A wedding cake is, unsurprisingly, the cake served at wedding receptions following dinner and always a point of attraction. Traditionally, wedding cakes were made to bring good luck to all the guests and the couple. Modernly, however, they are more of a centerpiece to the wedding and are not always even served to the guests.
Some cakes are built with only a single edible tier for the bride and groom to share. A wedding cake was originally a luxury item and a sign of celebration and social status. The bigger the cake, the higher the social standing.
Wedding cakes in England and early America were traditionally fruit cakes, often topped with marzipan and icing with tiers. Fruit cakes were a sign of fertility and prosperity, which helped them gain popularity because married men wanted to have plenty of children. Cutting the cake was an important part of the reception. Today, many flavors and configurations are available in addition to the traditional all-white tiered cake.
Recently Mode magazine has done a fantastic job of showing the evolution of the wedding throughout the past 100 years. We’ve seen how wedding dresses have changed, as well as the rings. Finally, they’ve gotten to the most important part of the wedding: the cake!
In the video, you’ll see a short history of 100 years of cakes and their toppers in just under three minutes. Going back to 1916, it’s interesting to see how each cake embodies the style and decor of its era.
