Bridal Association of America

The wedding cake was originally made of many little wheat cakes. These were broken over the head of the new bride. This tradition was meant to bestow fertility and good luck to the new bride for her married life. Fortunately for the bride, this tradition is no longer practiced. The cutting of the wedding cake was once cut only by the bride and was symbolic of her upcoming loss of virginity. In modern times this tradition of cutting the cake includes the groom as well. Cutting the cake and sharing the first bite with each other symbolizes the couple’s promise to share their new life together.

The top tier of the wedding cake was traditionally kept and used at the christening of the couple's first child. But today, this tradition has been modified and the top tier is saved to be used at the couple's first anniversary.

Another wedding cake tradition is if an unmarried person sleeps with a piece of a wedding cake under their pillow, they will dream of their future spouse that night. This is one custom that is sure to excite the single guests at your wedding!