Cutting The Wedding Cake

Let’s talk about cutting your wedding cake. Cutting the cake is one of the highlight moments of your reception. Not only is it a great photo op, but it is based on years and years of tradition.

Brides will plan with great detail, the exact moment the cake is to be cut (tradition is near the end of the reception, but in recent years that has been moved to just after dinner). They plan the song to accompany the cutting. They spend hours picking out the perfect knife and server pieces. But when the time comes to actually cut the cake, they look at me in a panic. What do I do? How exactly do we cut this towering confection?

Well the normal practice is to cut the bottom layer (unless this layer happens to be fake). Pick a spot on the backside of the cake for the best picture positioning. If there is ribbon on the cake, find where the pin is and remove the ribbon from the area you plan to cut. Tradition states that the bride’s hand goes on the knife first and then the groom’s on top. Photographers prefer, as do most brides (and I) to have the groom’s hand on the bottom and bride’s on top, so that the bling of that engagement ring and wedding ring show in the pictures. Take the knife and go close to the edge of the next layer of cake, point the knife straight down and cut a small slit. Then lower the knife and cut the sides of your slice. Take the server and slip it under the cake slice and slide it out. Place the slice on a dessert plate or napkin. Remember you only need a slice big enough for two bites.

Tradition declares that the groom serve the first bite to his bride signifying his desire to provide for his bride. Then she feeds him. Hopefully, all this is done while avoiding the whole smashing in the face thing.