Wedding Cake Pulls: A Southern Tradition Explained

Wedding cake pulls are a tradition that originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, where small charms attached to ribbons are placed between the layers of a wedding cake. The ritual, which is believed to have been brought over from the UK by British immigrants, is thought to date back to the Victorian era. During the wedding reception, the bride calls a group of single or eligible female friends and family members to the cake, and each guest pulls a ribbon to reveal a charm, which is said to predict their future.

Wedding cake pulls are a New Orleans tradition, dating back to Victorian times

The tradition of cake pulls is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom, with cultural influences from England, Ireland, and Scotland. In England, during the 17th century, it was customary for the bride to have charms sewn onto her dress, which the bridesmaids would later pull off and keep as tokens of luck and friendship. Over time, this practice evolved, and the charms were transferred from the dress to cakes, creating the Victorian-era tradition of baking a ring into a "bride's pie," considered the first true wedding cake.

In New Orleans, the cake pull tradition has been influenced by the local culture, and today, it often includes charms that reflect the unique character of the city. For example, New Orleans-themed charms such as jesters, Mardi Gras masks, fleur-de-lis, pelicans, water meter covers, streetcars, and oysters are commonly used. These charms add a local flavour to the tradition and make it even more special for the participants.

The cake pull ceremony usually takes place during the wedding reception before the cake is cut. It is seen as a way to include more friends in the wedding celebrations and to wish good luck to those closest to the bride and groom. The bride may choose to stack" the cake, strategically placing certain charms for specific guests or using different coloured or shaped ribbons to indicate which charm is which.

The bride's female friends pull charms from the cake, which foretell their future

Wedding cake pulls are a New Orleans tradition that dates back to Victorian times. The bride gathers her single or eligible female friends around her wedding cake, which has various charms with ribbon tails inserted between the layers. Each woman chooses a ribbon and, on the count of three, they all pull their ribbons out, exposing a charm. Each charm is meant to signify the puller's future.

There are eight classic charms historically used for ribbon pulls, each with its own meaning. For example, a ring indicates that the puller will be the next to get married, a horseshoe or four-leaf clover signifies good luck, a heart indicates impending love, and a thimble or button reveals that the puller will be an old maid. While these are the most common charms, a cake can have up to 20 different charms. The bride may also choose to include charms with meanings that extend beyond her single friends, such as happy homes and good health.

The charms are usually inserted into the bottom layer of the cake after it is baked but before it is frosted. They are often made of sterling silver so that the chosen lady can keep the charm as a token of the bride's fondness and friendship. Many brides also provide bracelets as gifts for the charm to be worn on.

The cake pull usually takes place during the wedding reception before the cake is cut, but it can also be done at the bridal shower or brunch. Being chosen to pull a ribbon is an honour that demonstrates a closeness with the bride or groom.

Common charms include a ring, horseshoe, heart, anchor, telephone, and thimble

Wedding cake pulls are a New Orleans tradition that originated in the Victorian era. Small charms are attached to ribbons and placed between the layers of a traditional wedding cake, with the thread lying on the outside. The bride selects a group of her single or eligible female friends to take part. Each participant places a hand on a ribbon of their choice. On the count of three, they pull their ribbons, revealing a charm. Each charm has a fortune or well wish associated with it.

Other charms and their meanings include the penny, which represents poverty, and the streetcar, which is another symbol of good news to come. The fleur de lis represents love and prosperity, while the steamboat predicts a life full of adventure, and the crawfish, a life of good treats. The parasol charm offers protection on life's journey, and the pelican predicts a life full of socialising.

Charms are placed between the layers of the cake, with ribbons lying on the outside

Wedding cake pulls are a local New Orleans tradition that dates back to the Victorian era. Small charms are attached to ribbons and carefully placed between the layers of a traditional wedding cake, with the threads lying gently on the outside of the cake. The bride gathers her single or eligible female friends around the cake, and each guest is invited to choose a ribbon and pull out a charm. Each charm has a fortune or well-wishes attached to it.

The number of participants in a wedding cake pull can vary from six to twelve women. The bride may choose certain charms for certain girls and arrange them conveniently around the cake. For example, the ring, which indicates the next person to get married, is often placed to the right of the bride, for the maid of honour to pull.

There are eight classic charms historically used for ribbon pulls, each with its own meaning. These include the horseshoe or four-leaf clover, which signifies good luck, the telephone, which offers good news, the anchor, which encourages hope, the heart, which indicates impending love, the thimble or button, which reveals the old maid, and the penny, which means poverty.

The charms are usually inserted into the bottom layer of the cake after it is baked but before it is frosted. They are often made of sterling silver so that they can be kept as a memento. Many brides also provide bracelets as gifts for the charm to be worn on.

The bride chooses which charm each guest will receive

The heart charm, which indicates impending love, could be given to someone the bride knows is going through a difficult time in their romantic life, as a gesture of encouragement and support. The anchor charm, which symbolises hope, could be given to someone who is facing a difficult situation or struggling with a personal issue, to remind them that there is always hope and that the bride is there for them.

The bride may also choose to give the telephone charm, which brings good news, to someone who is awaiting an important decision or outcome, such as a job offer or university acceptance. The thimble or button charm, which represents the old maid, is often given to a younger guest, as a light-hearted gesture. Finally, the penny charm, which signifies poverty, is not commonly used today, as it is seen as less relevant and potentially offensive.

The bride's choices of charms for her guests are a way to offer personalised well-wishes and fortunes to each guest, and to include them in the wedding celebration.

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