The Wedding Cake: Timing For The Sweet Slice

The wedding cake is traditionally cut by the bride and groom towards the end of dinner, just before the dancing begins, and is the last official event of the evening. This signals to guests, particularly older guests, that they are welcome to leave whenever they are ready.

However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to when the cake is served. Some couples choose to cut the cake before they sit down for dinner, while others wait until after the first dance. Some couples opt to serve the cake with coffee, while others save it for the evening buffet.

Whatever the timing, it's important to make sure guests know when the cake is being served.

Cake-cutting is the last formal event of the evening

Firstly, it lets your older guests know that they are free to leave without missing any of the formalities. Secondly, it ensures your photographer gets those all-important cake-cutting photos – if they're only booked until 9 pm, cutting the cake at 7 pm gives you a comfortable window. Thirdly, it makes slicing and serving easier for your catering staff. They can work on slicing the cake once the main course has been served and can pass out pieces as a plated dessert before dancing gets underway.

If you're worried about the cake being forgotten about, ask your bridesmaids to walk around table to table with a plate of cake and some napkins. You could also ask your venue coordinator, wedding planner or caterer to advise on the best way to ensure your cake gets eaten. They may recommend serving the cake on trays rather than leaving it in a corner for people to help themselves.

If you want to keep things traditional, the cake-cutting is usually followed by a toast, so make sure all your guests' glasses are filled with champagne.

Cake is usually cut before the first dance

The wedding cake is usually cut before the first dance, serving as a signal to older guests that they can depart if they wish to. It also lets the photographer capture the moment and gives the catering staff time to slice and serve the cake to guests as a plated dessert before dancing begins.

If you're worried about your cake being forgotten, it's worth noting that some couples opt to have it served by their younger bridesmaids, who walk around the tables with plates of cake and napkins. Alternatively, you could ask your venue coordinator, wedding planner, or caterer to arrange for the cake to be served on trays.

If you're having day and evening guests, it's a good idea to cut the cake before the first dance, once the evening guests have arrived. This way, all your guests can be included.

Some couples choose to cut the cake before they sit down for dinner, ensuring the photographer doesn't miss the moment and making it easier for the catering staff to slice and serve the cake as dessert.

If you're having a buffet, it's worth considering cutting the cake before the buffet so that guests don't fill up on other food and forget about the cake. You could also save half the cake to be served with the buffet, and if that goes down well, cut and serve the rest.

To ensure your guests know the cake is available, it's a good idea to make an announcement. You could also have your DJ play a song while you cut the cake.

The cake-cutting signals to older guests that they can leave

The cake-cutting ceremony is a signal to older guests that the formal part of the reception is over and that they can leave if they wish. It is also a signal to other guests that they can start heading home, especially if they are not planning to stay for the after-party.

Traditionally, the cake is cut in the last hour of the reception, after dinner and before dancing. This is because cake-cutting serves as a silent clue that guests can start leaving, if they are sleepy or have had enough of the festivities.

However, some couples choose to cut the cake before dinner so that it can be taken to the back and placed on serving plates, ready for guests to help themselves to a slice after their meal. Others cut the cake immediately after their grand entrance, even before dinner and speeches, to ensure that everyone is there to witness it.

It is worth noting that not all couples choose to have a cake-cutting ceremony.

Cake is often served on trays by waiters

Wedding cake is often served on trays by waiters, and there are many ways to go about it. For instance, you could have the cake served on trays by waiters before the first dance, or you could have the cake served on trays by waiters after the speeches.

If you want to ensure that your cake is served and not forgotten, you could ask your bridesmaids to walk around table to table with a plate full of cake and some napkins. This is a great way to be more sociable with your guests. Another option is to have the cake served on trays by waiters during the reception while everyone is waiting for food. This can be a bit unnecessary, however, as your guests might get tired of waiting.

If you want to serve the cake yourself, you can carefully remove each slice using a cake knife and a fork, placing the widest part of the cake on the plate. Be sure to clean your knife regularly so that you can continue to cut smooth slices for each guest.

If you want to save the top tier of your wedding cake to share on your first anniversary, make sure you tell your baker and caterer in advance so that they don't accidentally serve it.

Leftover cake can be saved for the honeymoon

Leftover wedding cake can be saved for the honeymoon, but it's important to plan ahead to ensure it stays fresh. Before the wedding, prepare airtight bags or containers to store the cake in the freezer. Properly stored, the cake can be enjoyed for up to a year after the wedding.

There are many ways to enjoy leftover wedding cake during the honeymoon period. One option is to host an after-party or a morning-after brunch, where guests can indulge in the leftover cake. This is a great way to ensure the cake doesn't go to waste and can also be a budget-friendly option.

Another idea is to save the top tier of the cake for a romantic anniversary celebration. This could be the couple's first wedding anniversary, the anniversary of their engagement, or even the six-month mark of their marriage. Breaking out the special plates from the wedding registry can add a touch of elegance to this occasion.

Leftover wedding cake can also be used to create new desserts. Cubing the cake and removing the frosting beforehand makes it easy to incorporate into recipes for new cakes or add flavour and texture to traditional dishes.

For couples who have a destination wedding or elope, they can bring a reproduction of their wedding cake's top tier to a post-wedding celebration with friends and family back home. This way, they don't have to worry about travelling with a cake but can still share the experience with their loved ones.

Saving leftover wedding cake for the honeymoon is a creative and delicious way to extend the joy of the wedding day and create new memories. With proper storage and a bit of creativity, couples can savour every last bite of their special cake.

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