If you’re like me, then you're probably asking yourself, “What’s a groom’s cake?”; and I’m here to tell you that I have no idea! Well, to be correct, I had no idea. I came across the subject while searching for new wedding things to blog about, and when I read the title of groom’s cake, I had to do a double take. However, through the gift of the internet, I have now become the groom’s cake master (sorta) and so I feel confident that I can answer the questions, what is a groom’s cake, and should you have one? So, let’s get started!

What is a Groom’s Cake?

A groom’s cake is actually a very sweet (no pun intended) and special gift that is provided as an homage to the groom, by the bride either at the rehearsal dinner, or with the actual wedding cake on the day of. But let’s take a little stroll down history lane shall we. In fact, the groom’s cake is not a new idea at all! The concept originated in the late 1800’s in, you guessed it, England! However, it didn’t take long before the custom of the groom’s cake was brought over here to the United States. It’s a more commonly observed tradition in the south, but as all good traditions do, it’s moved its way around the whole of the United States! Nowadays however, only about 30% of couples enjoy a groom’s cake, and most of that business is done down in the southern states.

With history out of the way, let’s talk about what makes a groom’s cake, a groom’s cake! The purest most simplistic definition is a wedding cake that is wholly influenced by the groom. This cake was traditionally served to the guests as a second flavor, as the more traditional wedding cake was thought too feminine. You could expect flavors of cocoa or liquor to be found in a traditional groom’s cake, flavors that were in essence, more “manly”. Like I stated above, this cake is served at the rehearsal dinner or alongside the main wedding cake either for consumption or simply as a decoration on the day of. However, if choosing the second option, the groom’s cake is often cut after the main wedding cake, if it is to be served to the guests.

What really defines a groom’s cake is that it is a gift from a bride to her groom. An homage to him, a gift that represents his hobbies, passions and likes! Traditionally this was done to allow the wedding to include some influence of the groom, as the bride and her family generally handled most, if not all, of the wedding planning. Nowadays however, the happy couple tend to plan the wedding around them as a couple instead of just the bride's likes and dislikes, thus the groom’s cake is less about the influence of the groom and more about presenting a nice gift that honors him and his passions. Today you’ll see groom’s cakes styled after tv or movies, video games, sports and so on and so forth. Whatever it is that the groom like’s is often the basis for the cake.

Should you have one?

On the topic of whether or not you should have a groom’s cake, that depends wholly on whether or not you want one. Is it a requirement? Certainly not! Today, the groom’s cake is simply a special gift provided to the groom for his honor and the enjoyment of all. If you wish to give the groom something edible, delicious, and totally awesome then I say go for it! For those on a tight budget, it might simply not be an option. A groom’s cake, while not excruciatingly expensive, will still generally cost $100-$300, so it may not be within reach for some couples. At the end of the day, it’s up to each individual couple whether they have a groom’s cake or not. If the answer is yes, then the bride and groom together will decide whether to share the cake at the rehearsal dinner or at the wedding reception, and even then, the cake may simply be used as a decor piece until after the big day is over.

All that to say, I think it’s a great idea and there have been some really cool cake designs made for a groom’s cake. Speaking of cool designs, I couldn’t just leave you with all this tasty content (see what I did there) and not show you some of these amazing designs! So, below you’ll find some of my favorite groom’s cake designs I found while writing this blog; Enjoy!

What Is a Groom’s Cake and Should You Have One?

What is a Groom’s Cake?

Should you have one?

Halie + Kyler

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