We never tire at looking at gorgeous wedding cakes here at One Fab Day, and we know just how much thought (and Pinterest hours!) our couples put into choosing their perfect confection. Which is why we love the tradition of saving the top tier of your wedding cake for good luck, to be enjoyed on your first anniversary or your first child's baptism, if that's part of your religious practice. Imagine the joy of seeing, tasting and smelling it again after all that time! Now, you might be wondering how a cake could last a whole year, or more, without going off. Well we're going to tell you exactly how to preserve the top tier of your wedding cake. So after you've cut the first slice together (and maybe mashed it into each other's faces), follow these tips and you'll be enjoying it again as you cheers to your first year of marraige.
Where Did The Cake Saving Tradition Come From?
This tradition of preserving a piece of wedding cake is around since the 19th century. However, the reasons why have evolved slightly over time. Initially, couples would save the top tier to celebrate the christening of their first child. Back then it was presumed that a couple would welcome their first child within the first year of marriage and this tradition was done for good luck and fertility. As time has gone on, and couples delayed starting a family, or had children before getting married, the has evolved that the cake is to be eaten on your one-year anniversary for good luck in your marriage.
What Type of Cake Can be Preserved?
The type of cake that was traditionally preserved has also changed. Wedding cakes were typically fruit cakes with the addition of bourbon and wine. The fruit and the bourbon continued to ferment as the year went on, thus making it easier to preserve. These days, however, we have more modern ways of preserving things (thank you to the person who invented the freezer!) and you can choose any cake flavour you like.
How to Preserve Your Wedding Cake
Our senses, particularly our sense of taste and smell, have a way of bringing us back to a particular moment. The taste of your wedding cake can transport you both back to that special day. After a romantic meal on your first anniversary, why not have your wedding cake as the dessert, toasting to another year filled with happiness and good fortune. If this sounds like something you'd like to do, here are a few simple steps to ensure that your wedding cake is just as tasty one year on.
Freezing the Cake
- Time is of the essence for freshness, so as soon as the wedding is finished, place the top tier of the cake in the freezer for a few hours to freeze the outer layer of icing without damaging it.
- Then loosely wrap the entire cake with freezer-safe plastic wrap. It's essential to cover every inch of the cake with plastic wrap, this will help to avoid dreaded freezer burn.
- Once wrapped, place the tier into an air-tight container.
- Wrap the cake box in the same plastic wrap to seal it from moisture, air, etc.
- Finally, place the box in the back of the freezer for safekeeping
Defrosting the Cake
- Take the cake out of the container and remove the plastic wrap.
- Take a new sheet of plastic wrap and lay it loosely over the cake so the moisture from defrosting will cling to the plastic wrap. This prevents the cake from getting soggy.
- The cake can be unthawed in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
If... despite all your best efforts the cake is less than edible a year later, don't fret. You can still enjoy a taste of this tradition by asking your original baker, to recreate the top tier using the same flavour and finish!
Still looking for the perfect supplier to make your cake? Check out our recommended cake makers here. We've also got Fun & Romantic First Anniversary Ideas as well as Thoughtful & Traditional Gifts.
