Best Time to Cut Your Cake: Tips from a Marquee Wedding Planner

As a wedding planner, I am often asked at what point in the timeline that a couple should cut their cake. Cake makers and planners sometimes have different views! I have listed below the three top times that you should cut your cake.

Cake: Tree House Cakes | Photographer: Helen Rose

Before Your First Dance

One of the more challenging tasks for a wedding planner is gathering all your guests in one place on your special day. This is especially true for larger marquee or tipi weddings, where coordinating everyone can feel like herding cats. To streamline this process, I often recommend placing your wedding cake near the dance floor. This way, we can gather your guests in one area, allowing us to transition smoothly from the cake cutting to your first dance. By doing this, we avoid the hassle of rounding everyone up twice. Afterward, your caterer or wedding planner will cut and serve the cake alongside your evening food.

Cake: Purple Pumpkin | Photographer: Charlotte Jopling

Before Your Wedding Breakfast

For a seamless wedding day flow, you could consider cutting your cake before your wedding breakfast. Again, this strategy eliminates the need to gather guests twice. Seat your guests for the wedding breakfast and, upon your grand entrance into the marquee or tipi, head straight to your cake for the cutting. With all eyes already on you, it's a perfect moment! This approach is particularly effective for couples planning to serve their cake as dessert. Immediately after the cutting, your caterers can take the cake to be sliced and served.

Cake: Purple Pumpkin | Photographer: Charlotte Jopling

Before Your Drinks Reception

Here’s a unique idea: consider cutting your cake before your drinks reception…and serve your cake as canapés. It’s a fresh concept but think about it! This method ensures the cake is enjoyed early and reduces wastage. After your ceremony, cut your cake and have your caterers serve it as canapés. You can even integrate your cake cutting into the ceremony. Remember, if you’re having an outdoor wedding with a celebrant-led ceremony, the possibilities are endless. This idea may be unconventional, but who wouldn’t want cake and prosecco together?

These are just a few ideas to consider with working your cake cutting into your timeline. Just remember, with a wedding planner like me on your team, I’ll always save you some cake to make sure you don’t miss out with all the hustle and bustle of the day.

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