Cakes and Candy

Wedding cakes go back in tradition as far as weddings. The Greeks baked mixtures of grain and honey, the Romans did theirs with grain and salt. The elaborate tiered cakes we know today came from the era of the pioneer bride. Her popularity was judged by the size of her cake. Guests used to bring layers of cake filled with applesauce, stack them, and then they were iced. The higher the stacks, the more popular the bride!

The bride's cake (symbolic of fertility and abundance) is traditionally a three-tiered white sponge cake, frosted in white or buttercream icing. Tradition however, has crumbled. Brides are now choosing cakes of German chocolate, Italian rum, strawberry, carrot, yellow, and white; in other words you may accommodate your own sweet tooth. Cake fillings are as many and as varied as cake flavors. Whenever possible, taste the combinations you are considering to see if they complement each other well. The cake you choose can be simple or a real dazzler.

Your cake top can be a personal expression as well. Traditionally, a bride and groom rest upon the cake. Cascading fresh or silk flowers, delicate blown glass tops and even porcelain teddy bears and crocheted wedding bells have been seen on today's cakes.

Choose your baker by reviewing their design album and sampling their flavors if possible.  Be sure to select your baker several months in advance. The baker will need to know the date, location, and time of your reception and how many guests the cake needs to serve. Many cakes require assembly by the baker at the reception site, so be sure to allow time for this. Your baker will generally require a deposit to hold your wedding date. Be sure to get a receipt describing the type of cake you've ordered, its filling, icing, style, color and cake top. It also doesn't hurt to call and confirm your cake order about one week before your wedding. When you verify your order, be sure to confirm all the information you originally provided to the baker. You want the cake that arrives to be exactly what you expect.

Your baker will give you cutting instructions. Remember, when you make the first cut, hold the knife in your right hand. Your groom's hand closes over yours and together you cut a slice. This is the result of an ancient Greek custom where a couple shared a sesame seed cake to ensure that theirs would be a fruitful marriage.

In addition to your cake, other sweets can create lasting memories at your wedding reception. Don't overlook the special touch that mints or chocolates can add to your cake table.  Many confectioners will customize candies en-graved with your initials or wedding date. Foil-wrapped chocolates or almonds wrapped in netting and coordinated in your cake colors add a festive touch and make lovely take-home mementos for your guests. Candies combined with flowers and netting or ribbon can make lovely table decorations or centerpieces. They will make the photos of your cake-cutting ceremony more colorful. It is customary to save the top layer of your wedding cake and a few of your confections for next year so you and your groom can share those sweet memories again on your first anniversary.

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