Wedding Recap - Bridesmaid Luncheon

I'm sure you can tell from just from reading this blog - my friends mean the world to me.  I am blessed to have some of the most amazing women in the world as my best friends.  I don't know what I've ever done to deserve them, but I love and appreciate them every single day.

So I was beyond excited to be able to host a Bridal Luncheon for my bridesmaids the day before the wedding.  Traditionally, a bridal luncheon is a way for the bride to show her appreciation and gratitude for their participation in her wedding.   According to Lilly Pulitzer, it's a way to personally acknowledge each bridesmaid and her contribution to the wedding, and to focus some attention on them, since they'll take a back seat to the bride at every other wedding party.  The luncheon is a perfect time for introducing attendants to each other and distributing gifts to the maids. 

I thought this was a lovely idea since my girls had done SO much for me, from hosting showers and bachelorette parties, to buying a green dress and flying all the way across the country to attend our wedding - they deserved it!  I invited my six bridesmaids, our reader and the moms to a bridal luncheon on Friday afternoon at Sweetwater Cafe in Jackson.

It was a gorgeous day and we were sitting outside under big red umbrellas, so that's why we all look so pink!

Above: Jacquie and Lindsey

Below: Heather, Kasey and Jacquie

Above: Christine (my sister-in-law) and me

Below: Kirsten and Iris

Above: Me and Heather

Below: Me and Kasey

Below: The whole group!

Lunch was amazing...as usual.

And after lunch, I had a special surprise for everyone. In my constant search of all things "wedding," I read about the Victorian Tradition of a charm cake.  Back then the bride would hide small charms of luck and good fortune attached to ribbons into the cake.  Each member of the wedding party gathered around the cake prior to the cake cutting.  Each person pulled a charm from the cake which holds the promise of their future. Each charm has a special meaning and was a keepsake for the attendant. 

I thought it would be really fun to have a charm cake!  I'd never seen it done but I loved the idea!  I found some information on what all the charms stood for (boring stuff) and got creative.  I bought 11 charms (also my lucky number) and made up a two line fortune/saying for each charm.  It was so much fun writing the fortunes with my friends and family in mind.  There were certain charms that I really wanted particular people to pull (Kelly has to pick the butterfly) and some that could work for a few different girls in different ways.

Then I sent the charms to the amazingly talented Monica at Jackson Cake Company with basically zero idea of what I wanted and she made this...

Isn't it AMAZING?!

(And it tasted even better than it looked!  Vanilla cake with lemon and strawberry filling.  I die.)

We all took turns going around the table and pulling a charm.  And guess what...the charms I picked for particular girls were pulled by them!  I don't know if it was fate or what but I was floored!  Every charm was spot-on appropriate.

Christine (my super fashionable sister-in-law) got the High Heel which said:

Kick up your heels! Shopping is your passion.

You will live a life full of high style and great fashion.

Kirsten (the daring and adventurous one) pulled the Camera:

Lights, camera, action! It’s all in a name.

You will have a life full of fortune and fame.

Lindsay (the nurturing one) pulled the Birdhouse:

Tweet tweet! You’ll build a fine nest.

You can expect to have a home that is blessed.

My maid of honor Kasey (who is always on the go) pulled the Airplane.

Take to the skies! Adventures will unravel.

You will have a life of excitement and travel.

My mom got the Dog Bone.

You are the one upon who people depend.

And you will be blessed with loyal friends.

And just as I'd hoped, my stepmom Kelly (an amazing artist) pulled the Butterfly.

Peace and grace and never with strife.

You will live a colorful and creative life.

Jacquie (who is always so laid-back) pulled the Adirondack chair.

Sit back and relax! Comfort’s a treasure.

You will have a life full of relaxation and leisure.

"Hot" Heather pulled the Lipstick.

Pucker up, buttercup! Looking great is a duty.

You will have a life full of magnificence and beauty.

And even though we didn't get pictures...

Iris (the busy student who also works like 4 jobs) pulled the Bee:

Busy as a bee! You’re never tired and never bored.

You will have a life full of hard work and sweet reward.

My mother-in-law Bonnie (the Weight Watcher leader) pulled the Apple:

An apple for wisdom. And what’s better than wealth?

You will have a life full of smart choices and good health.

And last but not least, the only ribbon left...I pulled the wine bottle:

Cheers to you! Take a chance.

You will have a life full of love and romance.

Isn't that incredible how well that turned out! 

Next, it was time to open gifts!

I wrote them all a personal note telling them how much they meant to me.

So...

Do you ant to know what they got?

Ok, here it is!

A straw Kate Spade clutch.

Sparkly Reef flip flops to wear at the reception (if they wanted).

Sole Mates (heel savers to help walk in the grass at the wedding).

(No, I don't think they worked well.)

Pearl earrings.

A matching drop pearl necklace.

And a monogrammed bathrobe (pink or green).

I think it was quite a successful Bridal Luncheon!