What Is A Wedding Groom's Cake, And Is It Worth It?

You'd be hard-pressed to find a wedding ceremony that didn't include a fancifully decorated cake. In fact, this time-honored tradition first began in Ancient Rome, albeit with a slight twist. Instead of the elaborately designed and decorated cakes associated with weddings today, Roman couples were treated to wheat cakes resembling scones, which were intended to provide the bride with good luck in the fertility department. The tradition eventually made its way to Great Britain, which is when cakes began to look like the impressive sweet concoctions known and loved today.

These days, wedding cakes are akin to edible works of art. While flavors are highly important to a noteworthy cake, the look of the cake is equally crucial to ensure both the wedding party and guests are wowed by the creation. Some cakes are adorned with fresh flowers, while others have intricate decorations and piping for a truly dazzling affair. Some weddings even feature more than one cake as a way of honoring the groom, which leaves many couples wondering if they should invest in a groom's cake of their own.

Groom's cakes are actually a deep-seated wedding tradition, though they're most prevalent in the South these days. The practice originated in Victorian England, where most weddings featured three separate cakes. In addition to the wedding cake, which the guests got to enjoy, many ceremonies also included grooms' cakes and brides' cakes, which were intended for the respective bridal parties. During that era, groom's cakes were usually made with fruitcake, but modern husbands-to-be have many other options at their disposal.

Anyone who's ever watched "Steel Magnolias," the iconic drama-comedy that really put Julia Roberts' facial muscles to the test with all that smile-crying, knows that groom's cakes can be a bit contentious. In the film, a red velvet armadillo groom's cake vexes numerous guests due to its gray icing and blood-red interior. Of course, groom's cakes don't need to be quite so weird, but many couples wonder whether they're still necessary. In this case, the answer is: maybe? While they're not mandatory for an enjoyable reception, they can be beneficial when couples are unable to come to a consensus on cake flavors. If you decide that your ceremony must have a groom's cake of its very own, it helps to know other people's opinions on the matter. 

As illustrated by Weddings Today, groom's cakes can be a way for a spouse to present a special gift to their husband-to-be. Lee Slaninko, owner of Sweet Somethings Desserts, explains that brides often request groom's cakes in his Wilmington, North Carolina bakery as surprise gifts. In this case, they may ask for a specific design to pay homage to something the groom loves. Eileen Gray, proprietor of Cake Art Studio in Paoli, Pennsylvania, mirrors Slaninko's sweet sentiment. In the past, Gray was responsible for creating groom's cakes with designs featuring "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader, as well as a Beatles-inspired cake including silhouettes of each band member. 

As for grooms weirdly enamored with armadillos, you're in luck. Many pastry shops can replicate the iconic (or horrific, depending on your proclivities) armadillo cake from "Steel Magnolias." For instance, Casa Costa Bake Shop shared a picture of an elaborate armadillo cake on its Instagram, complete with red velvet cake making up the body of the little fellow, who's named Frank in case you were wondering. While the decision to have a groom's cake varies quite a bit from couple to couple, these selections prove that your cake can feature a design that captures the attention of your guests.