The bride takes the beautifully etched cake knife and her groom carefully places his hand over hers. Together, they slowly move the silver blade through a sumptuous confection of sugar guaranteed to make any mouth water. As they lovingly and playfully feed each other sweet morsels and crumbs, the crowd breathes a collective sigh and joyously applauds one of the most time-honored wedding traditions.This scene is reenacted thousands of times at wedding receptions worldwide. The cutting of the cake is one of the most eagerly anticipated highlights of any nuptial celebration and culturally inspired events are no exception to this rule! Wedding cakes have evolved over the years from a simple heaping of breads to the elaborate designs we see today.
When you are planning your wedding, whether it is a "traditional" Western-styled wedding, one with a kiss of culture or an event that celebrates this rite of passage in the way of our ancestors from the Motherland, the cake plays a central role in the scheme of things. Choosing a cake is one of the more pleasurable parts of the wedding planning process and one that you and your fiance can deliciously enjoy together. But how do you decide which cake is right for you and the wedding you envision?
Consider the type of wedding you are having. Is it traditional, culturally inspired or a total immersion into the culture of Africa? Will your celebration be held in the majesty of a cathedral with a five course meal to follow or are you and your beloved communing with nature, pledging your love for each other in the simple beauty of a garden and sharing the moments that follow with a few friends on a shady verandah? The theme or overall idea that you choose will greatly aid you in deciding upon the perfect cake.
What makes your sweet tooth go into overdrive? Smooth, luscious, decadent milk chocolate icing over an even more sinfully delicious cocoa filling... or maybe the juicy ripeness of freshly prepared fruits, the zing and zest of lemon married with the lightness of real whipped cream. Whatever the notion, there is a cake out there for you! No longer are wedding cakes relegated to a simple yellow interior and a thick, overly sugared icing. These delightful works of art now show design and imagination in their swirls of color and incredible attention to detail. Cake artists use color and texture as a joint process to create a masterpiece for your special day. Look for confections decorated with gold and silver dragees (small gold or silver sugar balls used to decorate or accent cakes), sugared or real cowrie shells, the intricacy of Adinkra symbols or tropical and more traditional flowers fashioned from gum paste.
And for the crowning touch? No more little people at the top of the cake! Today's brides and grooms of color are opting for fresh flowers, cascading from the top of the cake to fall in a graceful profusion at the base. For those of you who wish to carry a piece of history with you into your wedding, consider using the cake topper that graced the upper tier of your parent’s cake. If you want to have a more contemporary version of a bride and groom on your sweet treat, shop local artisans or specialty catalogues for porcelain cake toppers that reflect the beauty and grace of our people. These figurines are exquisitely crafted, depicting a modern day couple, attired in traditional African wedding garb or fashioned to resemble a couple who are dressed for the occasion in more contemporary Afrocentric attire.
Don’t forget your cake table! Whether it is a lavishly decorated banquet round or a simple backyard picnic bench, how you dress this area is key to the overall look and design of your cake. If you have opted for a more Western-styled cake, then consider the formality or theme you have chosen for the reception. The use of linens and cloths similar to those that you are using for the dining and banquet tables will help you sustain the style you’ve created. Fresh flowers, candles and greenery all add to the delicate ambiance of an elegant cake table. For a more cultural or African-inspired wedding cake, fabrics such as those in your wedding attire and other decorations can figure quite well into the overall picture you are painting. Liberally sprinkle tiny cowrie shells and glittering ankh confetti across the brightly patterned fabric and use small sheaves of wheat highlighted with dried, fragrant flowers and thin strands of raffia to act as swags for the corners of the table.
Instead of saving the top tier of your cake to eat on your first anniversary, ask your baker if they would give you a certificate, good for a single layer cake that you can share on that memorable occasion. Being able to revisit and enjoy the sweetness you shared on the day you became husband and wife is truly "the icing on the cake!"
