How did the tradition of the wedding cake come about? Many stories abound and some are probably true. There are legends of brides scattering grains which were considered good luck. The grains were then gathered quickly by the single maids, thus ensuring their own happy future nuptials. By the Middle Ages, we see stories of the grains now being made into loaves of bread, but rather than being eaten, these loaves were broken over the bride’s head. Eating the crumbs was also considered good luck for those guests who managed to get some.

Eventually these loaves became sweet buns which the wedding guests would toss in a pile in front of the couple. If they could kiss over the top of the pile, they would be sure to have many children.

The first mention of anything like a cake is the Bride’s Pie in the 17th century. This pie was made of mutton, sweatbreads or perhaps mince and might have had a glass ring baked into it. The superstition was that the guest who found the ring would be the next to marry.

Cakes became more popular at weddings in the 19th century and the bride’s pie pretty much disappeared. Some sources say it was a French chef who made the first “stacked” wedding cake. In any case, it was at the marriage of one of Queen Victoria’s daughters that the first tiered cake with pillar supports and piped icing as decoration first appeared.

The tradition of cutting the cake evolved as a symbol of the couple’s shared life as they jointly cut the cake and then respectfully feed each other in an act of love and honor. As tradition tends to be bent by each succeeding generation, this quiet and symbolic act is now usually carried out in clown-like fashion, with couples smashing pieces of cake into each other’s faces.

Traditionally, the wedding cake has been white, with white icing. In modern times, cakes come in many different flavors and can even include cheesecake flavored with jams and cordials. The icing has undergone change too, with many brides opting for decoration that reflects their personal taste or the interests of the couple.