The Evolution Of Wedding Cakes: Traditional Ingredients And Flavors

Wedding cakes have been a part of wedding ceremonies for centuries, and while they were not always the centrepiece of the event, they have always been rich in symbolism. The contemporary wedding cake has evolved from various ethnic traditions, with one of the earliest traditions being the Ancient Roman custom of breaking a cake of wheat or barley over the bride's head to bring good fortune to the couple. In medieval times, wedding cakes were constructed from stacked rolls and buns, with couples attempting to kiss over the top of the stack to ensure fertility and good fortune.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the bride's pie was served at most weddings. This was a savoury dish filled with oysters, lamb testicles, pine kernels and cocks' combs. In the 17th century, two cakes were made – one for the bride and one for the groom. The bride's cake was usually a simple pound or plum cake with white icing, symbolising virginity and purity. The groom's cake was a darker, rich fruit cake and was much smaller.

In the 18th century, newlyweds would try to keep the cake until their first anniversary to ward off marital problems. This is why fruit cakes, which were blended with wine, were popular at the time. In the early 19th century, sugar became easier to obtain, and refined white sugars were a luxury only the wealthy could afford. White icing, or royal icing, became popular when Queen Victoria used it on her wedding cake.

Today, wedding cakes are typically made from fruit cake or sponge, and usually have at least three tiers.

Fruit cake, plum cake, or 'bride's pie'

Fruit cakes, plum cakes, and bride pies are all traditional wedding cakes, though they have evolved over time.

Fruit Cake

Fruit cakes are a traditional type of wedding cake in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States until the middle of the 20th century. They are typically rich, dense cakes made with dried fruit, nuts, and alcohol, which helps to preserve the cake. Fruit cakes are often elaborately decorated with icing and may be filled with almond paste.

Plum Cake

Plum cakes, also known as bride cakes, were traditionally served at weddings in the 18th century. These cakes were usually made with a simple pound cake base and covered in white icing, which symbolised the bride's purity and virginity.

Bride's Pie

The bride's pie was a traditional wedding dish served during the 16th and 17th centuries. Unlike the modern sweet wedding cake, the bride's pie is savoury. It typically has a pastry crust and is filled with an assortment of unusual ingredients such as oysters, lamb testicles, pine kernels, and cocks' combs. One recipe even includes live birds or a snake! It was considered very rude and bad luck not to eat a slice of the bride's pie, and it was believed that eating it would bring good luck.

Today, wedding cakes come in a variety of flavours and styles, and couples often choose a cake that reflects their personalities. While fruit cakes, plum cakes, and bride pies are no longer the only options, they continue to be popular choices for couples who want a more traditional or unique wedding cake.

White icing

During the Victorian era, white icing became particularly popular as it represented purity and virginity, which are values associated with weddings. In addition, white icing was also a symbol of wealth and social importance during this time. The more refined and whiter sugars were expensive, so only wealthy families could afford a very pure white frosting.

When Queen Victoria used white icing on her wedding cake, it gained the title of royal icing. The white-iced upper surface of the bride cake was also used as a platform for various decorations and scenes. The white colour has been attached to wedding ceremonies since Queen Victoria chose to wear a white lace wedding dress when she married Prince Albert in 1840.

Today, the colour white remains a popular choice for wedding cakes, with white cake being the most popular wedding cake flavour in the US.

Tiered cakes

The traditional tiered cake style was first created in London, inspired by the unusual spire of St Bride's Church in the City of London. The story goes that, towards the end of the 18th century, an apprentice baker named Thomas or William Rich, who worked near the church, fell in love with his boss's daughter. To impress her and her father, Rich decided to make an elaborate tiered cake for their wedding.

The number of tiers in a traditional wedding cake usually has a specific meaning. It is thought that the large bottom tier is to be shared at the wedding, the middle tier is to be shared with those who couldn't attend after the event, and the top tier is saved for the couple. The top tier was traditionally saved for the christening of the couple's first child, as it was made from long-lasting fruit cake. Nowadays, couples may freeze the top tier to eat on their first wedding anniversary or enjoy it as a midnight snack on their wedding day or for breakfast the next day.

The tiers of a wedding cake also carry symbolic meaning. In the past, the height of the tiers was associated with the couple's social standing, with taller cakes indicating greater prosperity. The stacking of tiers also harkens back to medieval traditions, where guests would stack small cakes as high as possible and the bride and groom would try to kiss over the stack. If they succeeded, it was believed they would have a prosperous life together.

In modern times, the tiers of a wedding cake may be supported by pillars, which first appeared in the late 19th century, about 20 years after Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany's wedding, where the first completely edible tiered wedding cake was served. The pillars were originally made from broomsticks covered in icing, but modern wedding cakes use internal supports such as dowels to bear the weight of larger cakes.

Cake toppers

Wedding cake toppers are small models or art pieces that sit on top of the cake. In the US, the most common type of cake topper is a representation of a bride and groom in wedding attire. This custom was dominant in the US in the 1950s, symbolising the concept of togetherness.

Today, wedding cake toppers can be customised to suit the couple's wedding style. They can be humorous, or represent the couple's hobbies, occupations, or other passions. In Mexico, for example, the wedding topper and other decorations tell a story about the couple's history.

The use of cake toppers is just one of many wedding cake traditions. The wedding cake itself is steeped in history and symbolism. It is believed that the first wedding cakes date back to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, where a cake of barley or wheat was broken over the bride's head to bring good fortune to the couple in their married life. In medieval times, wedding guests would stack small cakes as high as possible, and the bride and groom would try to kiss over the stack, guaranteeing a lifetime of prosperity if they were successful.

The contemporary wedding cake has evolved from many traditions. In the 16th and 17th centuries, a 'bride's pie' was served at weddings, filled with oysters, lamb testicles, pine kernels, and cocks' combs. In the 17th century, two cakes were made: one for the bride and one for the groom. The bride's cake was usually a simple pound or plum cake with white icing, symbolising the bride's purity and virginity. The groom's cake was a darker, rich fruit cake and was generally much smaller.

The wedding cake was originally known as the 'bride's cake', and so the colour white became common to reflect the bride and her purity. In the early 19th century, when the bride's cakes became popular, refined and whiter sugars were still very expensive, so only wealthy families could afford very pure white frosting. This demonstrated the family's wealth and social status. When Queen Victoria used white icing on her cake, it gained a new title: royal icing.

The modern wedding cake as we know it today originated at the 1882 wedding of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. His wedding cake was the first to be completely edible, with separate layers of cake and dense icing that were stacked once the icing had hardened. This method was a groundbreaking innovation for wedding cakes at the time.

Cake cutting

The cutting of the cake is a task full of symbolism. The cake is usually cut by the newlyweds, and guests are welcome to enjoy a slice during the wedding or take a slice home. The bride and groom feeding each other a small piece of cake symbolises their commitment to provide for one another and is a show of love and affection. In some cultures, a tier or piece of the cake is saved and handed to the parents of each side of the family, symbolising the joining of two families and their continuous blessings.

In China, the couple starts cutting a multi-tier cake from the lowest level and gives the first pieces to their parents and other ancestors, honouring their place as the foundation of the family. In medieval times, the cake-cutting ceremony was originally performed by the bride alone, symbolising the loss of her virginity.

In the United States, the cake-cutting ceremony involves inviting maidens to pull ribbons attached to the bottom layer of the cake. Only one ribbon contains a charm or ring, and whoever gets the charm will be the next person to marry. In other countries, the wedding cake is broken over the bride's head to ensure fertility and bring good fortune to the couple.

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