Picture this. You line up outside the entrance to your reception. The DJ gives you the cue and you enter the room, following your wedding party. The crowd is clapping and cheering along to the music.

You dance and raise your bouquet to the middle of the dance floor to where your brilliant wedding cake stands. It’s a focal point. A showstopper.

What’s next? Cut the cake!

All eyes are on you. You freeze. You panic. How do we do this?!

HELP!

Believe me… I have seen MANY couples in this exact situation, so I thought I’d offer some pre-wedding assistance with some quick instructions on what the procedure is.

Ideally, someone from your venue (or maybe even your baker/cake artist) will have left you a dessert plate, a napkin (or 2!), and some utensils. Normal protocol is a serving set (cake knife and server) and 2 forks. If you are hosting your event on private property, assign this easy checklist item to someone on your wedding day team.

Next, you (the couple) will position yourselves behind the cake. That is, on the back side of the cake, so the front decoration/topper are facing away from you.

Now, into the BOTTOM layer, you will cut a small sliver/slice of cake. This is especially important if you are saving your cake topper. I know that some bakers offer an anniversary top layer so it’s fresh and not freezer burnt a year later. But it is definitely possible to save your top layer and keep it edible with the right packaging. Martha Stewart has some tips on how to preserve your top cake layer for a year.

Place that slice of cake onto the plate that was left on the table for you. Grab your forks! Let’s eat!

How you handle this next part is totally up to you… delicate, dainty, well-mannered fork feeding? All-out-smash-it-in-your-face? Finger foods? Whatever floats your boat! This could be the first test of your marriage! LOL

You may need that napkin I mentioned above for a bit of cleanup. And let me just say it is so cute in photos to watch the marriers take turns cleaning each other up!

Then last but not least — DON’T FORGET TO KISS!! I will usually signal for you to do it, but it helps if you do it on your own. Sometimes the music is loud! ;)

And that’s it! Your cake will then be whisked off the dance floor for the staff to cut it into pieces for the guests. You can now go ahead and have a seat at your head table!

There you have it — enjoy your wedding reception!