Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To hate that American wedding custom of

46 replies

greensmoothiegoddess · 08/08/2013 19:21

splatting wedding cake on the face of your loved one. FFS. Why? Just why? Can anyone shed light on this weird tradition? I am just watching Four Weddings US and the groom has just smudged the whole plate on her face. Yes she looked mad but recovered well.

OP posts:

Mrsrobertduvall · 08/08/2013 19:23

Luckily I didn't have a wedding cake

a stupid custom.

parakeet · 08/08/2013 19:24

Oh please, while we're on the subject, can any Americans enlighten us as to how common this is? I mean, is it done at all weddings, or just by the jokers out there?

AnnabelleLee · 08/08/2013 19:25

Of course its not done at ALL weddings. Its a very large place, America. nothing is done at ALL weddings.

YoniAsOldAsYoFeel · 08/08/2013 19:26

I thought the tradition was to FEED your new husband / wife a piece of the cake, symbolising how you are going to care for each other? Splatting cake in anyone's face is a criminal waste of good cake

Secretswitch · 08/08/2013 19:26

It is a weird custom. Almost abusive, I reckon. I was married in the US and have been to about 20 American weddings. This practise of cake bashing did not happen at any of them.

EasterHoliday · 08/08/2013 19:27

while I'm amongst my own people here, let me ask you - do you think that the programme subsidises those American weddings for the tv show? they are so incredibly lavish. It never ceases to amaze me how they have those massive raw food bars on ice and whole "asian stations" and cocktail bars etc etc and then sit down to a giant filet mignon before taking a walk down a dessert buffet etc etc. - perfectly ordinary seeming people

EasterHoliday · 08/08/2013 19:28

oh god and the thing of sitting the bride in the middle of the dancefloor and the groom diving up her dress with his head to pull the garter off with his teeth. That show is quite remarkable entertainment.

FondantNancy · 08/08/2013 19:28

It's very odd. I have also been to American weddings and never seen this - it's a huge country with millions of citizens, there are bound to be odd weddings here and there.

I'm more dumbfounded by the practice of 'trashing' the wedding dress!

starrystarryknut · 08/08/2013 19:34

My DS got married in America. Didn't see this. Didn't even know it was a thing. Not Easterholidays thing either. It was a very classy Boston wedding

Secretswitch · 08/08/2013 19:35

Easter, I don't know if the show subsidises those freakishly lavish buffets. I have been to some posh weddings in Boston and New York where it was clear an enormous amount of money had been spent. These brides and grooms either had wealthy parents or worked in profession that gave them the income to pay for wedding festivities themselves.
My own wedding was held in my auntie's lovely garden. It was simple and dh and I paid for most expenses ourselves..

MsVestibule · 08/08/2013 19:38

Ooh, I would be furious if my DH had done this. All that effort with the make-up, ruined .

AnnabelleLee I think perhaps parakeet was asking if it a commonplace occurrence, rather than has it actually happened at 100% of American weddings since the dawn of time. From subsequent responses, thankfully not.

EasterHoliday · 08/08/2013 19:39

yes the only US wedding I've been to was in one of those grand old Newport RI mansions and there was a light smattering of Kennedy and former british royalty. It was more british than anything british.

firesidechat · 08/08/2013 19:41

If my new husband smeared cake on my face in front of all our guests and while looking my absolute best I would be filing for divorce quick smart.

mrslyman · 08/08/2013 19:48

What is the name of those buffets they have with all the different food stations? I haven't seen this program for ages and can't remember but I'm sure they call them something. They make a few canapés circling about on trays look like a pretty poor effort

I don't remember seeing any cake splattering when I did watch, perhaps it's just a couple of grooms who think they are hilarious.

Original poster

greensmoothiegoddess · 08/08/2013 19:48

There was a batwing flicker of total annoyance on the bride's face but she recovered it well. Ghastly. Just ghastly.

OP posts:

Secretswitch · 08/08/2013 19:50

The only buffets I can think of are the ALL U CAN EAT at the Golden Corral..

KitNCaboodle · 08/08/2013 19:56

Cocktail Hour mrslyman ?

FrozenYogurt · 08/08/2013 19:56

They call it the 'cocktail hour'. It amazes me they stuff their faces with plates of food, then go for a sit down meal, sometimes with two or more options (and you can try some of it all - steak, chicken and salmon!). I clearly watch too much of this trash

NotQuiteCockney · 08/08/2013 19:57

The garter and teeth thing is real, and common.

I have never seen the cake smushing thing.

I hate the glass-clinking thing they do - at the meal, anyone can clink their glass with a piece of cutlery, more and more people join in, and they only stop when the bride and groom snog. Ugh.

firesidechat · 08/08/2013 19:58

Ahhhh, the Golden Corral, that brings back happy memories. All you Americans will probably think I'm really weird now, but for a family of Brits on holiday it was such a novelty and some of the food was genuinely yummy. It may just be the fog of time making me think that though.

LalyRawr · 08/08/2013 20:03

I have seen the cake smooshing.

Frankly, it's a waste of cake!

Not to mention ruining brides hair/make up/dress.

But mainly a waste of cake.

Secretswitch · 08/08/2013 20:06

Firesidechat, the Golden Corral does have some yummy dishes. I like it because I can take my teenage son and his friend of choice there for a treat and let them have at it!
We also bring my mum and dad whenever they come over, both love the creamy macandcheese and key lime pie..
apologies for thread hijack

TooTabooToBoo · 08/08/2013 20:07

I attended a wedding in England where the Scottish bride insisted that it was Scottish tradition for the Groom to take off the Bride's garter (with his teeth) and the Best Man do the same to the Chief Bridesmaid.

I was Chief Bridesmaid, my BROTHER was Best Man. We politely declined. Then we all had to endure the cringe-fest as the reluctant Groom removed the garter.

Is that really a Scottish thing? Is she just weird? (well, yes she was.weird and the marriage only lasted a year anyway)

mrslyman · 08/08/2013 20:10

Yes, that's it cocktail hour. I desperately want to go to a wedding that has an all you can eat buffet with alcohol cocktail hour.

Secretswitch · 08/08/2013 20:14

TooTaboo, I just don't understand the garter removal as entertainment thing. We did attend one wedding where the Best Man was the groom's adolescent brother. Was a bit skeevy to watch him put his hands up the bride's dress..

Flip

1 2