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Britney Boltz
Ms.Tillery
British Literature
14 October 2011
The Story of the Wedding Cake
The art of cake decorating appears to have roots in Europe especially in the northwestern
provinces of Europe (The Forgotten Art of Cake Decorating).The wedding cake can also be
traced as far back as the Roman Empire (History of the Wedding Cake). Although the wedding
cake then is not what you would picture these days, the ceremony was the same. The groom
would eat some of the bread and break the remaining piece over the bride's head (History of the
Wedding Cake). After this ritual, guests and relatives would eat the broken pieces, as it was
considered it to be a good omen (The History of the Wedding Cake and Cake Toppers).
There are also tales of a custom involving stacking small sweet buns in a large pile in front of
the newlyweds; the couple would then attempt to kiss over this pile, with success being a sign of
many children in the couple's future (History of the Wedding Cake). In the late 19th Century, the
wedding cake became extreamley popular. The cakes were originally given the title "bride
cakes" to emphasize that the focus point of the wedding was the bride (History of the Wedding
Cake). The early cakes were simple single-tiered cakes, usually a plum cake (History of the
Wedding Cake).
There are many techniques used to decorate a cake. Cakes are decorated for two basic
reasons: to increase the decorative appeal of the cake, as well as to complement or improve the
taste and texture of the cake (The Forgotten Art of Cake Decorating). Cake decorating is more
often considered as a means of improving the visual appeal of the cake, and some master
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decorators have elevated it to a high edible art. Cake decorating can do a lot to improve the
appeal and impression of the cake. During the Victorian era, the idea of a white wedding became
most prevalent symbolizing the innocence of childhood and purity of the heart (the wedding
cake).
Most cake decorating involves using icing or other kinds of decorative sugars, including
chocolates and candies, to decorate. However, cake decorating, can be as simple as icing a cake
with sugar, sprinkling it with decorative sprinkles, or adding a glossy sweet glaze to the cake
(The Forgotten Art of Cake Decorating). All of these are basic examples of cake decorating
methods. Cake decorating can also be much more complicated than that. There are many
common motifs that are frequently found in the sugar art of cake decorating. Some of the most
common motifs in cake decorating include flowers made of icing; decorative icing borders,
fondant, marzipan figures and flowers, molding gum paste decorative borders, and glazes (The
Forgotten Art of Cake Decorating).
Around late 17th century, the wedding cake came to be known as the bride's pie or brides
cake. The bride's pie or cakes were made of sugary sweet breads. A glass ring was hidden in
these pies during the preparation. A belief then was that a lucky female at the wedding gathering
would find the ring in the pie and would be the next one to wed. (The History of the Wedding
Cake and Cake Toppers).Another interesting tradition probably first witnessed in the 17th
century was keeping a piece of cake under an unwed girl's pillow in the night. These pieces also
were then offered to the other female guests to be placed under their own pillows. By following
this ritual, it was believed that they would dream of their prospective husband (The History of
the Wedding Cake and Cake Toppers)
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Then just as important as the designs and the color of the cake is the wedding cake
topper. The wedding cake toppers have been an ancient tradition followed in wedding
ceremonies. One account regarding its origin a century ago revolves around a baker's daughter
who was about to get married (The History of the Wedding Cake and Cake Toppers).The girl
asked her father to create a symbol of the unflinching love between her and the groom, for the
world to see. After mulling over several ideas and carefully deliberating over each one of them,
the father decided to make a unique creation with two fabulous figurines on top of it (The
History of the Wedding Cake and Cake Toppers). The figurines that the cake top featured were
obviously of his daughter and her groom-to-be. The baker had conceived the cake topper as the
perfect symbol of their love and bonding (The History of the Wedding Cake and Cake Toppers).
On the wedding day the daughter was moved by the sight of the cake that was made with love
and affection by her father. The daughter was indeed touched by the beautiful gift and the
sentimental meaning behind it. For her it was the best gift, among the most unique wedding
favors, she could have received.
The wedding ceremony desserts have gotten extremely popular and far wanted and so a
variety of effort and time is given to make the cake not solely be tasty but also ensure that it’s the
final expression of affection and devotion to the bride and bridegroom (Importance of Wedding
Cake Toppers).To this effect, it is rather essential that Wedding Cake Toppers must be very
particular and will match completely with the special occasion (History of Wedding Cakes).
