Superstition: Wedding Cake Charms

Wedding cake charms is a that tradition cries out for romance and elegance. Understanding this tradition is part of the fun of selecting wedding cake accessories for a wedding. Wedding charms date back to Victorian times. Tiny charms, typically made of silver with ribbons attached, were placed inside the cake. During the reception, bridesmaids and other attendants pulled the ribbons and charms out of the cake. This little ceremony was called a "cake pull", and it is still practised today.
Today, cake pulls aren't just limited to the attendants. Children, parents of the bride and groom, and other guests can all gather around the cake. The ribbons are fanned out, and before the cake is cut, guests pull the ribbons out of the cake. Each charm tells a fortune or prediction for the future and is a quaint memento of the wedding celebration.
The charms are not baked inside the cake. Instead they are hidden either in between the cake layers or under the bottom layer, making insertion and removal fairly simple. Satin ribbons are typically used in coordinating colours or a simple white. •Insert the charms between the cake layers or between the bottom layer and the cake tray.

Charm Meanings

This charming tradition is no longer relegated to the actual wedding either. The tradition has worked its way into wedding showers and bridesmaid's parties as well. The charms represent a variety of symbols and depending on the shape of the charm, their meanings include:
•Ring: Upcoming marriage
•Heart: New love
•Kite: Fun and leisurely life
•Fleur-de-Lis: Love will blossom, prosperity
•Four Leaf Clover: Lucky in life
•Anchor: Adventure awaits
•Red Bean: Good luck
•Star: Wish comes true
•Thimble: Spinsterhood
•Hot Air Balloon: A life of travel and adventure
•Butterfly: Eternal beauty
•Wreath: Contented life

Different cake charms sets may include different symbols, or brides may even choose individual charms to coordinate with the wedding theme, such as dolphins, anchors, shells, boats, and fish to use for a beach wedding.

After the Cake Pull

What happens to the cake pulls after the ceremony is over? The answer solves the question of what to give the bridesmaids as gifts! Many brides buy charm bracelets or silver bangle bracelets that the charms can be added to. Some wedding guests give the charms back to the bride, and she then adds them to a bracelet of her own, creating another wonderful memory of her special day.