In earlier times, the wedding guests would supply the "cakes" by bringing a small bread or cake with them to the wedding.
These were stacked, as a sign of prosperity, so the bride and groom could kiss over them for good luck.
The bride and groom today cut the first slice as a symbol of unity.

Traditionally the top tier is kept for their first anniversary or as a christening cake for their first child.

In roman times the tradition was to throw small wheat cakes at the bride, as a symbol of fertility.
This changed to breaking the wheat cakes over the bride’s head and the bride and groom would eat the crumbs.

Guests then scrambled for the pieces of Cake in hope to secure good luck for themselves
The European tradition in Wedding cakes is mostly white, as a symbol of purity.
Wedding cakes in other cultures are often more colorful

The Grooms Cake

This cake has been around from the Middle Ages, usually dark and solid and much smaller than the Wedding Cake. It is traditionally served at the reception besides the white-tiered Wedding Cake, making a beautiful contrast of color, taste, texture and design.

A Grooms Cake is also packed into slices ahead of time for guests to take home for others who could not attend, so they may celebrate the couple’s good fortune.
It is also said that if a single quest puts a piece of Grooms Cake under their pillow, they will dream of their future marriage partners

Groom's Cake