What is the significance of a traditional wedding cake?

We are planning a wedding and we wondered if there is any particular meaning behind the traditional tiered wedding cake?

What is the significance of a traditional wedding cake?
The Wedding Cake


In Earlier times the wedding guests would supply the cakes by bringing a small bread or cake with them to the wedding.


These were stacked, as a sign of prosperity, so the bride and groom could kiss over them for good luck.


The bride and groom today cut the first slice of wedding cake as a symbol of unity.


Traditionally the top tier of the wedding cake is kept for their first anniversary or as a christening cake for their first child.


In roman times the tradition was to throw small wheat cakes at the bride, as a symbol of fertility.


This changed to breaking the wheat cakes over the bride’s head and the bride and groom would eat the crumbs.


Guests then scrambled for the pieces of Cake in hope to secure good luck for themselves.





The European tradition in Wedding cakes is mostly white, as a symbol of purity.


Wedding cakes in other cultures are often more colourful.