The Groom's Cake...Its Origins and Modern Transformation

The origins of the Groom's Cake are somewhat unclear. Traditionally, the groom's cake is packaged into small, single-serving boxes for guests to take home. The roots of this custom may date back to early Rome when guests would scramble for fallen crumbs after the wedding cake had been broken over the bride's head. The cake and the crumbs were thought to bring good fortune to those who ate it.

Another theory dates back to the eighteenth century, when it was traditional to pass out small pieces of the wedding cake through a wedding ring whose owner was happily married. Victorian bridesmaids would practice this ritual on the eve of the wedding. They would wrap the pieces and, on the day of the wedding, would give them out to all the unmarried guests. These unmarried women would then place the piece of wedding cake under their pillow in order to dream about a future husband. This same custom also dates back to nineteenth century Southern tradition, when the same process was followed.

England serves as the origin of many wedding cake traditions. There, a fruitcake covered with very smooth fondant or marzipan icing, is still the custom. The rich, heavy cake is cut into very small pieces and offered to guests. Fruitcake was the traditional wedding cake in our country until the middle of the nineteenth century. Before the advent of the home freezer, the Groom's Cake, made of heavy fruit and liquor-soaked, held the attribute of a long shelf life. That is why it was the one that was kept and eaten at the first anniversary celebration. Some couples today still follow the tradition of saving part of their wedding cake or of the Groom's Cake to share on their first anniversary. The Industrial Age in America brought great wealth to many. It was the norm for newly-rich of polite society to make it a contest to see who could display wealth most ostentatiously. One of the ways by which they chose to compete was by serving a white cake made with the most refined and more expensive white flour and the addition of white sugar. These cakes were made with egg whites (the yolks were discarded), and white milk, which resulted in an all-white wedding cake that was covered with boiled white sugar and egg white icing!

The fruitcake did not fall totally from grace. Many society matrons missed the traditional recipe . . . and so the Groom's Cake came into being. It remained a fruitcake until the 1970's. Changing tastes made the fruitcake fall from favor and "evolve" into a chocolate or devil's food cake, most often covered with chocolate icing. Over the last three decades the concept of the Groom's Cake has continued to expand and now also includes flavors other than chocolate.

The Groom's Cake still retains the concept that it is a gift from the bride to her groom, a special way of honoring him and including him in wedding ritual. The Groom's Cake is a second, sometimes a simpler version of the wedding cake, with one or two layers. While the wedding cake is served to all the wedding guests, the groom's cake is used for extra pieces that are packaged into tiny boxes with ribbons or into envelopes, for guests to take home and "dream on." Sometimes the small packages are displayed on a table for guests to help themselves. The Groom's Cake may also be used as a way to include children and others who could not attend the wedding, a way of allowing them to "share" in the couple's good fortune. Incidentally, there is a superstition that holds the notion that a bride who keeps a piece of her wedding cake will have a faithful and loving husband.

Today the Groom's Cake has become a way to honor the groom by reflecting his interests and personality. The cake can be decorated to show his hobby, favorite sport, alma mater or occupation. Brides are becoming more and more creative with the groom's cake, having it created in any number of shapes and styles. This makes the Groom's Cake a great place to be funny, silly and outrageous . . . a real stress-buster!

The Groom's Cake may be presented at any one of several times during the wedding celebration. It is entirely up to the bride and groom as to when they wish to serve the cake. Some couples serve it at the rehearsal dinner, as a toast to the groom, or a special way of thanking wedding attendants and special guests. Couples can choose to have miniature versions of the Groom's Cake to give out as a way of saying "Thank you." Some couples serve it as alternate dessert with the wedding cake. Sometimes it is included as one of the layers in the bridal cake. Others keep it to serve as a late night dessert for the wedding party and close friends. Regardless of when the cake is served, either the groom or the groom and his family should cut and serve.

Traditionally, the bride orders the Groom's Cake from the same baker who is providing the wedding cake. The inclusion of a groom's cake is a way to balance the scales and to include and honor the groom who might feel neglected. A Groom's Cake is certainly not necessary, but it adds a nice touch. Regardless of what it tastes like, its design, when it's served and who orders it, the Groom's Cake can be one of the most delightful parts of the wedding celebration.

By Judy Lewis,Web Mistress

Phone:(845) 336-4705

E-mail: judy@hudsonvalleyweddings.com

Website:www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com