The wedding cake has several origins, one dates back to when most marriages took place after the harvest, the cake represented fertility and good luck, with the handing out of pieces of cake representing the passing on of good luck.

Tying shoes to the bumper is relativly new however has it's origins in the past. Shoes are a symbol of fertility (don't ask me how) also it was a sign of passing responsabiltie from father to husband, the shoe representig the athority to keep the daughter/wife in check and protected.