of cake.

What makes it a ‘wedding cake?’
Technically, there’s not very much difference between a ‘wedding’ cake and any other cake. The only real difference is that a wedding cake will be photographed a lot more and cost a lot more than your average Victoria sponge. Nowadays any cake can be used as wedding cake; it’s entirely down to the personal choice of the bride and groom.

There are…

• Sponge wedding cakes
• Chocolate wedding cakes
• Cheese cakes
• Fruit wedding cakes
• Round wedding cakes
• Square wedding cakes
• Tiered wedding cakes
• Flat wedding cakes
• Simple wedding cakes
• Incredibly complicated and impressive wedding cakes

In conclusion, budget allowing – anything is possible when it comes to your wedding cake.
How should the wedding cake be cut?
When the wedding cake is brought out, it should be placed on a beautifully decorated table which stands in front of the top table where the bride, groom and all the major attendees of your wedding in Kent are seated. If it’s a big wedding cake, make sure the cake is positioned so that the majority of your guests can see it.

Someone should announce that the cutting of the wedding cake is about to take place, just to allow everyone time to get ready. The cutting of the wedding cake would usually take place after the speeches have been made but depending on what the bride and groom choose to do, it can actually take place later on, when the evening guests have arrived so that they don’t miss out.

When cutting a wedding cake, the groom should place his hand over the right hand of the bride, and they will together cut the cake. The groom should then feed the bride with the first slice of wedding cake and then the bride returns the favour. The cake will then be taken away to be cut behind closed doors, and the cake will then be either served, or wrapped up to be taken home by the guests of your wedding in Kent.

Which wedding cake is right for us?
When choosing your wedding cake, most people will want their guests to remember the cake for fitting in with the day perfectly, rather than because it stood out like a sore thumb. So make sure that you’re happy with the wedding cake you’ve chosen, because if you’re not it will come back to haunt you every time you see the photographs of your wedding in Kent!