Charmed, I'm sure!

I finished the charms for the Charm Cake that will be at the Bridal Brunch! They turned out super cute. For those of you not familiar with the Southern tradition, please check out the info I collected:

Southern wedding cake charms is a tradition that cries out for romance and elegance. Understanding this tradition is part of the fun of selecting wedding cake accessories for your 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 practiced today, particularly in the South.

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.


If you want to incorporate the southern wedding cake charms tradition into your cake, you'll need to find a baker who understands how the process is done. 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 colors or a simple white. If you plan on making the cake yourself, keep the following in mind: Bake the cake layers as usual. Ice the cake all over except for the edging. This will be added after the charms and ribbons are inserted. Insert the charms between the cake layers or between the bottom layer and the cake tray. Be sure you insert the charms all around the cake so that the ribbons fan out around the entire perimeter of the cake. Add the rest of the icing around the edges of the cake.

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:

Add charming memories to your cake.
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. (I made up some of my own too!!)

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 (i didn't do this, but you gals can buy your own..ha!). 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

p.s.

The thimble means you're the Old Maid, so choose wisley before you pull that ribbon!! :)