Mrs. Penguin, Sacramento
Age and Occupation: 26, Video & TV Producer/Director/Editor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Engagement Date: January 29, 2007
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008
Blogging Since: September 14, 2007
Venue: Winery in the Gold Country
About Me: I'm a silly mess of a girl who, above all else in this world, LOVES the Spice Girls. I eat sushi at least 3 times a week, and feel guilty about how much it costs the other 4 days a week. I love designer jeans and cheap accessories. I don't like sweets, but I love the UCLA Bruins!
Flour, Sugar, and Eggs on Display
October 8th, 2007 @ 12:20 pm by Mrs. Penguin
I have a confession: I never watch couples cut their cakes. Dinner is over, I’m enjoying a cocktail and conversing with long lost friends, and the 20 kids bouncing around the cake table is kind of a turnoff. And even if I wanted to watch the cake cutting, often times there are 30 guests crowded around it, and I’m not about to elbow the bride’s grandma in the pancreas just to catch a glimpse.
When we met with our wedding coordinator, I asked her if it was okay if we placed the cake smack dab in the middle of the dance floor. She said that she hadn’t done it before (it’s usually shoved in a corner of the tent), but that there was no reason why we couldn’t. I suppose there is a possibility that someone would come over and knock it over, but isn’t that the case even if the cake is in the corner? We could rope it off if we were REALLY that concerned about it. We’re not.
We plan to cut our cake during dinner, while guests are still seated and eating. After all, if we’re going to drop hundreds of dollars on flour, sugar and eggs, you’d better believe every single one of our guests are going to watch us cut it. No crowding, no kids, just an equal-opportunity cake cutting experience.
How are you “spotlighting” your wedding cake?
16 Responses to “Flour, Sugar, and Eggs on Display”
We did exactly that! The cake table was in the middle of the dance floor and we cut the cake after we were introduced (while guests were sitting at the table, enjoying a cocktail and just before they were served their salad). It worked out really well for us because our guests could see our cake on display at the beginning of the reception, we had everyone’s attention while we cut it, everyone was seated, and the staff had plenty of time to cut it for everyone. Hope it works well for you too!
Thats honestly a great idea. I may have to consider doing that.
that is a great idea. hmm. my best friend cut her cake after the toasts while everyone was already gathered so there was perfect viewing for everyone.
that’s a really great idea! i was planning for something similar and was a little disappointed when i saw that our location had a specially built alcove with its own stage especially for the cake. the catering company had their banquet hall built to their specifications and it’s actually a really nice touch. it even has it’s own built in spotlight, so i don’t think anyone will miss the cake by any means.
I love the idea. I would worry about the cake being knocked over by a clumsy dance though!
We layed out the ballroom so that there were 5 buffet stations. One of them was smack dab in the middle near the “front” (where the guests entered) and we designated that one the dessert station. It had the cake elevated on a glass table with other tables below it (which were pretty with low flowers, and then got replaced with desserts when dinner was near over) and so it became a centerpiece that you couldn’t help but pass by between stations and to get dessert.
I was at a wedding this weekend where we witnessed the cake cutting, before dinner, just for the photographer. The Bride and Groom just kinda walked over, no announcement or anything and just did it…then the cake was wheeled away. We wouldn’t have even seen the cake if we hadn’t had a gift to set on a nearby table, it was that unnoticable, but a beautiful cake.
I’ve seen that done at several friends and families weddings, and never seen anyone knock into it. 
I think it’s great to have it showcased on the dance floor…the table and cake are wheeled away before dancing begins.
You can also cut the cake after you’re introduced, before dinner is served–that way you have everyone’s attention!
hahaha….after being stuck in the kitchen with the cake for several hours, I didn’t want to ever see it again.
We’re going to have our cake on a small riser so everyone can see it as they’re walking in. Then towards the end of dinner (while everyone is still seated), we will cut the cake, giving the staff enough time to take it away and cut it so it can be served as dessert.
Our cake will be one of the first things that people see when they walk into the restaurant where we’ll be having our reception.
However, b/c I already have concerns of people leaving my Sunday wedding early, I don’t plan on cutting the cake until 9pm (reception is 5-10pm).
We just got married and did something similar — our tables were sort of arranged in a circular maze with the cake table in the middle. We had a cake that we cut ceremonially but cream puffs on stands for the main dessert.
The pro was that people could see the cake cutting and it was really fun. I thought it really connected people well…
The con is that it cuts into the dance floor space and makes it a bit more awkward. We didn’t have a crowd that would have danced a ton anyway, so it worked for us– it also meant a central and enclosed dance space for the first dance and father/daughter dance (another “pro”)– but if you have a crazy dancin’ crowd, it may make your space a bit tight.
Also, you may need to engage someone to prompt people to get cake at first — being central to everything, people seemed more reluctant to be the first in line.
Best of luck!
Amnesia, your last line is good piece of advice. Sometimes people are timid about being the first to do something at a wedding. But if there’s someone who has already signed the guestbook, gotten the first serving of cake, started dancing…it makes it easier for the rest of the guests to take that as a cue to do the same.
Is this a new wedding role? The “Cue Guest”
i’m going to showcase in the front of the head table on the dancefloor. as far as when to cut it? I’m thinking.. I really don’t know because for families like mines cutting the cake is the signal to go home. I have so much lined up.. I hate for them to miss out. Especially the traditional Money Dance.
Our cake is the first thing people will see as they enter the 3rd floor from the cocktail reception on the 2nd floor of our location. Since we’re serving it for dessert, and our dinner is sit-down, the caterer asked us to cut it before we sit down for dinner. So we’ll be doing that then. That way, once dinner is winding down, the toasts can be said, the dances can be done, and the REAL party can get started! Woo!
we didn’t really think the cake cutting was important, so we did it just before dinner started, unannounced, in a non-central area. some of our friends were shocked that we did it so unassumingly. i like your idea of putting it in the middle of the dance floor so everyone who wants to can see…but i still would have tried to get away without an announcement ;).
