Would You Ever Prepare Your Own Wedding Food? One Groom Cooked His Entire Big-Day Meal—Including the Cake!

Feeding a large group of people at a wedding is no easy feat, which is why most couples hire a catering company with a team of people to tackle the task. One groom, however, decided to take on the challenge himself. When Marles Cooper tied the knot with Jessica Allen on May 18, 2024, in Texas, he decided to prepare all of the food—including the tiered wedding cake—for his reception. 

As a dietary manager at a nursing home and a former line cook, sous chef, and baker, Cooper not only has the proper experience to cook for his wedding guests, but he also finds enjoyment in the process. “I love cooking," Cooper told CBS-affiliated KWTX-TV. “I’ve been loving cooking like forever, ever, ever, ever. So, cooking is what they say is your passion, your love language. My love language and the best way to express myself is through food.”

Cooking has also been an important part of Cooper and Allen’s relationship. The groom explained that he made dinner for Allen on their first date, and the two of them continued to strengthen their connection over home-cooked meals. “Our first meal that we ate together was homemade, and there isn’t anything that he has cooked for me that hasn’t been the best thing I’ve ever eaten,” Allen gushed.

It only made sense that Cooper spearheaded the cooking process at his own wedding, a true reflection of his love story. And to top it off, Allen created the menu and jotted down the list of ingredients needed for each dish. 

To feed the group, Cooper whipped up 66 burgers, 100 servings of baked beans, 40 hot dogs, 30 pounds of chicken, and 32 pounds of potato salad, the outlet reported. He also created Allen’s dream wedding cake: a two-tier red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. “It was so special that even during the stressful time of planning a wedding, working full time, and managing our kids that he still wanted every last detail to be perfect,” Allen said. “To see everybody light up and just talk about how great his food was was really cool.”

The bride said the spread of homemade dishes made their big day even more special. "It’s so fun for me to watch him do something that he loves,” she remarked. “He is such a good cook. Everything he makes is just ridiculous. And just to see him do what he loves, and I know it’s his language of love.”