The Cake

Wedding cakes then & now

As with most wedding traditions, wedding cakes have their own legends and symbols. Here, a brief look at the history of the wedding cake and some of its customs:

• In the days of the Roman Empire, a groom would typically break a wheat or barley cake over the head of his bride to symbolize her fertility. Guests would then hurry to pick up a piece and take it home for good luck.
• In medieval times, wedding guests would bring small cakes, which were then stacked on a table in layers. It was considered good luck if the bride and groom were able to kiss over the top of the stack.
• The traditional tiered design of the wedding cake is said to be modeled on the steeple of London’s St. Bride’s Church, named for St. Bridget of Kildare, Ireland.
• A “cake pull” is a Victorian custom popular in the southern U.S. Charms attached to ribbons are hidden under the cake’s bottom layer. Prior to the cake cutting, members of the wedding party, children and parents are invited to pull a ribbon, revealing a charm.
• Wedding cakes often include one or more traditional symbols of good luck. Bells are said to offer protection from evil spirits, cupids symbolize love, doves foretell harmony, horseshoes symbolize fertility and luck, white roses mean virginity and orange blossoms are a mark of luck and purity.
• The average cost of a wedding cake in 2005 in the U.S. was $543.