Written By: Cakes by Esther du Preez
The Wedding Cake
Part 1: Thoughts on Wedding Cakes and Practical Suggestions
Cutting the wedding cake is often seen as the first task a married couple does together, symbolising their commitment to sharing life and working as a team.
Traditions aside, enjoying cake together can also be one of the sweetest moments of the celebration — especially when the cake is truly delicious and memorable.
I recently attended a bridal expo where I offered five different cake flavours for tasting. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and many guests shared how much they enjoyed the samples. Out of approximately 150 couples, only one said they were not planning to have a wedding cake at all. Several mentioned that they would only have a small cutting cake for photographs and tradition.
Allergies were also an important topic of conversation. One parent of a bridal couple mentioned a coconut allergy, while one groom was allergic to all nuts. These discussions highlighted how important it is for couples to consider dietary requirements when planning their cake selections.
If you would like to offer different flavours, it can be practical to make each tier a different flavour. On the other hand, for larger weddings, many couples choose to have a display or “dummy” cake, while keeping a sheet or rectangular cake in the kitchen to slice and serve to guests. This can save valuable time during the reception, as large tiered cakes often need to be dismantled before serving.
Whether or not you choose to serve wedding cake on your special day is entirely up to you. However, if you do decide to include one, make sure it tastes amazing — because a beautiful and delicious cake is something both you and your guests will remember long after the wedding day.
