The wedding cake has been a part of couples’ marriage celebrations long before cakes resembled the elaborate, multitiered treats we may recognize today. However, they have always been the focal point of wedding rituals designed to bring good fortune to newlyweds. If you are currently planning your big day, here are a few wedding cake traditions you might want to include during your reception. 

3 Common Wedding Cake Traditions

1. Smashing the Cake

It might seem messy and a little silly, but the tradition of cake smashing actually can be traced back to ancient Rome. After the marriage ceremony, the groom would smash a barley cake over the bride’s head, and this symbol was intended to ensure fertility. Afterwards, the guests would take home a piece and place it under their pillow to harness some of this luck. Today, couples will feed a piece of cake to each other, sometimes intentionally missing each other’s mouths to get it in each other’s faces. It is regarded as a sweet gesture representing their love and affection. 

2. Cutting the Cake

No wedding celebration is complete without a cake cutting ceremony. In the past, this tradition was performed solo by the bride, to symbolize the end of her virginity. However, today couples will hold the knife and cut the cake together, to symbolize their first act as a united front. 

3. Kissing Over the Cake

Nowadays it’s common for the couple to kiss once more over the cake after cutting it together and feeding it to each other. In medieval England, couples would attempt to kiss over a pile of spiced buns. If they could successfully lock lips without knocking the tower over, it would signal a prosperous future. This is still a popular tradition in France over a croquembouche—a tower of cream-filled pastry puffs bound in caramel. The couple must attempt to kiss after this tower is placed on top of the wedding cake.

No matter which traditions you plan to uphold on your big day, the professional bakers at The BonBonerie in Cincinnati, OH, will help to make your dream wedding cake come to life. Their designers have over 80 years of combined baking and decorating experience, and craft custom cakes, cupcakes, and cookies from original and traditional European recipes. Call them today at (513) 321-3399 to schedule a consultation, and visit their website to view some of their past designs.