THE * WEDDING * CAKE * HOUSE

Wedding Cake House, front facade and picket fence

The so-called "Wedding Cake House" is a showpiece of Victorian gingerbread carving located in picturesque Kennebunk, Maine. The machine-carved spandrels, arches, crenulated battlements, and Gothic tracery festoon the brick house like frosting daubed onto the plain yellow Georgian home beneath (note the Federal style Palladian window and the fanlight over the door).

Legend has it the owner-to-be showed the old brick cottage to his stylish fiancee as their future home while driving past in the 1840s. Much to his dismay, she heaped scorn on its antiquated style. But he had a plan to surprise her. As wedding day approached, scaffolding hid the house while the gingerbread was installed. And when the newlyweds drove up in their smart little carriage, voila! This freshly-minted Victorian masterpiece stood with fresh paint gleaming from its fantastic facade. One can only guess at the bride's reaction! Now a private residence, the Wedding Cake House boasts a bridal shop in the "Carpenter Gothic" coach house visible at right.