The Real Meaning Behind Those Charms Pulled From Your Wedding Cake
Ali Express
Cake makes for the sweetest of endings to any monumental occasion, particularly for wedding celebrations. And if you've ever attended a ceremony down South, specifically in Louisiana, you've likely heard of one tradition that's baked right in: the cake pull.
One of Louisiana's many claims to fame is a reverence for customary confections baked with a pound of sugar and nice surprises inside. Take the signature King Cake, for example, where you might find a baby figurine in the colorful, circular pastry, if you're lucky. But in this instance of the cake pull, good-luck charms—as opposed to a plastic baby—are attached to dainty ribbons and placed under the bottom layer of the cake after it's been baked and cooled, right before it gets iced.
How to Incorporate a Cake Pull into Your Wedding Celebrations
Whether at the reception, bridal shower, or the bridesmaids' luncheon, you can include your entire bridal party in this Victorian-era tradition. Just before the cake is cut and served, have each of your single friends and bridesmaids take turns pulling a charm from the cake for a glimpse of what's to come in their future.
Not only is the cake pull a festive way to celebrate your nuptials, but the charms can also serve as jewelry keepsakes for the bridal party. However, we also love the idea of it being used as the 'something borrowed' for you to cherish forever; allow your bridesmaids to gift you their individual charms to make a beautiful bracelet.
What do the Charms in a Cake Pull Mean?
Before the pullers start tugging, you should understand the meaning behind some of the commonly used charms. We'd wish you good luck, but you won't need it with these.
Boot - You'll travel soon.
Horseshoe or Clover - Good luck
Chili pepper - Red hot romance is on the horizon.
Rocking chair - Long life ahead
Wishbone - Success or a wish come true
Key - A wonderful opportunity will soon present itself.
Telephone - Good news is coming.
Money Bag - Financial security
Wishing Well - Your wish will be granted.
Boat - An adventure awaits.
Captain's Wheel - Confidence.
Guardian Angel - Someone special is looking after you.
Flower - A blossoming relationship is to come.
Tiger - Wisdom
Oyster - Wealth and prosperity
Ring - You're next to marry.
Thimble or button - Old maid
Lighthouse or lamp - You'll have a bright future.
Bells - Soon to be wed
Heart - Your love is a true love, or your love will come.
Fleur de Lis - New beginning or rebirth, or a life of prosperity and happiness
Seashell - Timeless, eternal beauty
Mardi Gras Mask - Something fun and unexpected will happen.
Pig - Abundance
High chair - You're next to have a baby.
Cinderella's carriage - Happily ever after
Anchor - Hope and life of stability
Wreath - Happy home
Moon - Opportunity
Airplane - Travel and adventure
Tree - Life of financial security
Book - Life full of knowledge
We love a sweet wedding tradition with a bit of Southern flair and superstition, and we're sure your guests will get a kick out of the cake pull, too!
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