The Groom's Cake

While not all wedding receptions include a groom's cake, having one can be a fun addition to the festivities. Traditionally, the groom's cake is seen as the bride's way of "allowing" her husband-to-be to have something that is 100% his, and is influenced by his tastes, both regarding flavor and design. Some people may serve the groom's cake as a dessert the night before the wedding, after the rehearsal dinner. Other couples choose to present it at the reception, displayed on its very own table. The groom's cake is usually smaller, and is usually completely different from the main cake, though having it coordinate in some way with the overall theme is nice, too. There are several considerations when designing a groom's cake.

First of all, will the bride and groom collaborate on the groom's cake, or will it be something the bride designs independently as a surprise for her man? It is a nice gesture for the woman to put thought into what would please her groom, and indicates that she has spent time thinking about his interests and tastes. Of course, the first thing she should consider is "What flavor would he like?" Not to generalize, but men often prefer something richer and more hearty than the traditional white wedding cake. Chocolate, red velvet or some type of cheesecake are popular choices. If the bride doesn't know her soon to be husband's favorite flavor, she should start well ahead of time asking casual questions to find out.

Second, she will decide how big and what shape the groom's cake will be. Is it meant to offer all guests an alternate choice, or is it going to be mostly for the groom and his attendants? The bride will want to work with the baker or pastry chef to determine the number of servings and size of the cake. They'll also decide if the cake will be round, square, or a novelty shape, such as a fish or baseball bat.

Then comes the really fun part: decorating the groom's cake. Here the bride can really explore what is meaningful to her man. Consider his interests: is he a golfer, fisherman, sports nut, car buff, intellectual, hunter, or photographer? Each of these hobbies would really lend itself to an appropriate theme for the cake. Almost any hobby or profession can be incorporated into the design to produce an original, personalized cake. Again, the pastry chef's expertise and experience are essential. He can show photos and make suggestions regarding color and decoration to ensure that the groom's cake is meaningful in a personal way to the groom.

Designing a unique groom's cake is a special way for the bride to honor and recognize the person she has chosen to love for life.