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Along with your wedding dress, your wedding cake will be one of the main focal points of your big day, not to mention being an important photographic opportunity. It is as time-honoured as the bride being late or the best man bungling his speech! wedding ceremonies wouldn’t be the same without the cutting of the cake, but did you realise that there is a particular way in which to cut it?
It is customary for the bride & groom to make the first two cuts together, usually with a ceremonial knife or a wedding cake serving set. Some couples have a serving set with their names and / or venue and date engraved on the knife and cake server.
To begin the bride should place her right hand on the handle of the knife. The groom should put his hand over hers, and together they begin cutting on the bottom tier of the cake with the point of the knife. Two incisions are made to cut a small piece which is then placed on a plate.
Traditionally the bride and groom will then feed it to each other. This will be their first duty as man and wide and is said to signify that they are committed to sharing their lives with one another. It is also believed to symbolise the creation of new family unit and the replacement of the old parent-child union. In antiquated rituals the bride would serve portions of cake to members of the parents of the groom as a symbol of the transfer of her household labour to his family.
During the cutting of the cake the attention of the entire wedding party will be focused on it, so ensure that it is placed in a prominent but secure spot, preferably close to the top table, without obscuring the guests’ view if possible.