United Kingdom 
Trends and origins of Wedding Cakes
From Monica Lorraine
2 05 2011
Everything to know about wedding banquets
Although desert buffets are becoming more and more popular, wedding cakes continue to be the star of the wedding menu. Whether classic, in the form of a pyramid, or surrounded by cupcakes, the origin is the same.
The origin of wedding cakes comes from ancient Rome, where the the cake was as basic as they come, consisting of mostly flour and salt. The guests ate the crumbs that fell, as a symbol of fertility.
It wasn't until the 17th century that the cake became more what is like today. So, in England it became a custom to make multiple cakes and adorn them with fruits and nuts. However, as this was not a very stable process, the concept of having numerous cakes was abandonded and replaced by the new custom of having one giant cake.
Another wedding cake tradition of that era was to conceal a crystal ring inside the cake. It was believed that the guest to find it was guaranteed a year of happiness. If the lucky guest was a single youth, it meant that they would be the next to marry.
A more recent and strange custom is from the United States where the bride and groom keep the last tier of the cake in the freezer until their first wedding anniversary. On that date, they eat the cake as a symbol of their lasting love.
Without a doubt, the tradition most known by brides and grooms today is the cutting of the cake with a sword, although more and more couples prefer to substitute this typical photo for a photo with the dessert buffets or plated desserts.
But why give up the wedding cake tradition? The latest culinary trends are not at odds with the traditional wedding cake. Rather, the latest trend in question is that of having wedding cupcakes rather than a wedding cake, elaborated with other small cakes or muffins, typically in the US, where the aesthetic and design is an art form.
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