When is the wedding cake cut?

What are the timings of a wedding day and when is the wedding cake cut?

Traditionally a wedding is comprised of sections and most UK wedding venues still stick to these timings, of course more laidback weddings or private home weddings can mess with tradition and move through the day at a less formal pace. Some venues are also more relaxed nowadays and are very happy to work with couples to best organise their wedding day, and to arrange the best time to cut the wedding cake.

The set-up

Most venues allow couples and suppliers on site after 9am, but often this is too early for a cake to be set up and I always ask my couples what time their ceremony is, or what time they expect guests to arrive so that I deliver and set up roughly an hour before. Often set up can take an hour or so depending on the cake design and whether it needs fresh flowers or other decorative details adding. Your cake will then be on display throughout the day.

Guests arrive and the wedding ceremony takes place

Once your guests arrive the wedding is in full swing, enjoy evey moment as it’s over pretty quickly. You’ll then head off for photos and champagne. Often nibbles are served at this point, or an ice cream cart, lawn games are enjoyed.

The wedding breakfast

I always feel like this is false advertising! If you call something breakfast I want croissants, but again tradition called for no food to be consumed before or during the wedding, so this first meal as a married couple would be breaking-the-fast. Modern venues and caterers like to maximise their sales and therefore don’t allow the wedding cake to be served as dessert during this often formal meal. I always recommend speaking to your venue about this as I think it’s the perfect time to cut the cake. You’re surrounded by your closest friends and family, the cake has been sat on display and if using fresh flowers they may be starting to wilt at this point, especially on a hot day. After the wedding breakfast is the perfect time to cut the cake…but there’s that crazy word tradition again! Unfortunately this isn’t the time that traditionally the cake is cut, and venues don’t like it either. Whether that is due to catering staff not being able to accommodate it or another reason I don’t know. I do appreciate that cakes are intricate works of art and the back of house caterers might be too busy at this point to cut the cake, but again if you’d love it to be served as dessert or even as an after dinner treat with a cup of coffee then raise this with your venue, caterers or planner.

So when IS the wedding cake cut?

Usually the cake is cut once the evening guests have arrived and settled in, just before the first dance your venue/planner or maybe even the photographer will ask you to pose for the cake cutting photos, maybe even feed each other a slice too. The cake is then taken away and cut by the venues caterers and displayed with the other evening food. I highly recommend asking a maid of honour or other trusted guest to save you a few slices, I also request this in my handover paperwork to the wedding venue. Often you don’t get to eat a great deal on your wedding day as you’re pushed from one guest to another for greetings and well wishes, and you’ll find you’ll be craving a doggy bag once you’re back in the honeymoon suit.

I always advise the venue on how to cut the cake in order to get the portions required. This can change depending on whether the cake is to be served as dessert or as a token treat in the evening.

So when wedding cake designers ask you how many guests you have it’s important to let us know both the day guests and the evening guests and how you would like to serve it. Dessert slices are usually double that of a regular wedding cake slice (sometimes called a coffee portion)

When having fresh flowers, my advice would be to have a staged cake cutting photo earlier in the day when the fresh flowers are looking their best, or consider bringing the cake cutting to the end of the wedding breakfast, even if it’s saved to serve later in the day. A great cake artist makes sure their cake stays moist and scrumptious throughout the day, so as long as the slices are covered they’ll be absolutely fine.

Always remember that it’s your wedding and you have hired the best suppliers that know their craft and are best to advise you. If you need to change timings then feel confident to do this. Start a new traditon!

Heather xx

Photo’s used by Emma Wilkinson Photography