My first memory of a groom’s cake is from the fantastic late 80’s movie, Steel Magnolias. I grew up in love with weddings, constantly planning all of my friend’s dresses, décor, and themes. This was probably the first hint of my event planning career to come. The wedding in Steel Magnolias was one of my favorite pieces of bridal inspiration and I loved almost everything, aside from the groom’s armadillo cake. You read that right. If you have never seen the movie, the groom’s cake is an anatomically correct (at least to the untrained eye) armadillo that is red inside, from red velvet cake. While the armadillo may be a beloved mascot of Texas for some, it was not a hit with elementary school aged me. I did, however, love the idea of a groom’s cake.

Groom’s cakes, while typically found at southern weddings, have roots in Victorian England. Victorian weddings featured three distinct cakes, one for the guests, one for the bridesmaids, and one for the groomsmen. Today, groom’s cakes frequently take on a lighter and less traditional tone than the main wedding cake and feature designs that highlight the groom’s interests, everything from their alma matter to their hobbies or favorite pets. It can also be a wonderful way to offer complementary dessert flavors. While many brides prefer the wedding cake feature lighter, more traditional flavors like vanilla, fruit, or citrus, groom’s cakes are often red velvet, deep chocolate, or flavored with generous amounts of liquor like bourbon or whiskey.

You certainly don’t need to be southern, or British, to embrace the wit and excitement of a themed groom’s cake.