By nature, weddings are all about tradition. Everything from where you hold your wedding ceremony to how long the celebrations last are all deeply rooted in the traditions of not only the brides + grooms families and community, but history itself.

One such tradition is the Cake Smash. Who hasn’t been to a wedding or seen a clip on America’s Funniest Home Videos of the bride and groom getting completed covered in smushed wedding cake?! It can be hilarious and super funny for those in attendance.

But maybe it’s not for you? That’s fine, too. I’ve seen my fair share of weddings, naturally, and I’ve actually found that, more often than not, the bride regrets doing the cake smash after the fact.

Regardless of whether they smash it, almost 100% of the weddings I’ve shot have included the bride and groom slicing a piece of their wedding cake together, hand in hand, and feeding each other a piece. It is supposed to represent their commitment to each other and the shared lives they will live, but that symbolism can get lost in the excitement of the cake smash!

What exactly is the cake smash?

The cake smash tradition has evolved over the centuries. In ancient Rome, brides were expected to end the wedding festivities by having a barley cake smashed on their heads. Most people are probably ignorant of the ancient tradition and its role as a reminder of the male dominance in the relationship (I didn’t learn until just recently!). Frankly, I think smashing the cake in each other’s faces is simply a funny way to conclude the evening after a full day of celebrations. It’s a great way to let loose and lead into a high-energy exit and start the newlywed’s life together!

Here’s my take:

Whether you choose to do a cake smash is totally up to you. It really is. But I definitely recommend that you decide beforehand. Don’t leave this up to chance on the wedding day!

If you decide to do a cake smash, I suggest you kindly remind your fiancé (new husband!) to respect your dress, hair, and make-up. You don’t want to waste time washing cake out of your ears and reapplying your make-up when you could be out celebrating with your guests!

Another cake-related tip: Order a small, personal cake for the two of you to cut together and then take home to freeze, and just order several delicious sheet cakes for your guests to enjoy after! A sheet cake is so much easier to cut than a round cake, and it’s really easy to prepare in the kitchen and immediately serve after you’ve cut your own cake. Just have your catering staff on stand-by to start bringing around the sliced + plated portions after you’ve done your bit so your guests have something to do while the both of you get cleaned up.

What are you planning to do at your wedding? Would you do a cake smash?