Top 6 Tips for How To Cut a Wedding Cake
The cake cutting is one of the most recognisable moments from a wedding reception but are you freaking out about cutting your wedding cake in front of all your family and friends?? Don’t stress! I’m here to break down exactly how to cut a wedding cake so you'll look like a pro regardless of your wedding cake size. It could be a huge tiered cake or sweet little cutting cake but if you follow these tips and you wont miss out on those super cute cake cutting pictures!
The perfect style of knife for cutting a wedding cake.
Photography: Dear Fiore Venue: Krinklewood Cake: Butter
Dont forget the wedding cake knife!
Ok first thing’s first. You're going to need a knife to cut your cake! A lot of venues will have a suitable knife available or have one included in their wedding packages but make sure you ask because some don’t and you might have to supply your own. If you do need to get your own you can make it a special keepsake from your wedding day and get a cake server and knife set engraved with your date or names. You’ll want something with a long, thin blade to make the cleanest wedding cake cut.
So you don't forget add “put out cake knife” to your wedding planning list now (or ask your wedding planner to)! Then you know it'll be waiting there for you on the cake table.
2. Cutting a wedding cake will need a little force
You’re going to have to put a little muscle in it! Wedding cakes are typically made from a denser cake in order to be able to stand up to being stacked in multiple tiers. On top of this it will likely still be little bit cold so the knife won’t just glide through like cutting a soft sponge cake layer. You’ll need to put a little downward pressure to cut through.
Only try to cut through one tier of your wedding cake
Photography: Sonja Cenic Venue: Redleaf Wollombi Cake: Butter
3. You can’t cut a wedding cake all the way through
Tiered cakes will have a board underneath each tier to seperate it from the one below. This means you won’t be able to slice the cake all the way from the top tier through to the bottom tier. The base of the top tier is a good place to stop as this is likely where you’ll hit the first board.
4. Wedding cakes have internal structure
Besides the boards at the base of each tier there will also be dowels in there holding everything up. A lot of cake designers use a central dowel to keep the cake secure while transporting so try not to position your knife so that it’s going right to the centre of the cake. Keeping th tip of the knife one inch off the centre should ensure you can cut through without hitting anything inside. If you do hit anything that feels really solid just reposition the knife and keep going. You can also chat to your cake designer about the internal structure so you’ll know where any road blocks are.
Wedding cakes required internal structure to keep them standing straight and tall so be mindful of this when cutting
Photography: Salt Atelier Venue: Chapel Ridge Cake: Butter
5. Keep your wedding cake cutting cute!
We’ve all seen those viral videos where the groom (or bride) tries to force cake in their partners face. Thats not how you want to start your life as a married couple! Have a conversation with your partner before the wedding day about what you’re both comfortable with. Personally I think taking out a small piece and feeding it to each other makes for the cutest photos! Plus you get to be the first to taste test your delicious cake, win win!
Photography: Allume Venue: Krinklewood Cake: Butter
Photography: Georgia Burns Venue: Krinklewood Cake: Butter
Bonus Tip: Keep your lipstick close by for any after cake eating touch ups!
Cascading blackberries didn’t stop this cute couple from having a good time!
Photography: Sarbo Studio Venue: Wallalong House Cake: Butter
6. If anything goes wrong during your wedding cake cutting - just keep smiling!
Dont forget the “cake cutting ceremony" is just that - a ceremony! It doesn't have to be the perfect cut and you dont have the slice up the entire cake for your guests. Just a small cut in the side is all you need to do.
Trust me - as long as you’re smiling and having a good time with your partner the photos will turn out great! Don’t take it too seriously and if anything goes wrong just laugh it off. At the end of the day cake is supposed to be fun!
When it comes to actually cutting the cake up for serving this will be the job of your caterer or venue staff. If you're hoping to have some leftover cake or to send guests home with a cake slice or two you can ask them not to cut up the entire tier straight away so you'll have lest wastage.
For more tips on how to reduce wastage be sure to check out this post: