Dotty Magazine Issue Five | Page 16

EXPERT COLUMN: CAKE DESIGNER Image: Natasha White Photography THE HISTORY BEHIND THE WEDDING CAKE Written by Sweet Devotion It would seem that as a nation of foodies, the wedding cake is still a wedding highlight. Over the years, cakes have travelled with the eras and evolved accordingly; from stunning towers of opulence, to cardboard cakes made during wartimes. Here, we take a look at the history behind the wedding cake. Since Medieval times, the wedding cake has been a sign of fertility for the bride, and prosperity for the happy couple. It wasn’t a cake as we think of it now, but a selection of baked goods, primarily made from wheat, along with pies and breads, which were traditionally thrown at the bride. Advert Credit: Curly Chops Design Gradually turning to sweeter bakes, they were stacked as high as possible with the bride and groom said to kiss across the top, trying not to knock the tiers over! If done successfully, it was thought to bring oodles good fortune. During this period, a French pastry chef, who was visiting England, saw this and then created the Croquembouche; a base cake with choux pastry balls piled into a cone shape. From the mid-17th Century to early 19th, the rustic bake evolved and ‘brides pie’ was commonly served at weddings – some with hidden glass rings to give good luck when found by another woman, indicating they’d marry next. In 1703, a baker’s apprentice, Thomas Rich, created a cake for his fiancé. He took his inspiration from the imposing structure of the nearby ‘St Brides Church’ with its architectural ‘tiers’. The 19th century saw the rise in pure white frosted cakes, with the purest white sugar only used by the most affluent. It was when Queen Victoria used it for her cake, that it was renamed ‘Royal Icing’. Currently making a comeback, it no longer has the rock hard finish that was experienced during the 1960’s – 90’s. Food rationing during wartime led to ‘Cardboard Cakes’, offering the façade of a traditional looking cake made from painted cardboard, yet hidden beneath was a simple sponge. Nowadays, to save costs, some couples choose to use a ‘dummy cake’ in a similar manner with a stunning exterior yet only 1 or 2 tiers are edible. A perfectly acceptable way to achieve the look without the price tag! Whether you take inspiration from past eras or add a modern twist, the cake looks set to stay part of today’s celebrations; reflecting the couple’s personalities and providing memories for many generations to come. www.dottyvintageweddings.co.uk 16 Images: Natasha White Photography Bringing our cake journey right up to date, there are now a plethora of options; from traditional styles to modern fun-themed cakes, and even cheese wedding cakes! The iced sweetness now spills out into whole tables filled with cupcakes, cookies, giant marshmallows, homemade lemonades; adding more grandeur to the centrepiece cake towering over them. Top to Bottom: Croquembouche; Wedding cake; Sugarpaste Flowers; Fondant Icing; Giant marshmallows. Issue 5