"Let Them Eat Cake" Part 2

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Yesterday’s entry traced the “roots” of wedding cakes. We will move forward with the three-tier cake which everyone is familiar with today. This cake is based on the shape of the spire of Saint Bride's Church in London. The bride and groom make their first cut of the cake to signify the sharing of their new life together. All the guests also share in eating the cake to ensure good luck.

Today, many cakes include a small cake on top known as the "anniversary" cake. This cake is kept frozen after the wedding until the couple's first anniversary when it is supposed to be thawed and eaten. Another piece of folklore says that if a single woman sleeps with a piece of the cake under her pillow that she will dream of her future husband. If nothing else, her pillowcase will be full of frosting!

According to a February 1840 edition of The London Times, Queen Victoria's wedding cake was more than nine feet in circumference. A second tier arose from this base supported by two pedestals. On the second tier was a sculpture of the mythical heroine Britannia looking at the royal pair frozen at the moment of their exchanging vows. At their feet were two turtle doves (symbolizing purity and innocence) and a dog (representing faithful attachment). Completing the scene were various sculpted Cupids, one of them writing the date of the wedding with a stylus on a tablet.

Nowadays, other desserts are sometimes substituted for wedding cake, including chocolate fountains to cover different items such as strawberries or shortcakes with chocolate, cupcakes, ice cream cakes, pies, and even rice krispies treats.

When you work with Megasound on your wedding, we take care of the announcement to gather guests around your wedding cake as well as working with your photographer in order to get the best pictures. We also work with many other wedding professionals in the Indiana and Ohio areas who create sugary confections for your wedding. Call us to find out more.

"Let Them Eat Cake!" Part 1

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound  

Several wedding traditions over the centuries have evolved into something quite different from the original tradition. The wedding cake happens to be one of them, beginning with the breaking of a thin loaf of bread over the bride's head in Roman times. This was done at the end of the ceremony to symbolize fertility. This actually came from the fact that the wheat from which the bread was made signified fertility and, as such, the guests would eagerly pick up the bread crumbs as good luck charms.

As the Roman empire grew, so did this tradition, where it had spread to England by the Middle Ages. There, the tradition transformed to have the guests bring small cakes to the wedding and stack them together. It became traditional for the bride and groom to kiss over the stacked cakes, and later, a baker decided to make things easier by putting all the cakes together and spreading frosting over them. Thus, the modern "tiered" cake became the new sensation.

Be sure to read “Part 2” tomorrow. We will also share with you how the modern “tiered” wedding cake has morphed into many different versions.

Are You Hungry for Wedding Cake Cutting Songs?

by June Hoffman of Megasound

I must be hungry for wedding cake today. I just keep going through “Cake Cutting” songs in my head. So I have to share song ideas for a fun (non-smashing) cake cutting ceremony. These are a some musical genres to wet your musical sweet tooth.

Sophisticated Option: “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole
This song personifies love and is quite a classy tune.

80’s Rock Preference: “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard
You may feel like you are in school again when you have your DJ play this song.

Humorous Alternative: “Eat It” by Weird Al Yankovic
If you just want to be plain silly, this musical parody of “Beat It” will work for you.

Disco/Funk Selection: “Cut the Cake” by the Average White Band
The only song that I know that says “cake” 21 times and “gimme” 72 times.

Hip/Hop Choice: “Sugar (Gimme Some)” by Trick Daddy featuring Ludacris and Jazze Pha and Cee-lo
This song may be a bit too risqué for the family friendly audience although it might be a great way to transition from dinner to dancing. Also, they only say “gimme” three times in this song.

Whatever your specific style, work with your DJ/MC to find a cake cutting theme song that best suits your style as a couple. A cake cutting theme should enhance the ambiance of the celebration and help you transition into the dancing portion of your wedding reception.

Have fun!!

Why Let them Eat Cake?

I always love to see “new” and creative ideas at wedding receptions and Saturday was a first. So many things were unique about Jessica and Bill’s wedding. The most exceptional creation was their wedding “cake”!! Each layer of the cake was actually a huge rice crispy treat. Upon first glance you could not even tell that the flowers, ribbons, and butterflies were resting on breakfast cereal.

I am very glad that when Jessica and Bill shared their first rice crispy treat together they did not have any frosting to get on each other. Creativity is everywhere in the wedding world. A traditional wedding cake would have been a let down for this fun-loving couple. Jessica and Bill’s personalities really needed something more dramatic and marshmallows, cereal and all of the embellishments made their “cake” one to remember.

Congratulations Jessica and Bill ~ you celebrated your true individuality and love in your own "Certain" fashion!!

Is it Time to Cut the Cake?

After a friend told me about the wedding she attended in Chicago this last weekend, I just had to share some of the finer points of "Cutting the Cake."

What should you expect to do when your Master of Ceremonies (MC) announces that it is time for you to cut your wedding cake?

-Your MC and photographer and video person should have already checked out your cake area for the best positioning.

- You and your new spouse should stand behind or to one side of the cake if the back drop will cause distractions in the photos.

- Your Groom should be positioned behind with the you (the Bride) to the front taking in consideration which hand each uses when cutting.

- Hold the cake knife together and make a small wedge-type cut in one of the lower tiers of cake. This will give you the best support in order to keep balance on the cake. Also, frostings such as rolled fondant are more difficult to cut on the cake.

- Use the cake server to place the cake piece on a plate and cut the piece in half.

- Talk with your Groom ahead of time if the Bride and Groom to see if your will use forks or your fingers. Extra napkins should be available for clean up purposes.

- Whether you and your Groom are feeding each other together or separately; be courteous in order to keep each other clean.

- Bring your champagne glasses to the cake table to include in photos.

- The person/person’s cutting the wedding cake for guests to enjoy should save your top cake unless you have asked for the top tier to be used for serving. Many couples save and freeze their top tier cake to enjoy on their first anniversary. Some bakers give the couple a special cake instead of saving their top tier. Ask your baker ahead of time their policy.

- Ask the person cutting the cake to save two pieces of cake for you and your Groom to enjoy after the reception.

- Already have someone assigned to gather and return (if needed) cake parts to the cake person. Many times, cake stands and other parts are rented.

Whether you have a huge tiered cake, cupcakes, or some other sweet treat, take the time to enjoy this moment with your new husband.

Enjoy your celebration!!