Grooms Cake Tradition???

It doesn't really matter when it's all said and done, but what I've seen is this: It goes at the rehearsal dinner if FMIL is paying for it; reception if you are. We are doing it at the reception for two reasons:

1) It is a surprise from myself to FH and I am paying

2) I want everyone to see it (and not everyone is at the rehearsal dinner)

Hmmm... I am paying for it Katie, so MAYBE I should wait... I guess I just wanted 2 days of cake awesomeness! LOL

Haha Jessica you are a girl after my own heart, wanting two days of cake awesomeness!

I'm also looking into the Groom's Cake tradition, but my friend who is baking our main wedding cake said it's more of a waste of money and time (unless you love baking! and not that important. My FH said to not bother with it, as long as he gets cake/cupcakes period! lol So I'm thinking, honestly, no one really, truly cares about the Groom's Cake and when you eat it since the point is, it's cake. Yummy, sweet, delicious cake. As for your FMIL, maybe you could mention to your FH that having the small cake would be a nice treat for your bridal party at the rehearsal dinner and let him take the reigns from there. I've learned, with dealing with my FMIHL, that even the best intentions are best handled by her son. It's easier to tell the bride "no" or "this is what we're doing" than it is to tell your own child. Plus, it's a good practice time for your FH to deal with his maternal pressures because let's face it, in one way or another, that will always be around.....

I mean that's another thing to consider...we already have dessert plans for the rehearsal dinner and the reception, so the groom's cake is just extra either way, but if there isn't currently dessert at the rehearsal dinner, then maybe use the groom's cake there? But you don't want to upset FMIL or step on her toes

I've seen it both ways. I'm surprising my FH with a Bears cake at the RD.....mostly b/c it will be from the Jewell and somebody will need to pick it up. So that will be a lot easier on Friday than on Saturday.

The weddings I have been to have had a grooms cake at the reception. They were always chocolate cakes and have resembled the groom.

Kirs- that was my thought also. I can stop and get the cake on the way to the hotel and make sure nothing happens to it.

and the 2 days of cake factor...

and its gonna be Mario Brothers Theme and except for a few touches, I have been trying to control Mario 'taking over' the garden wedding theme FH agreed I could have. (I would have been totally okay with a gamer/geek wedding but a few gamer touches is good enough for him!)

It all depends on how much cake you want at the wedding. I've been to a number of weddings where the couples wedding cake is so big no one even touches the grooms cake. We will be doing the Groom's cake at the RD.