what happens in cake cutting

[janinegirly]

this is a pretty silly question, but i honestly don''t know what goes on in the cake cutting portion (not sure if i''ve ever really paid much attention at weddings i was at or maybe too drunk

). Do FI and I just cut pieces for us then feed each other then cut for everyone else? or we just feed each other while song is playing? how does it flow?

thankx

 

[Independent Gal]

I actually have no idea! I also never really paid attention or noticed. So it''s not a silly q. I bet most people don''t know.

We decided not to have a cake for that reason. It seems no one pays attention to the cake cutting at weddings, and neither of us are huge cake fans anyway. And the meal we''re serving already includes a desert, so probably almost no one will eat it. Our decision to go with a top chef means we have to cut other things... and cake is for cutting, right?

 

[sumbride]

Generally everyone gathers around and you cut one piece with your hands on the knife together. I think the bride''s hands are "supposed" to be on top, but I''m not sure about that. So you cut one piece and then feed each other that one piece. Everyone comments... and then you step away and the caterer, or whomever, steps in and cuts the rest for the guests. You certainly aren''t expected to serve cake to everyone yourselves!

At some places they will take the cake into the kitchen to plate and serve, but sometimes they''ll do it right there in front of everyone and set pieces out for people to come pick up.

Just make sure that you have someone put aside a slice for you two to eat later because that little bite is all you''ll get if you don''t.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

The photographer coached us b/c we had no idea either. We cut a small piece and fed each other (nicely! DH knows better) and that was it. The CC cut up the cake and served it. It took maybe 1 min total.

ETA: DJ was playing a song we picked out during the cake cutting and he announced it. Oh, DH and made sure we had a piece at the reception! It was the best wedding cake we ever tasted

We have our priorities!

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Sounds like SumBride knows what she''s talking about. For some reason my FI wanted a cake, which is basically the only traditional thing at our wedding. I did put my foot down about it not being white, though. I think we just plan on cutting it ourselves and letting our guests enjoy it (it is actually a very yummy cake). If for any reason we get a hankering to feed each other cake, we''ll just grab a couple of forks.

Janine, I did have a friend who did a traditional cake cutting thing and I think she had to choose a song for the DJ to play, and they bought a cake cutter with the date engraved on it, etc. so I think there is some planning that goes into it!

 

[jcrow]

usually the bride and groom gather around the cake while guests and the bridal party looks on. while the photographer snaps picks and the videographer records, the b&g use the knife to cut the bottom layer of the cake. just a small slice to feed each other from. then (in our case) we had a plate to put it in and forks to serve each other a peice with. bride first then she turns and feeds the groom a slice. then that's it. on to dancing or whatever as the venue servers slice up the cake for all the guests.

 

[LazyDaisy]

I have a dumb question on this topic: if your cake is layered, how do you know you aren''t going to pull out one of the little dowels that holds up the second layer? Not that this question applies to me any time soon (I''m in the LIW crowd), but I have been curious for quite some time but never wanted to ask anyone!

 

[monarch64]

To answer LazyDaisy: you cut into the bottom tier of the cake (usually the part that serves everyone anyway, I think) so no danger of cutting into one of the dowels in the middle.

I just have about .03 to add: and this is purely opinion...I HATE when brides and grooms smash cake into each others'' faces! Totally personal preference, but my DH and I promised each other long before we were married that we wouldn''t do this to each other, we thought it was silly and tacky. (Sorry, I don''t mean any offense here.) Also, DO invest in a beautiful knife and server set...you can use it for the rest of your lives at birthday parties, anniversaries, etc. My mother, bless her heart, got us a gorgeous Alan Lee knife and server that were encrusted with champagne colored Swarovski crystals, and I''ve used it several times since we''ve been married for various occasions.

 

[LazyDaisy]

monarch-- thanks for the reply! but I thought in the bottom tier there were dowels used inside (hidden) to support the second tier? or did I completely make that up LOL? if there are any inside, I''d be afraid of hitting them! but I come up with strange things to worry about

 

[monarch64]

Sure, there are dowels throughout but if you think about it, the bottom tier of the cake is much larger than the top tier, so the dowels going through the center of the cakes will be far enough in that you should be able to avoid hitting them if you''re going for the normal slice of cake. Now, if you were trying to slice the cake with, say, a SWORD, you might be in danger of toppling the whole thing....hee hee.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Monarch I totally agree about the smashing the cake in the face thing. I actually told DH he would have a lonely night if he did that to me

luckily he too thinks it is silly (and makes EVERYONE uncomfortable). We actually used forks to feed each other. It easn''t planned but they were there so we didn''t really think about it at the time. It wasn''t until my MIL said how much she loved that we feed each other with forks that I even noticed it.

 

[monarch64]

LOL Tacori, that someone commented on you not smashing cake in each other''s faces! Hey, our PS anniversaries are this week--Happy Anniversary!!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 8/12/2007 2:48:37 AM
Author: monarch64
LOL Tacori, that someone commented on you not smashing cake in each other''s faces! Hey, our PS anniversaries are this week--Happy Anniversary!!!

You too! I started a thread to honor your awesomeness in hangout!

 

[ladyciel]

At the wedding''s I''ve been to the groom''s hand has always been on top of the bride''s when cutting the cake together. Easy to remember, because on a couple of occasions the DJ made some joke about "he''d better enjoy this, because it''s the last time he''ll ever have the upper hand". Also, a lot of bakeries and venues will rent/loan you a knife and server if you don''t want to invest in a set of your own.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 8/12/2007 2:38:49 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 8/12/2007 2:48:37 AM
Author: monarch64
LOL Tacori, that someone commented on you not smashing cake in each other''s faces! Hey, our PS anniversaries are this week--Happy Anniversary!!!

You too! I started a thread to honor your awesomeness in hangout!

Thank you so much, Tacori, for starting an anniversary thread for little old me, lol! I''ll be anxiously awaiting the stroke of midnight Wednesday so I can do yours!!!

LadyCiel''s right, I think you can borrow a knife and server from the reception venue in many cases if you want to avoid the extra expense of purchasing your own. My mother thought it would make a nice keepsake since we never found our dream cake topper, I ended up having the cake lady just use fresh flowers on top! I really like our server and knife set, though, and since we registered for china they''re nice to have to go along with it. I''ll post a pic of the server I found online.