Cake Cutting?

Sharpschruter22

Looking at some of your time lines, I see that you had your cake cutting before serving dinner? Where I come from in the heartland of the Midwest, we don't cut the cake until later in the evening. When the couple cuts the cake, it's a signal for all those not wanting to stay the whole time, that it's ok to leave.

When did all you married folks cut the cake? Before or after dinner? Did quite a few people leave after it was cut?

We are having a destination wedding, so I'm hoping my guests will stay the while time from 6 to 10...but I guess you never know.

crash2729

We cut it after dinner before the toasts.

Due to the size of our families vs. the size of the venue we had a largely older crowd so a lot of people did leave after the cake cutting.

random4180

We did ours after dinner because we knew people would leave. We cut our cake around 8:30 as we had a weekday wedding and wanted everyone to have the "okay" to leave before 9. Dinner was served by 5:30 and we did some spotlight dances and before you knew it was time to cut the cake.

DramaGeek

We cut ours right after dinner.  We did everything "backward" according to a lot of people though.  We greeted our guests as they went through the buffet line, so we were the last ones to eat.  Then H and I ate privately and were introduced.  We went straight from our introduction to our toasts and cake cutting, then did our first dance.

AdeleDazeem

I hate when cakes are cut at the very beginning of the reception.  They are so pretty to look at!  Once you cut, it'll be taken in the back, the fondant thrown in the trash, and the masterpiece totally destroyed (but it'll taste really good). 

I'm all about cutting it after dinner or later in the evening.

JoanE2012

We are being introduced, first dance, parent dances, toast, dinner, dancing, cake cutting, dancing.  Cake cutting will be done an hour before the "official" end of the reception.

coopsbaby

We're doing ours before dinner because the timeline just works better that way. When I got married before (20 years ago!) exH and I cut it immediately after dinner so it was served before the dance. Around here it's usually either right before, or right after dinner. I don't think I've ever seen it done after dancing had started. Many venues in my local area MAKE you cut it before dinner so they have more time to cut and serve. I don't see a problem either way though, so I'd do it when people in your area expect it.

lyndausvi

We did our after dinner.  I've never seen it done before dinner.

kmmssg

Last DD cut hers during before dinner.  They had their first dance, speaches, cut the cake, then dinner.  Our DOC had told us that she is seeing this more and more and it really cuts down on leftover wedding cake.  I'm hoping next DD chooses to do that too.

J&K10910

We did ours before dinner because that's what the venue required.  Next to no one saw us cut it, we didn't get cute pictures, and we didn't even eat any after we cut it.  That wasn't important to us, so it wasn't a big deal, btu I know a lot of people wouldn't have liked it.

libby2483

We cut our cake before dinner because it just worked better with the timing and flow of our reception.  We actually just had a small cake to cut that sat atop a tree of cupcakes.  We cut it before so that our venue could then place the cupcakes on trays to serve right after dinner. I am also from the Midwest, and of the weddings I have been to, it has probably been about half cut before dinner and half cut after dinner.  

spartybride3

I've never heard of that before & I am from the midwest. We walked in, cut the cake, did our 1st dance, then had toasts/prayer and dinner. 

MrsGandthebeag

We had ours "cut" before dinner b/c the venue told us to.  We had cupcakes so in reality, didn't really cut anything.  We just posed with the cupcakes.  It was kind of odd.  

JaxJ128

I am most likely going to have our cake cutting after dinner only because it doesnt break up the party and dancing later on....someone told me their son did this for their wedding and it worked out great. 

nattykins

Our dinner and dance were in different areas so the cake had to be cut during the dinner portion. The venue told us it would have to be cut before dinner so that there was time for the kitchen folks to cut it for serving after dinner. Instead, we had a mostly fake cake for cutting and made a separate cake for cutting so we could cut after dinner.

We were introduced, then dinner was served, then we cut the cake and served it to our guests. Then everyone went downstairs to the dance part (no one left) - the extra cake was put down there to snack on!

loca4pook

From my understanding, it depends on when you are using the cake? is it dessert, or is it given to guests to take home? If they are "serving" it as dessert, they usually cut it earlier cuz they need time to actually cut it in the back and serve it to guests.

acaponi87

We cut our pie immediately when we did our grand entrance. Everyone was still looking at us and it was set up with the appetizers in the middle of the dance floor so we had to do it pretty early on.

lauraanne9

We cut ours right after we ate.  We pretty much came in, milled around a bit, ate (we had a buffet) and then did the cake.  Our wedding was at a baptist church, so there was no dancing, etc...but it just seemed to flow that you eat, wait a little, and then have dessert.  People did leave right after the cake cutting, although due to the location, it is not like there was a lot planned for after it.

Maybone

I plan on having the introductions at the end of cocktail hour, followed by cutting the cake, dinner (and table visits), toasts and then right into first dance. I have seen it both ways, but really just want it to be a party after dinner. I won't be stopping the dancing for anything once we get started!

Sassenach1743

I've never been to a wedding where the cake was cut before dinner. It's always been a high point of the reception saved for after dinner and cut in the middle of the party. Then everyone enjoys a piece and keeps right on dancing, or they can head home. That's pretty much a wedding experience. Why cram it all in before dinner? That just seems wierd. 

I'm thinking I'd like to be introduced, give toasts, eat dinner, first dances/ everyone dances, cut the cake and let it be served during the reception. There will also be a dessert buffet for additional options with to go boxes available.

KatWAG

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cake-cutting-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:5111b624-9875-40fb-b503-292d2c140797Post:d3c51277-4ec5-424e-ae0f-6964fe498eb6">Re: Cake Cutting?</a>:
[QUOTE]I've never heard of that before & I am from the midwest.<strong> We walked in, cut the cake, did our 1st dance, then had toasts/prayer and dinner. 
</strong>Posted by spartybride3[/QUOTE]

This is what we did. Also from Chicago.

Maggie0829

H and I cut our cake after dinner but I am not really sure when after dinner.  It was kind of a spur of the moment thing because we really hadn't planned on cutting it in the first place.  Our photographer was standing nearby and I asked H if he wanted to cut the cake for the hell of it and he said yes.  I grabbed the photog and the cake was cut.

But I have seen the cake cut at all different moments during the reception, right when they are introduced, before toasts, right after dinner and towards the end of the night.  There is no right or wrong time to cut the cake.  But if your area is used to having it cut towards the end of the night then that is what you should probably do.

LDubHawksFan

I've never seen anyone cut the cake before dinner, but I have heard of it before, based on when the photographer was paid through.  If the photographer could only stay for the first, say, hr of the reception, then the cake cutting would be moved up.

[Deleted User]

I've seen it done both ways (before dinner when the b&g walk in and after dinner).

I do find that if they wait until after dinner, most people are up and mingling and a lot of cake gets thrown out because people forget about it.

We are planning on doing cupcakes that will be passed out at desser and no cake cutting though, but I think if we did, we would do it before dinner.

Carrie81677

We cut our cake when we were introduced and walked in, prior to seating ourselves for dinner.  This was at the direction of the venue, which cut up the cake while we were eating dinner and placed it on our sweet table as part of the dessert course.  Because of the sweet table, we only had a half-size cake anyway.  Once dinner/dessert were finished, everyone moved outside to the patio for dancing--nothing really went on in the dining area for the rest of the night.

We still got nice photos of the cake cutting, and doing it during the introductions meant that all the guests were already seated and paying attention, so people didn't have to worry about missing.  I did think it was odd when I was first told how the timeline of the reception would go, but it worked out great.