Why New Orleans-Style Cake Pulls Are All the Rage

Sometimes, you come across a wedding tradition you've never heard of and know you just have to include it on your wedding day. And though cake pulls have been around for centuries, it feels like they're only starting to get their time to shine now. This classic Southern tradition has roots in England, but modern couples are finding ways to give this reception activity a new spin. Plus, it makes your cake cutting even more exciting and involved for guests.

We spoke with cake pull experts Madeline Subat Ellis of Mimosa Handcrafted, a jeweler with expertise in crafting cake pull charms, and Jyl Deering of Deering Events, a North Carolina-based wedding planner who's seen cake pulls in action. Ready to learn more about wedding cake pulls and their adorable charms? Here's everything you need to know about this wedding tradition.

In this article: What Is a Cake Pull | Tradition & History | How To | Shop Cake Pulls

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

Photo: Stocksy

What Is a Cake Pull?

"Cake pulls are like a bouquet toss with an extra personalized touch. This fun Southern tradition involves single friends of the bride (although anyone can participate) finding out their fortunes from charms tucked beneath the wedding cake. The cake pull charms are tied to ribbons and carefully placed underneath the cake—something to coordinate with your bakery ahead of time. Before the cake is cut, participants gather around, pull the ribbon and reveal their charm," Subat Ellis says.

It's like a cute bit of fortune-telling with a personal keepsake your guests are sure to love. But where did this come from? Let's see where the cake pull got its origins. (This may just surprise you.)

Photo: Stocksy

Wedding Cake Pulls Tradition & History

How did the cake pull wedding tradition begin exactly? New Orleans second line doesn't seem to be the only tradition coming from this city, as the cake pull has origins in the South and, more specifically, NOLA. Based on a Victorian "ribbon pull," other good luck charms were placed inside the actual cake for single friends as a way of wishing them good fortune.

Where did cake pulls originate?

This is one of many Victorian-era cultural wedding traditions that were brought over to the country with a new twist. In those days, the ribbons and silver charms would be inside the "bride's pie" (eventually, it would be a cake), and young ladies had to pull them out to reveal their fortune. Around the 1920s, a baker from New Orleans brought this new version of the cake pull to the States. This baker incorporated NOLA-style charms, like the fleur-de-lis and Mardi Gras masks, to reflect the local culture. Now, many cultures participate in a version of the cake pull, like Peru and Argentina.

What does the cake pull wedding tradition represent?

There are some traditional wedding cake pull charm meanings, but there are also modern options you can choose from to represent other good fortunes or luck. Subat Ellis says of her charm selection, "While there are traditional symbols and meanings, we've reimagined our cake pull charms using symbols from our jewelry collection—everything from a crawfish for a 'spicy love life' to a strawberry wishing you 'unexpected joy.'" Here are some of the classic cake pull charms and their meanings:

• Airplane: You will have a well-traveled life.
• Alligator: You'll have a long and precious life.
• Baby bottle: You will be blessed with many children.
• Bourbon Street lamppost: You'll have a life of spontaneity and liveliness.
• Dove: You are a messenger of love and peace.
• Fleur-de-lis: A symbol of new beginnings and rebirth.
• Flower: A symbol of new love blossoming.
• Four-leaf clover: Good luck is headed your way.
• Heart: You will know true love in your life.
• Lock and key: Love holds the key to your heart.
• Mardi Gras mask: You're the life of the party.
• Money bag: You will have wealth and prosperity.
• Ring: You will be the next to marry.
• Seashell: You will have a life of timeless beauty.

Who participates in the cake pull?

"I have seen this tradition at the bridal shower, as it's usually a female tradition (usually there is one charm that is a ring). So [it's] kind of a twist on the tossing of the bouquet," Deering says. However, any modern wedding can allow anyone to participate. Maybe make it a kid-friendly activity with special charms just for them, or have the same thing for your groom's cake and his wedding party.

Subat Ellis adds why many modern couples opt for this tradition. "The cake pull makes for a sweet wedding memory for your guests, and the charms serve as keepsakes that can be treasured long after the celebration ends."

Photo: Stocksy

How to Pull Off a Cake Pull at Your Wedding

Having a cake pull at a wedding is one of the more exciting and less taxing activities everyone can enjoy. We spoke with our cake pull experts to help you figure out how to pull off this fun reception idea. Just add this to your wedding cake checklist for something extra memorable.

Coordinate With a Baker

Coordinating with your wedding cake baker to incorporate the cake pulls into the tiers of the cake is one way to do it, but you can also place the ribbons beneath the cake stand or under the bottom tier itself. Deering says, "Know it can be messy, so if you want a huge, beautiful, tiered wedding cake, do your traditional cake cutting photo before the charm pull or have a separate cake with the charms, different from the wedding cake."

