Published October 2, 2018 | Revised April 3, 2024
The tradition of saving the top tier of the wedding cake began in the 19th century. Back then, newlyweds usually had their first child within the first year of marriage and would serve the top tier of their wedding cake at the child’s christening. However, as couples now tend to wait longer to have children, the tradition has evolved, and most couples save the top tier to share on their first wedding anniversary. If you want to take part in this tradition, it’s important to store and preserve your cake correctly. First, we suggest you enlist the help of a friend to be in charge of your top tier. Second, have them follow the steps below.
Remove All Flowers and Adornments
- Be sure to remove anything not edible, such as real flowers, ribbons, the cake topper, etc
- Also, remove sugar or fondant flowers as they will spoil quickly.
Freezing
- Place unwrapped cake in the freezer for an hour or two to harden the frosting and decorations.
- Remove the cake from the freezer. Wrap the cake in two layers of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil.
- Place the cake in the cake box and put it back in the freezer.
Thawing
- Pull the cake out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours, remove the cake from the box and remove all of the aluminum foil and saran wrap.
- Place the cake back in the box and back in the refrigerator.
- Pull the cake out to sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours before eating it.
Enjoy!
Just a friendly reminder: the cake is a year old, so it might not be as fresh as it once was. However, if you’ve taken the necessary steps to preserve it properly, sharing a few bites with your spouse on your anniversary should still be enjoyable. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of eating year-old cake or the preservation method didn’t work out, you can always reach out to your original bakery. Ask them to create a small cake with the same delightful flavors as your original wedding cake. Make the day even more special by looking through the photos from your wedding day and watching the video.