Cutting the cake - when to do it?

AF2000

Hi everyone,

We have decided to serve wedding cake for desert at our wedding, just to try and keep costs down. Also, we went to a a wedding over the weekend where the cake was cut and served in the evening and was barely eaten - it seemed like such a waste!

We're going to have an M&S cake with different flavoured tiers so hopefully there'll be something for everyone, and serve it with fresh summer fruit.

My question is, when do we cut the cake? If it is to be served for desert should we cut it before dinner? We're going to have a canap! reception before dinner so potentially could do it then .. But is that an odd time to do it?! I have no idea of the etiquette with these things!

Any advice/ideas gratefully received!

double_mummy

are you doing speeches? because you could have your main meal cut the cake and then do the speeches then serve the cake after them

RuthnJasper

Hi there! MANY congratulations on your wedding.

The usual thing is to cut the cake after the meal/canapes; so I'd have it then. If you are worried about it taking too long to cut for your guests after you've done your "official" cutting, is there any chance that a separate tier could be out the back, already cut up, so that it can start being handed out straight away?

After you've had your canapes, get your MC (or draft in an uncle or male friend with a booming voice) to announce "Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for the cutting of the cake!"

I think it's a great idea to have the cake with fruit as the dessert - it won't sit too heavy on peoples' stomachs then; especially if there's likely to be dancing afterwards.

I hope you have a fantastic day and a very happy married life together. xx

Roz_V

I've been to a couple of weddings where the couple have cut the cake right before the meal. The other guests have already entered the room and taken their seats, then the couple are announced in and instead of taking their places at the top table they have cut the cake. It works well whenever I've seen it

Edit: just make sure the guests have chance to see the cake - maybe by having it on display at the canap! reception - as people like to see it and take pictures before its cut x

minerva_windsong

My sister served her wedding cake as dessert and cut the cake before dinner, so it could be taken away to be plated up while everyone was eating.

I agree though about making sure it's on display somewhere - depending how your venue is laid out maybe the cake could be near the door of the room where you're having the wedding breakfast, so when guests come in they can have a look at it on the way to their table? Or perhaps by the seating plan - so you'd have the seating plan just inside the door and then the cake next to it.

AF2000

Ah thanks for all your replies everyone! We're having our reception in a bar/pub so it'll all be fairly open plan, which means we should be able to have the cake on full view during canap!s. I like the idea of doing it just before dinner and then it's ready for a smooth transition after dinner..

TheSeventh

we're cutting the cake before dinner, so it can be cut up to be served as desert.

Cake cutting > dinner > dessert > speeches (sort of during dessert, with about 10 minutes for people to settle down before starting speeches)

Hollie84

We are cutting ours in the evening when all our guests are present and having it cut up for guests to help themselves

lisajane8482

We're cutting ours before the evening food is served so it can be cut up and put out as dessert for the evening guests