THE CAKE CUTTING

Some Questions To Consider:
1. Do you want to cut your wedding cake?
2. When do you want to cut your wedding cake?
3. What type of music do you want for the cake cutting?
4. What do you want the MC to do for the cake cutting?
5. Do you want to use forks or fingers to feed each other?
6. How can you modify the cake cutting to make it different?


1. Do you want to cut your wedding cake?
Why you might want to do this:
A. It’s traditional, and a lot of relatives will probably be looking forward to it.

Why you might not want to do this:
A. You’re looking for a non-traditional wedding.
B. You’re afraid that one of you will get out of control and resort to “smashing.”

What most couples do:
The vast majority of couples cut the cake and feed each other, finishing off with a kiss.


2. When do you want to cut your wedding cake?
Again, this has been addressed indirectly at several junctions in this guide, so we don’t feel a need to rehash it. Please refer to Question 2 in the First Dance and Parent Dances section for an answer to this question.
A suggestion we would make here is that it is better to do the cake cutting early if the cake is being served for dessert. This will give the catering staff a chance to cut and serve it. If it is not being served for dessert, the choice is up to you.
Also, take a look at the cake when you get to the reception. Some tiered cakes can lean to one side in a very precarious manner. If this is the case with your cake, you may want to revise your schedule and do the cake cutting sooner rather than later, before it topples over!

What most couples do:
Most couples cut the cake after they are done eating their salads, its been done as early as right after their grand entrance, and as late as during the open dance floor portion of the reception.

{Check out some great Cake Serving Sets}

3. What type of music do you want for the cake cutting?
Here are a couple of questions you might want to consider when choosing music for the cake cutting:
1. Does it fit your wedding’s theme?
2. Does the music you are choosing fit the atmosphere you have created for the wedding?

In general, cake cutting music emphasizes either something sweet (“How Sweet It Is”- James Taylor), sugar (“Sugar Sugar”- The Archies), cake cutting (“Bride Cuts The Cake"), smashing (“Hit Me With Your Best Shot” - Pat Benetar), feeding or eating (“When I’m 64” - The Beatles), a traditional wedding related song (“Chapel Of Love” - The Dixie Cups), or love (“Sea Of Love” - The Honeydrippers)
Important note: If you prefer to have a low key cake cutting, you may just opt to have a jazz or new age instrumental piece playing in the background. 


4. What do you want the MC to do for the cake cutting?
Some choices:
a. Don’t do or say anything
b. Make an announcement only
c. Do a play-by-play of the event

a. Don’t do or say anything
Couples who choose this option are usually looking for a low-key cake cutting. If you choose this, you can simply go to the cake, cut, and feed each other. As mentioned in the last section, a good music choice for this kind of cutting is low playing instrumental jazz or new age music.

b. Make an announcement only
If you’d like your guests to view the cake cutting, have the MC make a simple announcement (e.g. “And now ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to direct your attention to the dance floor where Mark and Sue will be cutting their wedding cake”)

c. Do a play-by-play of the event
You can have the MC do a play-by-play (e.g. “And now it’s Sue’s turn to feed Mark,” etc.) Couples may choose this if they are afraid that they will not know what to do when they get to the cake, but if you have a good MC, Function Hall Manager, or Event Coordinator, they will instruct you on the proper procedure before you start the cake cutting.

What most couples do:
Most couples choose option “b” above, the announcement only.


5. Do you want to use forks or fingers to feed each other?
Why you might want to use forks:
Forks are a bit more elegant. They also eliminate the chance for “smashing.”

Why you might want to use fingers:
Fingers are the traditional way to feed each other the cake. They can also be less tricky and dangerous than forks. (you have to balance the cake on the fork, and forks do have pointy edges). Also, you might be looking forward to “smashing” in some form or another.

What most couples do:
Most couples use fingers.


6. How can you modify the cake cutting to make it different?
Some possibilities:
a. Have the Groom cut first, followed by the Bride
b. Serve the first pieces of the cake to your parents
c. Have a Groom’s Cake

a. Have the Groom cut first, followed by the Bride
This is an option chosen mostly by the brides, who want to be in a position to retaliate in case the groom should attempt to smash.

b. Serve the first pieces of the cake to your parents
After you have fed each other, you can proceed to cut more pieces and serve them to your parents. This is another nice way to recognize and thank them again.

c. Have a Groom’s Cake
The Groom’s Cake is an Early American Southern tradition. The Groom’s Cake is smaller than the Wedding Cake, (usually only one or two tiers), and is a contrasting color to the Wedding Cake. In most cases, the Bride surprises the Groom with a cake of his own after the Wedding Cake cutting has been completed. The groom usually cuts the first piece, and the cake is then served for dessert along with the Wedding Cake. An old tradition says the Groom serves the cake to the Bridesmaids with a glass of wine.


One last word on the cake cutting. We have referred to “smashing” several times throughout the course of this section. We want to make it clear that we do not in any way encourage it. About 50% of couples will “smash’ in one way or another, even if “smashing” means gently placing a dab of cake on their new spouse’s nose.