Wedding cake
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A wedding cake is the traditional cake served to the guests at a wedding reception (or in parts of England, at a wedding breakfast) after a wedding. In modern Western culture, it is usually a large cake, multi-layered or tiered, and heavily decorated with icing, usually over a layer of marzipan or fondant. Achieving a dense, strong cake that can support the decorations while remaining edible can be considered the epitome of the baker's art and skill. The average cost of a professionally made wedding cake in the U.S. in 2005 was $543.[1]
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[edit] Symbolism
The wedding cake is a tradition that began in the Roman Empire. At the time, it was a loaf of bread that the groom broke over the bride's head as a symbol of his dominance in the marriage and over her.[dubious ] The color of the cake is typically white to symbolize purity. The action of the bride and groom cutting the cake is meant to symbolize their first joint task in married life. The gesture of feeding cake to one another is a symbol of the commitment the bride and groom are making.
One of the earliest forms of the wedding cake is the French Croquembouche. The legend of this cake says that a pastry chef, visiting medieval England, witnessed their tradition of piling sweet rolls between the bride and groom which they would attempt to kiss over without knocking them all down. The pastry chef then went back to France and piled sweet rolls up into a tower to make the first Croquembouche.[2]
[edit] History of the modern cake
Far from being a historic institution, the modern wedding cake was a creation of the 20th century. The sugar paste frosting used on many wedding cakes was invented in 1888.[3] The pillars, used to support tiers of layer cake, were developed in 1902. [3]
[edit] Modern adaptations
Wedding cake toppers are small models that sit on top of the cake, normally a representation of a bride and groom in formal wedding attire. This custom was dominant in US weddings in the 1950s where it represented the concept of togetherness.[4] Wedding toppers today are often figures that indicate shared hobbies or other passions, if they are used at all.[4] Wedding cakes can also be decorated with flowers.
In the United Kingdom, the traditional wedding cake is made from a rich fruitcake, although many modern cakes now consist of either vanilla sponge, chocolate sponge or carrot cake. Most cakes are between three and five tiers in height. Among some more elaborate cakes the United Kingdom see are those prepared for the Royal Weddings. These cakes are actually decorated boxes with the fruit cake cut into portions on the inside, allowing them to be easily served to hundreds of guests.[dubious ]
[5] And the wedding cake is still evolving. There was a time not long ago when just one, traditional wedding cake was the only option. Now there are two more options: Wedding Cupcakes and Mini Wedding Cakes.
[6] Even though cupcakes and mini cakes are small, if the bride chooses something elaborate and detailed, there probably won’t be a savings in the preparation cost. There will likely be a savings of the cutting fee that some reception venues charge, though. When the wedding cake is not purchased from the reception venue, a fee of around $1.50 per person is typically charged to cut and serve the cake, which, of course, won’t be necessary with individual cupcakes and mini cakes.
[7] While one big cake can be a “wow”, there is no lack of wow factor for the other choices either. There are many creative ways to decorate cupcakes and mini cakes to create a spectacular presentation. One trend is to have a small cake on top of a tiered stand, which is filled with cupcakes or mini cakes. The result can really make quite a statement and will be memorable for the wedding guests.
[8] Since the cutting of the cake is the first act that the bride and groom do together as husband and wife, having a small, single-tier cake decorated in the style of the wedding cupcakes or mini wedding cakes will allow the couple to still enjoy this special custom.
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- Croquembouche - A French wedding cake tradition
- Groom's cake - A wedding cake tradition of the Southern United States
- Kransekake - A Scandinavian wedding cake tradition
- Stack cake
- White wedding
- Wedding dress
- Icingtons
[edit] References
- ^ The Wedding Report, market research from the Bridal Association of America, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
- ^ Manchester, Kate. The Perfect Wedding Cake. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2001. Print.
- ^ a b Ingrassia, Catherine (2007). "Diana, Martha and Me". In Curran, Colleen. Altared: bridezillas, bewilderment, big love, breakups, and what women really think about contemporary weddings. New York: Vintage Books. pp. 24–30. ISBN 0-307-27763-1.
- ^ a b Cele Otones and Elizabeth Pleck (2003), Cinderella Dreams: The Allure of the Lavish Wedding, University of California Press, pp. 124–125, ISBN 0-520-24008-1
- ^ http://blog.exclusivelyweddings.com/2012/01/23/wedding-cupcakes-and-mini-cakes/
- ^ http://blog.exclusivelyweddings.com/2012/01/23/wedding-cupcakes-and-mini-cakes/
- ^ http://blog.exclusivelyweddings.com/2012/01/23/wedding-cupcakes-and-mini-cakes/
- ^ http://blog.exclusivelyweddings.com/2012/01/23/wedding-cupcakes-and-mini-cakes/
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