Irish wedding cake traditions

The traditional fruit cake

For generations, the wedding cake in Ireland and the rest of the UK was a rich fruit cake covered in marzipan and royal icing. Fruit cake keeps extremely well, which led to one of the best loved wedding traditions: saving the top tier for the christening of the couple's first child.

If you want to keep a fruit cake tier, wrap it in greaseproof paper and then foil and store it in an airtight container somewhere cool. Stored this way it can last for a couple of years, and it is usually given fresh marzipan and icing a few weeks before the christening.

Sponge has taken over

Fruit cake is no longer the default. Most couples now choose light sponge flavours for every tier, and weddingsonline lists chocolate, lemon, carrot cake and red velvet among the most popular choices in Ireland. Irish twists such as Baileys and Guinness chocolate are a lovely nod to tradition. Some couples still include a fruit cake tier for older relatives or to keep for a christening.

Sponge cakes are best enjoyed fresh, so if you would like to keep something back, ask your cake maker about a small extra cake or a fruit tier. Explore our full flavour menu.

When is the wedding cake served?

This is where Irish weddings are a little different. Rather than being plated as a dessert after the meal, the wedding cake is traditionally cut into small finger portions of about one inch square and served later in the evening with tea and coffee, often alongside the evening buffet. That is why portion guides in Ireland are based on finger portions. See our serving guide for how far each tier goes.

When do you cut the cake?

There is no fixed rule. Many couples cut the cake after the speeches, but it is increasingly popular to wait until the evening guests have arrived, often just before the first dance, so that everyone gets to see the moment. Talk to your venue coordinator and photographer so they are ready.

Other traditions

• The first slice. Cutting the cake together is said to be the couple's first shared task as a married couple.
• Cake for absent friends. Some couples send small boxed slices to guests who couldn't make it.
• The cake knife. Using a family cake knife, or one engraved with your names, is a lovely keepsake.

Making it your own

Whether you want a nod to tradition or something completely new, we will help you plan the right size, flavours and timing for your day. Tell us about your wedding.

Frequently asked questions