Cutting the wedding cake: How to get the best photos for your wedding album

Guest Blog by Suzy Elizabeth Photography

Richard Galloway Photography

You might wonder why this should even be the subject of a blog. Why would need you to think about the photos of your wedding cake?

Before we start, I should say that this is in no way a blog to cast shade on photographers, nor is it because us cake artists are overly precious about our creations (ok maybe a little!). It’s simply because I know that the cutting of the wedding cake tends to come later on during your wedding day and by that time, it’s understandable that you may be a little fatigued and just ready to get on with the party. Sadly, this can sometimes mean that the cutting of the cake photo can be a little rushed but with a little forethought, the time and investment you spent on your dream wedding cake will be captured beautifully forever.

As one of those wedding suppliers who sneaks in and out of your venue to set up your wedding cake before you even arrive, I don’t get to see the day play out so I thought I would get the insider lowdown from the person who’s with you all day: your photographer. As such, I asked my good friend, talented photographer and fellow baking enthusiast, Suzy Elizabeth Photography, to give us her thoughts and top tips to get the best from your wedding cake photos, straight from the horse’s mouth!

Suzy Elizabeth Photography

‘As a wedding photographer, I often find that the wedding cake is a part of the wedding day that’s massively overlooked, and it’s such a huge shame.

As a couple, you spend a long time on the planning process and your wedding cake is just as important as the bigger elements of your day, yet the cake is more often than not left in a corner of the room, often with no space to move around it, under bad lighting and it can look sad and alone. Your cake should be a statement piece, to be admired by all your guests, and then enjoyed later in the evening. I have photographed a lot of cakes, and the cutting thereof, and here are my 3 top tips to get the most of your photos from this element of your day.

1)     Give your wedding cake the stage

If possible, ask your wedding planner/venue coordinator/trusted members of your wedding party (select as appropriate) to bring the wedding cake out of the corner of the room for the cake cutting. Your photos will look a lot better if you’re not squished into the corner, elbows everywhere, as you try to find the space you need to cut it properly.

Allow space for you to move around it and try and ensure it is placed on a table that looks presentable. Clear the table of items left lying around that could make your photos look messy and cluttered (discarded drink glasses are often the culprit) and give it the stage. At the end of the day, you didn’t invest time and money on your dream cake for it to be upstaged by a creased tablecloth or the backdrop of a fire extinguisher!

2)     Show your wedding cake in its best light

Photography is all about light so do think about the lighting around your wedding cake. If you can, position the cake in an area filled with natural light but if this isn’t feasible, just try not to have it under strip lighting or spotlights, as it throws all sorts of light and shadows onto places that you don’t want.

Most often, the cake cutting photos are taken in the evening, but most photographers will take some time to capture your cake in the light of day and in the best conditions, usually along with images of your table setting and décor before anyone has sat down, but do make sure you ask your photographer to capture these details if it’s important to you. Your wedding cake designer will have gone to great lengths to make the details of your cake perfect so they should be captured before it’s cut up and eaten.

Laura Martha Photography

 3)     Enjoy the cutting of the cake moment

Don’t think of it as just cutting a cake. The best photos are taken when you relax, take your time and have fun with it. Sure, we will get a traditional photo of you cutting it but if you relax into it and have fun, this will show in your photos. Feed each other some cake, laugh and kiss; all these things will make for more natural photos without the awkward posing with a knife in your hands!’

The last crumb…

And there you have it! As with everything on your wedding day, you will only be left with gorgeous memories and beautiful images to look back on so with just a little forethought and consideration, you can ensure that your wedding cake isn’t left out in the cold.  

If you would like even more valuable tips and ideas on how to display your wedding cake, then head over to my blog: 5 creative ways to display your wedding cake!

Meet Suzy Elizabeth Photography

I’m Suzy, a wedding photographer based in leafy Buckinghamshire, and I create gorgeously romantic and authentic wedding images for couples on the happiest day of their lives. 

I’m led by my couples and their guests; seeking out interactions as they happen and capturing them in a natural and unobtrusive way. I’m also a specialist in couple portraits, using my artistic eye, natural light and finding gorgeous compositions that feel relaxed and effortless with no forced poses.

My portraiture is all about your comfort in front of the camera and being able to capture the intense and joyful connection that you share. That’s what makes my images feel timeless – they’re not led by trends or by what’s fashionable, they’re inspired by love, plain and simple. Even thinking about shooting wedding day portraits makes me giddy with excitement – I adore them! 

Find more about Suzy and her beautiful photography at www.suzyelizabethphotography.co.uk