24/08/2024
I’ve made a few wedding cakes in my life, and had two at my own weddings. And yesterday I finished making this cake for a friends’ wedding that is to take place today! It got me thinking about the meaning of wedding cakes, and how important they are, whether it’s something simple or very elaborate!
The wedding cake has historical significance. In Ancient Rome, cakes were made with wheat, a symbol of fertility and prosperity. They were also thought to bring good luck to the couple.
The tradition of wedding cakes themselves originated in medieval England. At the time, guests would typically bring smaller cakes to the wedding reception. The couple would stack these on top of each other and attempt to kiss over the tower. If they were successful in kissing without knocking the tower over, then it was a symbol of good luck for the newlyweds. This good luck usually equated to them being blessed with many children. Wanting to take the goal of the bride’s fertility one step further, it was decided that child-bearing would be best increased by throwing the cake at the bride!! Can you imagine how that would go down with our brides nowadays!!
As the tradition evolved, bakers began to create larger and more elaborate cakes for weddings. These cakes were often decorated with intricate designs and icing, and they became a status symbol for the wealthy.
Today wedding cakes are a key part of many wedding ceremonies and receptions. They are often a beautiful centrepiece and the cutting of the wedding cake a beautiful moment when the newly weds cut the cake together, united in this one action.
I hope this cake tastes as good as it looks. There are freshly picked blackberries in the two tiers which I filled with butter cream, drizzling a sweet compote of berry juice into the firm sponge. I am no professional cake baker, but it is important that love goes into these cakes, as well as intention and care.