Hence the design of the cake is claimed to be incomplete until the cake toppers are in place
(What Exactly is EssentiallyWedding Toppers About And Importance of Wedding Cake
Toppers).). Probably the most commonly used and basic wedding ceremony cake toppers are
those which have the bride and groom figurine atop the cake. The topping thought has advanced
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and changed over the years and in the present day’s trendy earn marriage ceremony cake toppers
are normally found in crystal or in all-white porcelain (Importance of Wedding Cake
Toppers).Some believe in topping the cake with recent flowers whereas there may be one other
faculty of thought which believes in monograms as wedding ceremony cake toppers (Importance
of Wedding Cake Toppers). There are a variety of prepared made monograms available that can
be utilized or if you are very particular you can have a custom made monogram which could
possibly be used as an excellent wedding cake topper. There are lots of readymade monograms
accessible that can be used or if you’re very particular you may have a custom made monogram
which might be used as an outstanding wedding ceremony cake topper (Importance of Wedding
Cake Toppers).
Today’s Bridezilla might be able to justify her towering concoction, because the most
famous cakes become immortal (The Strange History of the Wedding Cake). For instance Pieces
of Queen Victoria’s 167-year-old wedding cake are on display at Windsor Castle this year.. Also
a slice of the 1871 wedding cake of her daughter, Princess Louise, was recently auctioned off at
an antiques fair for $215. It was a scandalous wedding, because Louise married “a commoner,”
but there was nothing common about the cake, which took three months to create. It was
wrapped in parchment paper, the slice was stashed in a “cabinet of curiosity” for all these years.
Its texture has been described as “firm” (The Strange History of the Wedding Cake). Princess
Diana’s five-foot tall cake, adorned with marzipan Windsor coats of arms, was so vital to the
royal union that two copies were made, the extra serving as a stunt double in case of accidents
(The Strange History of the Wedding Cake). In 1947, when Queen Elizabeth II wed Prince
Philip, the cake weighed 500 pounds. (The Strange History of the Wedding Cake).
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In the end there are six questions to be asked before making your wedding cake. the first
is what is the budget? Followed by when is the wedding? How many guests are coming? How
formal is the wedding? What flavors are essential? And finally what is the style or mood of the
wedding? (wedding cakes you can make). The care you take with decisions regarding other
aspects of your weeding, such as wedding stationery, should also be reflected with the same
finesse and touch of class in the selection of your wedding cake as well (History Of Wedding
Cakes).
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Works Cited
The Forgotten Art of Cake Decorating – Different Methods in the Sugar Arts. N.p., 2011. Web.
16 Sept. 2011. <http://www.cakedecoratingart.com/articles/the-forgotten-art-of-cake-
decorating-%E2%80%93-different-methods-in-the-sugar-arts/>.
“History of the Wedding Cake.” http://www.hofers.com/CakeHistory.htm. N.p., 6 Mar. 2011.
Web. 16 Sept. 2011. The History of the Wedding Cake and Cake Toppers Share. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://www.streetdirectory.com/food_editorials/pastry/cakes/
the_history_of_the_wedding_cake_and_cake_toppers.html>. History Of Wedding Cakes
Share. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://www.streetdirectory.com/etoday/history-of-
wedding-cakes-cewpjl.htmlImportance 0f Wedding Cake Toppers. N.p., n.d. Web. 16
Sept. 2011. <http://hhgreegappliances.info/2011/04/21/importance-0f-wedding-cake-
toppers/>. The Strange History of the Wedding Cake. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2011.
<http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2009/07/the-strange-history-of-the-wedding-
cake/>.
The True Importance of the Wedding Cake Designer. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.theweddingcakes.net/about-wedding-cakes/the-true-importance-of-the-
wedding-cake-designer/>.
“The Wedding Cake . . . history, customs and traditions.” The Wedding Cake . . . history,
customs and traditions. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com/guide/cakehistory.htm>. Exactly Is Essentially
Wedding Toppers About And Importance Of Wedding Cake Toppers In Wedding
Ceremony Operate. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2011. <http://dekemp.com/2011/06/21/
what-exactly-is-essentially-wedding-toppers-about-and-importance-of-wedding-cake-
