Customarily the top tier of the wedding cake was always saved for
serving either on
the couple’s first anniversary or at the christening of their
first child – whichever came first. Started in England the
custom survived for centuries and is still occasionally observed
today. However, in the past the wedding cake was a brandy-soaked
fruit affair that was easily preserved for long periods of time;
besides couples had children almost immediately after marriage so
keeping the cake was sensible. Today, wedding cakes are made from
delicious but hard to preserve flavors and fillings and most couples
wait at
least a year before even thinking about having children so saving
the top tier of the wedding cake becomes a harder proposition.
If you do want to still keep to tradition then make sure to wrap
the cake properly in plastic wrap and tin foil and freeze it as
soon as possible after the wedding reception. Most cakes will
keep for up to three months in this fashion. You can thaw and
eat the cake when you return from your honeymoon, to celebrate
a birthday or any other festive occasion. However, if you do want
to save the top tier of your wedding cake it means adding to the
cake’s already high cost - saving the top tier means that
you will have to add a tier in order to feed your guests. With
the price of wedding cakes being what they are, following an out-dated
tradition may not be worth it.
Whatever you decide, as long as your wedding cake is an impressive
dessert that people will admire and remember then you have succeeded
in getting the perfect confection for your sweet table.
