Wedding Cake Knives and Servers

The wedding cake, like the wedding dress, can be one of the more fun and creative choices that a couple will make about their wedding. Some wedding cakes are big, intricately designed towers with multiple layers and flavors, while other wedding cakes are more simple. All wedding cakes, however, need to be cut before they can be served.

This is where cake knives and serves come in. The more elaborate wedding cakes are often best to cut into with a cake knife and then served with the triangle server specially designed to get that piece of cake from tower to plate with the least chance of mishap. The cake knife and cake server also make for a more polished cake-cutting picture. Using a cake knife and server is often the right choice, especially for couples who plan to make the ritual of cutting the cake a big moment during their wedding.

Whatever you’re considering for your cake-cutting moment, we have the full guide to cake knives and servers, here.

Whether or Not to Buy a Cake Knife and Server

The first thing to know is that you do not need to buy a cake knife and cake server. In recent years, it has become increasingly common for couples to buy a cake serving set for their wedding, or use one already in the family. There are many good reasons to do that, and some beautiful options if you choose to buy a serving set. However, you will get your cake served either way.

There are a few options for how to cut your cake if you do not bring your own cake knife and server to your wedding.

The first is that your caterer, or the wedding venue, might have a cake knife and server on hand that you can borrow. Some venues will send a list in advance of items that you’re responsible for providing, so check and see if a cake knife and server is one of them. If your caterer is responsible for cutting and serving the cake, which often happens out of sight once the first slice is served by the couple, then ask if they have a cake knife and server, too.

If there will not be a cake knife and server available for you to borrow, then you can get away with using a butter knife to cut your wedding cake. The butter knife might get a little overwhelmed in a cake with deep layers and lots of frosting, but the worst that can happen is that you get some frosting on your wrist, or you decide to make a very small first slice. The knife will cut the cake, and you won’t topple the cake or anything like that in the process.

Reasons to Use a Cake Knife and Server

While you can get away with not bringing a cake knife and server to your wedding, some couples decide that the cake knife and server are the way to go for these reasons:

• Better cake cutting pictures. The cutting of the wedding cake can be a really fun moment in a wedding, and it often signals the formal end of toasts or other ceremonies. This is often a prime time for pictures, and many rituals have developed around this moment. Often, the couple will decide to cut the cake together, and place both their hands on the knife, before serving each other a slice (and sometimes pushing their partner’s face into the slice). For couples who see this as a big moment, the cake knife is ideal. This is because the cake knife makes it easier for the couples to both hold onto it while cutting, and it looks nice in pictures. If you’re unsure whether it’s worth it, look up pictures of cake cutting moments and see if you want the drama of the cake knife.

• Useful for future events. Another great reason to buy a cake knife and server is if you know you will use it in the future. Cake knives and servers can be used to cut and serve foods during any other special occasion, such as a birthday party, Thanksgiving dinner, or when enjoying a homemade delicacy. For couples who plan to host regularly, and know that they will use the knife and server once they’re married, it’s often worth it to buy a special cake knife and server for their wedding.

How to Choose the Right Cake Knife and Server for You

Like all wedding choices, you want to make the choice that fits the style, the taste, and the general atmosphere of the wedding. If you’re hosting a backyard pool party wedding, then elaborate silver cake servers will look out of place. The truth is that there are so many kinds of wedding cake knives and servers available that you’ll be able to find the right one for your wedding.

You should also consider putting the wedding cake knife and server on your wedding registry, if you plan to have one. This is because the set is an item that will be used for many events after your wedding, and lots of people would like to buy it for you.

If you want to use a wedding cake knife and server that is meaningful to you, but you’re not sure if you want to buy one, then you should also ask around to see if anyone in your family has one that you could borrow. Sometimes older female relatives, such as a grandmother, received these items on their wedding day, and it could add something special to your day to use one that has been featured in other family weddings.

Wedding cake servers come in fun, bright plastic colors, as well as traditional, stately silver designs. They can also be personalized with your names and the date of your wedding. If this is an item that you plan to use as a lasting keepsake, then keep in mind the personal aesthetics of your home.

The cake knife and server can make the moment of cutting your wedding cake even more special, and they are integral in taking a great cake-cutting photograph. While you don’t need to buy one, it’s an investment that would be particularly worth it for a couple who plans to use it for future hosting.