Christmas Cake Pulls: A Unique Wedding Tradition

Cake pulls are a wedding tradition that has its origins in Victorian England, although it is also commonly associated with New Orleans, Louisiana. The tradition involves hiding charms under the bottom layer of a cake, with unmarried female friends of the bride each pulling a ribbon attached to a charm. These charms are believed to foretell the future and bring good luck. While the tradition originally included eight classic charms, modern brides can choose from a wider variety of charms, each with its own special meaning or prediction. Cake pulls are a fun and interactive way to include more friends in wedding celebrations and create lasting memories.

Cake pull history

The cake pull, sometimes also known as a ribbon pull, is a wedding tradition originating in Victorian England and known as the Ribbon Pull. The tradition has grown in popularity in the southern US, especially in New Orleans.

In its early form, the bride would have charms sewn onto her dress skirt, which would then be pulled off by the bridesmaids and kept as tokens of luck and friendship. Over time, the tradition evolved, and the charms began to be placed in cakes instead.

In a cake pull, charms with ribbon tails are inserted into the wedding cake. The unmarried female friends of the bride each pull a ribbon, and it is believed that the charm will foretell their future and bring good luck. The ring, for example, indicates that the recipient will be the next to marry, while the horseshoe or four-leaf clover signifies good luck.

The cake pull is a blend of various traditions from England, Ireland, and Scotland that have been brought over by British immigrants and further developed in the US.

How to set up a cake pull

Setting up a cake pull is a fun way to include your friends in your wedding celebration. This tradition, which has its roots in Victorian England, is a way to wish good luck upon your closest friends. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up a cake pull:

Choose your charms:

Select a set of charms that have special meanings or well-wishes for your friends. Traditional charms include a ring (signifying the next person to be married), a horseshoe or four-leaf clover (for good luck), a heart (symbolising love), a thimble or button (indicating an old maid), and a telephone (predicting good news). You can also add modern charms like a wreath (for a happy home) or an airplane (for travel and adventure). These charms can be made from sterling silver or gold and attached to pearl bracelets instead of ribbons.

Prepare the cake:

Work with your cake baker to ensure the charms and ribbons are safely inserted into the cake. The charms are usually placed into the base of the cake or within a layer, leaving the ends of the ribbons sticking out. This step should be done after the cake is baked but before it is fully frosted or decorated. If you are making the cake yourself, remember to ice it completely before adding the charms and stack the layers.

Coordinate the ribbons:

Choose ribbons that complement your wedding colour scheme. You can opt for a coordinating wedding colour or a beautiful white/ivory ribbon to match the cake. This adds elegance and cohesion to your wedding decor and seamlessly incorporates your theme into the cake pull.

Gather your friends:

During the wedding reception, before the cake is cut, invite your friends to gather around the cake table. Traditionally, this activity is for single, unmarried women, but feel free to include married women and men as well. Each participant selects a ribbon with a charm attached, and with your help, they pull their ribbons out of the cake simultaneously.

Capture the moment:

The cake pull creates a delightful moment of surprise and sentiment. Be sure to capture it with photos! You can also have a written message on each ribbon that the participants can read aloud, although this may be more appropriate for a bridal shower setting than the wedding itself.

Meanings of different charms

The cake pull, or ribbon pull, is a wedding tradition with roots in Victorian England. During this tradition, charms with different meanings are placed on ribbons and slotted underneath a cake. Here are the meanings of some of the different charms:

• Ring – The person pulling this charm will be the next to get married.
• Horseshoe or four-leaf clover – Signifying good luck.
• Telephone – Good news is coming.
• Anchor – You will find or have love that is steady and true.
• Heart – Impending or blessed with love.
• Thimble or button – The old maid, or your bachelor days are over.
• Coin – Prosperity.
• Wishbone – Your wish or greatest wish will come true.
• Boot – You will travel.
• Bell – Betrothal.
• Baby booties or footprints – A child will come soon.
• Key – You will have a secure life.
• Crown – You will live happily ever after.
• Star – Your wish will come true, or you will be famous.
• Butterfly – Eternal beauty.
• Wreath – A happy or contented home.
• Hot air balloon or Eiffel Tower – A life of travel and adventure.
• Fleur-de-lis – Love will blossom, or you will live a life of prosperity.
• Kite – Something fun is about to happen, or a fun and leisurely life.
• Claddagh – Friendship, love, and loyalty.
• Accordion – Good news will soon come your way.
• Airboat – You will have a life of excitement.
• Mardi Gras Mask – Your life will be a party.
• Old Maid Charms – Sorry, you will be an old maid.
• Oyster – You will have a wish soon granted.
• Streetcar – Your life will be filled with fun and leisure.

Choosing the right charms and ribbons

Selecting the Charms:

The charms you choose for your wedding cake pull can vary depending on your preferences, the number of participants, and the well wishes you want to convey. Here are some popular options:

• Ring: Symbolising the next person to be married.
• Horseshoe or Four-Leaf Clover: Signifying good luck.
• Telephone: Indicating good news is coming.
• Heart: Love will come.
• Thimble or Button: Representing the old maid.
• Anchor: Encouraging hope.
• Baby Carriage: Symbolising future motherhood.
• Wreath: A happy home.
• High Chair: Blessed with children.
• Airplane: Travel and adventure.

You can also add a unique twist with New Orleans-themed charms, such as:

• Streetcar: Good news is coming.
• Fleur-de-Lis: Love and prosperity.
• Mardi Gras Mask: Your life will be a party.
• Pelican: A life of plenty.
• Jazz Music: A life of smooth creative style.

Choosing the Ribbons:

The ribbons used in the cake pull can be selected to coordinate with your wedding colour scheme, adding elegance and cohesion to your overall wedding decor. You can opt for colours that match your wedding theme or go for a classic look with white or ivory ribbons. Another option is to attach the charms to pearl bracelets instead of ribbons, which can be worn by the participants as keepsakes.

When to do the cake pull

The cake pull is a fun wedding tradition that involves the bride's single friends gathering around the wedding cake to pull out a ribbon with a charm attached, which signifies their future. This tradition generally takes place during the wedding reception, before the cake is cut, but it can also be done at the bridal shower or brunch.

The cake pull is believed to have originated in Victorian England and has become popular in the southern US, especially in New Orleans. It is a great way to include additional friends in the wedding celebrations and wish them good luck.

While the cake pull is typically done before the cake is cut, there is no set rule about when to do it. Some couples might choose to do it before the cake cutting, while others might prefer to do it afterwards. The important thing is to ensure that the charms are inserted into the cake after it is baked but before it is frosted, and that the ribbons are gently placed on the outside of the cake so that the guests can easily pull them out.

The cake pull is often seen as an honour for the guests who are chosen to participate, as it demonstrates their closeness with the bride or groom. The number of participants can vary, but it is usually between six and twelve women. The unmarried female friends of the bride each pull a ribbon, and the charm attached to the ribbon is believed to foretell their future and bring good luck.

So, while there is no definitive answer to when the cake pull should be done, it is typically done during the wedding reception, before or after the cake is cut, or at the bridal shower. The important aspects are the honour of being chosen to participate, the excitement of pulling the ribbon and charm, and the well-wishes and fortune-telling that the charm signifies.

Frequently asked questions