Wedding Cake Trends Of 1969: A Sweet Slice Of History

Wedding cakes have evolved over the years, from simple white icing cakes to colourful, elaborate creations. In 1969, wedding cakes were often tiered bridal cakes topped with figurines of the happy couple. The cakes were usually decorated with gold and silver-coloured plastic ornaments, miniature bride and groom figurines, bells, ribbons, or small edible flowers. The bride's family was responsible for paying for the wedding, including the cake, and weddings were typically held in the couple's hometown, with the ceremony officiated by a religious official.

Wedding cake toppers

By the 1960s, wedding cake toppers had become a staple of wedding celebrations, especially in the United States, with plastic figurines of the bride and groom being the most common choice. These toppers became widely used due to the affordability and versatility of plastic. The toppers usually depicted the couple in formal wedding attire, standing close together or in an embrace, symbolising their union and togetherness.

While the traditional bride and groom toppers were the most prevalent, some couples chose to incorporate other themes or representations of shared hobbies and passions. For example, during World War II, it was common for groom toppers to be depicted in military attire, with Army, Navy, or Marine uniforms. After World War I, cake toppers featuring soldiers in uniform, hand-in-hand with their brides, became popular.

Cake toppers were typically sold in bakeries alongside the wedding cake and were created from various materials such as porcelain, wood, and Bakelite. They ranged in style from elegant and formal to humorous and unusual, depending on the couple's preferences. The toppers added a personalised touch to the wedding cake, making it more than just a dessert but a reflection of the couple's love and commitment.

In addition to the traditional bride and groom toppers, some couples might opt for more unique designs, such as clasped hands, which symbolised friendship, courtship, love, and marriage. These cake toppers could be made from wax or other materials and added a symbolic touch to the wedding celebration.

Cake flavours

Wedding cakes in 1969 were commonly decorated with gold and silver-coloured plastic ornaments, miniature bride and groom figurines, bells, ribbons, or small edible flowers. The cakes often featured tiers covered with almond paste and smooth white icing in different shapes, with the upper tiers supported by pillars.

Fruit cakes iced with white royal icing were popular, with bakers using muscovado sugar, fine-quality fruits, and premium liquors. The white icing symbolised the bride's purity and virginity, a tradition stemming from Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress in 1840.

In the United Kingdom, rich fruitcakes were traditional, though vanilla sponge, chocolate sponge, and carrot cake were also commonly used as wedding cake flavours.

In the United States, wedding cakes were often baked at home, with recipes including nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves for flavouring, and less butter, milk, and eggs due to wartime rationing.

Overall, wedding cakes in 1969 reflected the customs and flavours of the time, incorporating traditional symbols and a variety of flavours that were widely enjoyed.

Cake decorations

Wedding cakes in 1969 were often decorated with gold and silver-coloured plastic ornaments, miniature bride and groom figurines, bells, ribbons, or small edible flowers. The tiers of the cakes were frequently covered with almond paste and smooth white icing, and the upper tiers were supported by pillars.

The bride and groom cake toppers became mainstream in the 1950s, thanks to the popularity and affordability of plastic. These toppers represented the concept of togetherness. In the 1960s, wedding cake decorations continued to embrace the glamour of the preceding decades, with bold geometric Art Deco designs, including zigzags, chevrons, and metallic colours.

Feathers, frames, jewels, and ornaments were also used to decorate cakes, along with flowers on top. The flowers could be natural blooms, such as orange blossoms or lilies of the valley, depending on the country and cultural traditions. In the 1960s, as in previous decades, cake toppers were often made of various materials, including porcelain, wood, and plastic.

While the traditional bride and groom figurines were common, cake toppers could also take a more personalised approach, indicating shared hobbies or other passions. Some cake toppers were even designed with a sense of humour, embracing unusual themes.

Cake tiers

Wedding cakes in 1969 were often tiered, with the tiers covered in almond paste and smooth white icing. The upper tiers were supported by pillars, and the cakes were decorated with gold and silver-coloured plastic ornaments, miniature bride and groom figurines, bells, ribbons, or small edible flowers.

The number of tiers in a wedding cake often served as a status symbol, as only wealthy families could afford to include them. The more tiers a cake had, the more prosperous the couple. The tiers were also symbolic of the couple's promise to forever provide for one another.

The tiers of the cake were usually individual cakes, with the bride and groom sharing a slice from each tier to symbolise their union. The cake-cutting ceremony was a joint venture, with the groom assisting the bride.

The white icing on wedding cakes was also symbolic of virginity and purity, a tradition that began with Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress in 1840. The custom of the bride and groom cutting the cake together using a sword or knife also became a tradition around this time.

Wedding vows

Wedding cakes in 1969 were often tiered bridal cakes topped with figurines of the happy couple. The cakes were sliced in front of the guests as a public promise to provide for one another. The tiers were covered with almond paste and smooth white icing, and the upper tiers were supported by pillars. Cakes were generally decorated with gold and silver-colored plastic ornaments, miniature bride and groom figurines, bells, ribbons, or small edible flowers.

The wedding vows of the time were traditional and stuck to a script. The couple would promise to love, honor, and cherish one another, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse. They would also pledge to be faithful to each other and forsake all others. These vows were a serious commitment, not to be taken lightly, and they reflected the sacred nature of the union.

[Paragraphs below are the wedding vows]

Today, we are gathered here to celebrate the union of [bride] and [groom] in holy matrimony. [Bride], please repeat after me: I, [bride's full name], take thee, [groom's full name], to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith.

[Groom], please repeat after me: I, [groom's full name], take thee, [bride's full name], to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

[To the groom] Please place the ring on the bride's finger and repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow.

[To the bride] Please place the ring on the groom's finger and repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow.

By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!

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