Hidden charms

Southern Living, Jun 1996 by Campbell, Dana Adkins

It's something old, nothing new. Sometimes borrowed, and seldom blue. The charm cake (or trinket cake) is a delightful bridal custom. This bridesmaids' luncheon dessert is usually frosted in white or pink with delicate, enticing ribbons dangling from the layers. (We offer easier, no-frost versions here.) Before cutting the cake, each attendant pulls a ribbon from the cake to discover a symbolic charm at the end.

Sally Hopson of Weddings, Etc., in Birmingham loves to introduce brides-tobe to this tradition at her shop. The custom started in medieval times when a groom supposedly bribed the bridesmaids with trinkets to let him see his hidden bride before the ceremony. Sally also found a reference to the cake in Emily Post's 1923 Etiquette. And she remembers her mother's celebrations for brides, complete with charms.

Now Sally offers both silver keepsake and whimsical plastic charms in her shop, and she'll help select the right one for each attendant. The prized ring charm means that bridesmaid will be the next to marry, an anchor foretells that someone will soon "anchor" her heart, a baby predicts that the stork will visit her first, and a bow clues that a special friend will become a "beau." And there are plenty more.

Color-coded ribbons are attached to the charms so singles, marrieds, and junior bridesmaids will pull ones with appropriate messagespale pink for the unwed, white for the already married, and hot pink for the young girls.

Sally's trinkets come sealed in tiny plastic bags with the ribbons hanging out. When they're pulled from the frosting, the bag is messy, but not the charm. You can either have a caterer make the cake and insert the charms before frosting or make your own.

We opted for less mess with these homemade, no-frost cakes. You can drop the charms into the center of the Orange Blossom Cake, letting the ribbons hang over the cake stand. Conceal the charms with blossoms if you like. Or for Pineapple Upside-down Cake Roll, lay the charms on the serving tray and place the cake on top of the charms, allowing the ribbons to extend over edge of tray.

Let the bridesmaids take the trinkets home, or pass them along to other friends hosting a bridesmaids' luncheon. (See "Charms for Charge" for ordering information.)

CHARMS FOR CHARGE

You can order silver charms (in tiny bags with ribbons already attached) for $8 each and the novelty/plastic ones for $3 from Weddings, Etc., 2843 18th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35209; (205) 870-5299.

Winterthur Catalog offers a set of six sterling charms on satin ribbons (item #3199) for $45 plus tax and shipping. Call 1-800 767-0500.