How to Cut the Cake

The ceremony of cutting the cake either follows the speeches or takes place before them to allow the caterers to remove it and slice it, ready for handing round with the coffee. The best man (or toastmaster, if there is one) announces that the bride and groom are to cut the cake, and the couple make their way to the table where the cake is displayed. The bride should place the point of the knife near the centre of the bottom tier of the cake. The bridegroom places a hand over his wife's and slowly and carefully helps her to force the point of the blade down into the heart of the cake and then to draw the blade forwards and downwards. They may cut a complete slice and share it between them, but due to the elaborate icing and decorations on many cakes, and the couple's possible nervousness, they will probably only make a token cut.

The cake is then taken away to be cut into serving-sized pieces, and possibly distributed with coffee, whilst the guests are listening to the speeches. Since the pieces soon dry out, the caterers should only cut enough slices for those guests present. The rest of the cake will be saved for eventual distribution to friends and relatives of the newly-weds who are unable to attend the wedding or the reception.