Steel Magnolias is one of my all time favorite movies. There isn’t another film out there that more accurately depicts life in the South or highlights bizarre unique Southern Traditions.
One of my favorite scenes from this movie is the unveiling of the groom’s cake. This was my 1st introduction to such a tradition & it instantly became a favorite. If you’ve never seen this movie, drop what you’re doing IMMEDIATELY and go watch it! It’s a classic & you’re missing out, majorly, but for those unfortunate souls who’ve never seen it, I’ll explain:
The groom’s aunt created a masterpiece for her nephew on his big day and this is what the bride and her mother had to say about it. “The Groom’s cake! It’s awful…it’s in the shape of a giant armadillo. Worst, the cake part is red velvet…people are going to be hacking into this poor animal that looks like it’s bleedin’ to death!” Hysterical. You’ve gotta see this movie. This woman was the original Cake Boss, y’all.
So, where did this tradition come from? Unfortunately, us Southerners can’t claim this one. Even though, today, it is a predominantly southern ‘thang,’ the groom’s cake originated in England during the Victorian Era & served a very different purpose than it does today.
The 1st groom’s cake was a dense fruit cake (yuck!). It was cut into pieces & placed in small boxes to be given to “all the single ladies” {you just sang that and did the dance in your head, didn’t you? Don’t lie.} to take home & place under their pillows in the hopes that they would then find a husband. Kinda like the Tooth Fairy, but better…a Husband Fairy! Sounds pretty awesome…maybe I should go buy a fruit cake…
Anyway, for some reason, the British have since abandoned this tradition, leaving American Southerners to adopt it & transform it into what it is today. A way for the bride to honor her husband-to-be & incorporate his interests into their wedding day. A way to let the groom feel like he isn’t just a {very vital} accessory to a big girly party 😉
Hopefully, your beloved’s interests don’t include road kill, otherwise, you might end up with something like this.
What are some unique and/or hilarious groom’s cakes you’ve seen over the years? Did you, or will you, incorporate this tradition into your wedding celebration? I’d love to hear!
Geri Lynn Hayes - I would love to take a shot at something like this…..lol