LONDON, 1840—The royal wedding of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert featured an elaborate, multi-tiered wedding cake, measuring almost nine feet in circumference. The pure white sugar frosting, that became known as “royal icing,” was not only a symbol of purity, but of status as well, since refined sugar at that time was a luxury item.

The entire event set the style of the modern wedding. And wedding cake design has gone on from there to become an art form in itself.

However, wedding cakes weren’t always about decadent displays and a delicious treat for those celebrating the nuptials. In ancient Rome, the wedding cake played a very different role. The groom was required to smash a barley cake over the bride’s head as a symbol of good fortune. After the ceremony, guests gathered crumbs for good luck.

Of course, if you have ever tried a barley cake with no icing, you know that smashing it to bits might actually be preferable to eating it!

What’s the aha moment you see?

Image © iStockphoto

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LONDON, 1840\u2014The royal wedding of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert featured an elaborate, multi-tiered wedding cake, measuring almost nine feet in circumference. The pure white sugar frosting, that became known as “royal icing,” was not only a symbol of purity, but of status as well, since refined sugar at that time was a luxury item.<\/p>\n

The entire event set the style of the modern wedding. And wedding cake design has gone on from there to become an art form in itself.<\/p>\n

However, wedding cakes weren’t always about decadent displays and a delicious treat for those celebrating the nuptials. In ancient Rome, the wedding cake played a very different role. The groom was required to smash a barley cake over the bride’s head as a symbol of good fortune. After the ceremony, guests gathered crumbs for good luck.<\/p>\n

Of course, if you have ever tried a barley cake with no icing, you know that smashing it to bits might actually be preferable to eating it!<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the aha moment you see?<\/h2>\n

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