Medieval wedding cake: Bride’s Pie

I've written about the evolution of the wedding cake tradition and how it started back in Roman times as a loaf of hearty bread broken over the bride's head, but today I want to take a look back to the medieval kitchen to another dish served as a precursor to the wedding cake we enjoy today -- the Bride's Pie.

Medieval wedding cake

If you’re thinking of a medieval theme for your wedding, it might be fun to consider a Bride’s Pie instead of a wedding cake, although I have to say your guests will really have to be as into acting out the medieval scenario as you are, or at the least have an adventuresome culinary spirit. The earliest recipe I could find for “Bride’s Pye” dates back to the Middle Ages and is found in the The Accomplisht Cook. The book is written in old English and terms and cuts of meat have changed since it was written, but I just had to include the original recipe for my readers in order to accentuate how much things have changed.

Medieval Kitchen

Before you read the recipe, let me offer a warning. It’s not a sweet dessert-type dish but a savory pie recipe and back then nothing went to waste. For instance, when the recipe calls for “sweet-breads” of veal, it is talking about the thymus or the pancreas from veal. Cock-combs are an edible flower. Most of the rest of the ingredients you'll recognize.

Medieval wedding cake was known as Bride's Pie

 

Bride’s pie recipe 1685

To make an extraordinary Pie, or a Bride Pye of several Compounds, being several distinct Pies on one bottom. Provide cock-stones and combs, or lamb-stones, and sweet-breads of veal, a little set in hot water and cut to pieces; also two or three ox-pallats blanch’t and slic’t, a pint of oysters, slic’t dates, a handful of pine kernels, a little quantity of broom buds, pickles, some fine interlarded bacon slic’t; nine or ten chestnuts rosted and blanch season them with salt, nutmeg, and some large mace, and close it up with some butter. For the caudle, beat up some butter, with three yolks of eggs, some white or claret wine, the juyce of a lemon or two; cut up the lid, and pour on the lear, shaking it well together; then lay on the meat, slic’t lemon, and pickled barberries, and cover it again, let these ingredients be put in the moddle or scollops of the Pye.

If you’re not quite adventuresome enough to go with this authentic recipe, you can always go with

Medieval wedding cake topper

 

the savory pie recipe of your choice. And to make this custom your own, why not eat it as the main dish and still enjoy a traditional wedding cake with a medieval wedding cake topper for dessert with your guests. It will still be a special way to make your wedding celebration unique and delicious.

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Why choose a vintage engagement ring?

If you’re in love with the romanticism of a bygone era or just looking for a ring that’s distinctive and a great value, vintage engagement rings offer that and more. Today, vintage-inspired rings are the trend among celebrities including actresses Alexis Bledel and Scarlett Johansson, but if you take the time to search for an authentic vintage ring you love, you can usually find a better deal because previously-owned rings often sell for less, making them a smart choice that still features the quality and gemstones for which you’re looking.

Searching for the right vintage engagement ring style takes time, but it is time well spent. Consider it a treasure hunt. Then when you discover the right one it will be all the more precious and the process of looking for it will become part of your story.

Know what you’re looking for

It helps to narrow your search. For instance if you know you want a rose gold ring, then you may not want to visit an estate sale selling a vintage cushion cut platinum ring. If you know you want a pearl ring, then a sapphire or diamond ring won’t meet your needs. However, I suggest you keep a somewhat open mind, since authentic vintage rings are one-of-a-kind, and the beauty of these rare finds may just change your mind.

 

Where to look for vintage engagement rings

If you’re in the market for an authentic one-of-a-kind antique engagement ring there are a number of places to look. First of all, ask family members if there is an heirloom ring in the family. But if you're not that fortunate, visit estate sales, pawn shops, antique stores, and there are plenty of online options with sites where you can shop like Etsy, Lang Antiques, and Brilliant Earth. However, before you make a final purchase, you want to have the ring appraised by a reputable jeweler. This appraisal should include the ring's characteristics and value and must be filled out using the proper forms. When looking for someone to appraise a vintage ring, I recommend someone with both gemological and appraisal education.

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Rose gold engagement ring making comeback

Back at the turn of the 19^th century, rose gold engagement rings were a popular choice among couples ready to tie the knot. Today that popularity is experiencing a resurgence for a number of reasons.

What is rose bold?

Rose gold is a blend of yellow gold and copper. The more copper in the blend, the rosier the hue. In the same regard, the higher karat the lighter the shade will be because it contains more pure gold. In the end, how deep the blush comes down to ratios and personal preference.

In some cases, 18k rose gold rings will contain silver or palladium along with the gold and copper, while lesser karat rings might contain some silver or zinc. For those who have allergies to consider it is important to talk to your jeweler regarding the actual makeup of the ring you are considering.

 

Advantages of rose gold engagement rings

One reason people fancy rose gold is its romantic vintage look, but beyond that, this precious gold offers practical advantages. For instance, it makes an attractive choice for people with nickel allergies which can be experienced with white gold and is more durable than yellow gold.

Aside from these physical advantages rose gold is also an affordable choice that compliments all skin tones.

Rose gold engagement rings provide a classy-looking ring that’s versatile and yet distinct. Today, you can find them available in vintage or contemporary designs. 

 

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How the wedding shower originated

Like many wedding customs and traditions, the history of the wedding shower is steeped in etiquette, but the actual origin is unclear. The practice is said to be tied to dowry practices and origins in the Netherlands. The story surrounds a high-society Dutch woman who didn’t want to marry the rich farmer her father had chosen for her, but rather wanted to marry a poor miller instead. Her father rejected the idea and in an effort to force his daughter to marry the man he chose said he wouldn’t provide a dowry unless she married the farmer. The story goes on to tell how the villagers joined together to “shower” the woman with household items and other small gifts so she could marry the man of her choice. This particular account has a happy ending saying these actions touched the heart of the father and changed his mind. He decided to allow her to marry the man she loved.

Second possible origin of the wedding shower

According to a second account, the history of wedding showers in the United States isn’t quite so romantic. In this case, the practice of holding a wedding shower grew popular in the States in the late 1800s when women of high society celebrated bridal showers for the gossip, food, the opportunity to give gifts and to talk about the bride-to-be’s new upcoming role. During these shower parties, small gifts were placed inside a paper parasol in order to “shower” them over the bride-to-be.

 

Third possible origin of the wedding shower

A third story tells a more practical story about a young woman who couldn’t afford to buy her friend a wedding gift. She invited others to a party and told all to bring a small gift. In this way, she did what she could to give her bride-to-be friend a gift. And lastly, it is suggested the bridal shower originated in the United Sates as a more recent invention created to sell more gifts rather than the result of any tradition.

No matter the origin, today, the wedding shower has evolved into anything from a more modest affair to an extravagant themed party. In any case, the bride is “showered” with gifts. And while the practice of the bridal shower has evolved over time to include both the bride and the groom, much of the original wedding shower etiquette still surrounds this special occasion. Like many wedding traditions, learning the history behind the bridal shower can be used to create your own unique, modern way to celebrate this special occasion. 

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