The wedding cake signifies the union of two people, and the age-old tradition of gently crushing the cake over the bride¹s head dates back centuries to the Ancient Romans. Today, the ceremonial cutting of the huge confection is a classic part of the wedding reception. Not only are some of the most candid, treasured photos snapped during the cutting of the cake, it is also a tender moment for the newlyweds.

Cutting the cake together is more than a silly tradition; it was born of pure necessity. As cakes grew from simple pastries to elaborate, multi-tiered confectionary productions, it became difficult for the bride to slice the cake alone. The groom's muscles came to the rescue. Of course today¹s wedding cakes are easier to handle, but the couple still traditionally cut the cake as a sign of their love and devotion to each other.

Cake Decorating

More and more, brides opt for antique or classic cake tops, as well as Victorian cake charms for luck and good fortune. Charms and "ribbon pulling" make a fresh, romantic statement. Top the cake with fresh flowers, doves or religious symbols as a wonderful alternative to the more traditional bride and groom sets. Elegant silver plated cake knives and servers make the cake serving ritual even more enjoyable and stylish.

The Kindliest Cut

To avoid an avalanche when you slice your first piece of wedding cake, check with your baker or caterer to see if there are any special slicing instructions for the first cut.

Your pastry-maker will most-likely recommend cutting from the bottom tier. Remember to cut with the knife, not the server, for the cleanest cut. The slice can be quite modest -- you really only need two bites worth. Slide the slice onto the server, then place it on a plate. Use the knife to cut the slice into two small pieces. You can each take your pieces from the same plate for the ceremonial feeding.

To Smash Or Not To Smash

The cake is cut, and the crowd is assembled. Do you play nice, or turn the reception into a food fight? Unfortunately, in some contemporary weddings, the quiet, sweet symbolism of feeding each other has been replaced with a different ritual -- the happy couple smashing cake into each other¹s faces.

Think twice before you engage in the cake smashing tradition. You¹ve just had your hair and makeup professionally done, you¹re wearing an exquisite L¹ezu Antelier gownŠ do you really want buttercream frosting plastered all over you? If you must do something dramatic to please the wedding crowd, do something dramatically romantic instead. After the first, sweet bite of wedding cake, sweep your beloved into your arms for a kiss that will make Granny blush. Playfully kiss away the tiny dollop of frosting in the corner of his mouth, or seductively lick the buttercream off her fingers. If that doesn¹t satisfy them, smash the cake into the face of the guest most eager to see you dressed in frosting. Besides, you¹re married now -- you¹ll have plenty of time for food fights later on.

Ask your baker or caterer to have napkins or a damp cloth tucked away near the cake, so if you do get a bit of frosting on your hands, you can clean it up quickly.

Photography

Wedding photographer¹s love to capture the cake cutting moment on film, but before he or she snaps the shutter, be sure to mention any specific shots you want. Is the traditional, posed shot of the two of you cutting the cake together the image you want, or do you prefer a candid, documentary style photo? Is a close-up of your hands on the knife important, or are you only interested in the big picture?

Tiers and Slices

Couples used to freeze the top tier of their wedding cake for the baby christening that was expected to follow soon after. Today, many still opt to save a tier or even a few slices to be eaten on the first anniversary (waiting for a christening might be inviting serious freezer burn!).

Once the bride and groom have done their ceremonial cutting, the caterer¹s staff will jump in to slice and serve the cake to guests. They¹re the professionals, so step away and let them do their thing. Often, they will take the cake back into the kitchen to do the slicing. It is not uncommon today to have your baker make sheet cakes from the same recipe and serve slices to the guests -- especially if you are having a large wedding. This is a great way to keep your cake budget under control, and guests will never know if their slice came from a tier of the cake on display, or a sheet cake stowed in the kitchen.

In the past, it was de rigueur not only to send guests home with cake, but also to send pieces to those unable to attend the wedding. It is still a lovely custom to present boxed slices of cake to your guests, however, sadly this tradition seems to be fading away.

Like your gown, your wedding cake is special and symbolic to you, and the moment you cut into those fluffy, delectable layers together, you may become overwhelmed with emotion. After all, the wedding is over, the cake has been cut, and your sweet life as a married couple is about to begin.