Gather the Right Amount

How many guests will be at your wedding, and of those, how many will want to do this activity? "Being mindful of how many charms you put into the cake is important. You don't want to put 50 charms in if you think only 10–12 ladies will be a part of the ceremony," Deering says, so gathering the correct amount of charms and ribbons (or bracelets) will ensure none go to waste.

Notify Your Guests

Are your guests familiar with a cake pull? Setting them up for what to expect is key. Deering adds, "Also, having the cake displayed with the ribbons and some information about the tradition is wonderful, [especially] during the cocktail hour and reception. Lots of people do not know this tradition, so it teaches them and gets them excited."

Personalize Your Charms

Another hot tip is finding little ways to make these special favors unique to you and your S.O. "[Consider] charms with the couple's initials, wedding date, location, nods to the location… [or] charms as a nod to the groom, like a baseball, a car or one shaped like playing cards. The fun is having personal, different charms, as people will keep these and also chat about them with others at the wedding," Deering says.

Capture the Moment

"Of course, make sure your video and photo team are still on site when this happens, as it can happen later in the reception," Deering adds. You and your guests will want a memento of this unforgettable tradition, especially if it's the first time for some of them. Speak with your photographer and videographer beforehand so they can add this to the wedding checklist.

Photo: Stocksy

Shop Our Favorite Wedding Cake Pulls

Finding the right cake pulls for your wedding is about knowing what your guests would like. Do they lean more toward silver, gold or maybe even rose gold? Can you theme the charms to match your wedding? We've rounded up a list of some seriously fab charms, including some that come in a ready-to-wear bracelet. Etsy is one of the top spots to find your perfect cake pull bracelets and ribbons, but let's take a closer look at some other sites with these unique favors.

Pink Ribbon Wedding Cake Pulls

Photo: Amazon

These classic cake pull charms come with a card explaining their meaning. Your guests will enjoy seeing which surprise charm they pull, like perhaps the money bag or the clover for luck.

Traditional Wedding Cake Pulls

Photo: Blessed Beach Girl Co

What will your "charming" fortune read? With 10 traditional styles, these ribbon cake pulls make a fun addition to your wedding dessert, and you can choose the ribbon style that most closely matches your color palette.

Pearl Wedding Cake Pull Charms

Photo: Amazon

These unique cake pulls are dual-purpose: You can also wear them as a bracelet. The pearl style is fashionable for any wedding day, and they make a unique favor.

Gold Luxe Cake Pulls

Photo: Cake Takes

Add luxury to your cake pull tradition with these gold charms and pearl beads. This makes a lovely keepsake from your day that loved ones will treasure and wear for good luck.

Modern Gold Cake Pull Charms

Photo: Cake Takes

These modern cake pull charms come in dusty pink, the perfect hue to match the blushing bride. You can even choose from more than 30 charm styles, like a chic Eiffel Tower, a lucky horseshoe or the protective sting ray.

Satin and Silver Cake Pulls

Photo: Amazon

These white satin and silver charms will complement any wedding colors, and you get a mix of 12 styles in this bundle. Try buying multiple ribbon colors to mix and match during the cake pull for a colorful display.

Beach Wedding Cake Ribbon Pulls

Photo: Blessed Beach Girl Co

Planning a seaside ceremony? These beach-themed cake pulls are a fun spin on the classic charms, with your favorite sea creatures and motifs, like a lush palm tree.

Wedding Party Cards and Cake Pull Charms

Photo: Charming Scribe

Make the cake pull even more surprising with this option. The charms are hidden inside the cards, and you can customize each card for certain members of your wedding party, such as bridesmaids or the mother of the bride.

Multicolored Beaded Cake Pulls

Photo: Amazon

Add pops of color to your wedding cake pull with this vibrant choice. These charms and beads have a blend of glass beads in 12 different shades and gold charms with traditional shapes.

Glass Pearl Cake Pull Charms

Photo: lecooper123

Send your guests home with a lovely bracelet and a lucky charm. The glass pearls come in cream or white, and you can choose between silver, gold or both for the charms.

New Orleans Wedding Cake Pulls

Photo: Blessed Beach Girl Co

Bring a bit of New Orleans to your wedding cake with these classic NOLA-style charms. You can choose between many colored ribbons, and you get 15 unique charms like the shape of Louisiana and a Mardi Gras mask, complete with a description card.

White, Pink and Gold Ribbon Cake Pulls

Photo: Amazon

With this handy (and affordable) pack of cake pulls, you get three ribbon styles in one. On each organza ribbon is a delicate silver charm, the perfect reminder of a wonderful wedding day.