The whole question about the cutting of the cake is not as simple as it seems. Couples often ask how and when their cake should be cut. Their worry is that they will be taking home their wedding cake and it won’t get eaten- not my experience so far!
I like to start at the beginning- how are we going to display your cake? It is often standing for several hours so we want to make the best of the opportunity to show it off. A lot of thought and effort goes into designing each cake and all of the details, so do not hide it in a corner where all of your efforts will not be noticed.
When you go to your venue, think about where your cake is going to be placed. Are there windows around it where the sun will be shining directly onto the cake? Is it near a doorway where people coming in and out of the room may knock it? Is there a special table that is used? Is there a huge red fire extinguisher sitting right behind the cake table or a sign saying toilets- this way , in your eyeline as you look at the cake?
These are all considerations to be made as part of the planning process. Couples often visit tbeir venue several times to decide where they want things to go so please include your cake table in this process.
A lot of unsightly things can be hidden by a flower or sequin wall, or you can highlight your cake with a neon sign. You are creating a point of interest.
Some venues use larger tables to display the cake and these can make a smaller cake look lost. Consider dressing the space using fabric, foliage, flowers, photographs- anything that makes the cake a part of your overall design. Recycle your bridesmaids’ bouquets into vases and use matching florals on the cake.
Think about the stand you are going to put your cake on. A 4-tier cake is extremely heavy and the stand has to be strong enough to withstand the weight. We have lots of different stands that can be hired to show off your cake to its best.
And that eventually brings you to the cutting of the cake. This is an old tradition and is still something that couples choose to do in front of their friends and family. It’s a celebration moment. The best position is slightly to the side so that your faces can be seen. It’s quite difficult to cut the cake holding the knife together- it’s not a natural position so maybe practice doing it at home with a bread knife….
Generally, it’s the bottom tier that is cut, but if you have asked for a fake tier to provide a taller cake, then you need to remember that. If you have chosen an iced cake, then it will have a ganache layer beneath the icing which will be hard. So, pushing the point of the knife in first will help to break through that layer.
Your venue should take control of the cake straight afterwards and will cut the tiers so that it can be shared amongst your guests. For every guest that does not want a piece of cake, there will be another guest who finds out there is more than one flavour. Some couples like to retain a tier to share amongst close family the following day but I happen to know that cake is a perfect breakfast option and also a hangover cure…….