Victorian Bridesmaid Luncheon Tradition
The Bridesmaid Luncheon is an old southern tradition, but modern brides have brought it back to life. A casual tea party is a wonderful setting to delegate last minute tasks, introduce out-of-town guests, and present your bridesmaid gifts. This pre-wedding luncheon is all about showing your appreciation to the ladies close to the bride. Since they have helped you celebrate your relationship with your fianc with a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, the least you can do is host a lunch in their honor. Here are a few ideas and traditions on how to host a fabulous bridesmaid luncheon.
Tea Attire
Having tea at high noon, if hosted in a casual manner, can make everyone have a great time. You don’t have to decorate as if you’re at the Plaza. Don’t make her go shopping for another dress, even if you did spring for posh bridesmaid gifts. Whether you host your tea in a fancy hotel or at your home, make formal attire optional. Bridesmaid luncheons are held the day before the wedding when everyone feels stressed. A good way to lighten the mood is to have fun music and finger fare, like tiny sandwiches and chocolate-covered strawberries. A few edible wedding favors are another option. It is also a nice gesture to offer champagne or mimosas for the ladies and adorn the champagne glasses with wedding theme wine charms. This is the perfect touch for toasting her bridesmaids, mom and soon to be mother-in-law.
Tea Traditions of Yesteryears
Throw in a few festive tea traditions when you are planning your bridesmaid luncheon. The most popular tradition is the Victorian wedding cake charm tradition. You can pick out individual wedding cake charms for each woman that is close to you. The wedding cake charms come in standard sets of 6 or sets of 10 cake pulls. In the Victorian Era, a Bride would place wedding cake charms into the bottom layers of her wedding cake. Each bridesmaid would pull a ribbon from the wedding cake and discover the cake charm dangling from the other end of the ribbon, revealing her fortune. Today, wedding cake charms are used at the Bridesmaid Luncheons, where each bridesmaid pulls a ribbon from the center of a bundt cake or at the bottom of an iced cake to find her cake charm and her fortune is revealed.
Handing out the Bridesmaid Gifts
There is no better time to hand out your bridesmaid gifts than the bridesmaid luncheon. It’s standard etiquette, so if you’re planning a bridesmaid luncheon, take the opportunity to present your bridesmaid gifts. Write a speech and thank your bridesmaids for putting up with you throughout the wedding planning process. If you invited your mother, future mother-in-law or other important ladies to the luncheon, mention them in your champagne toast.
A ladies luncheon is the one last time to get together before your wedding day. It can be a casual afternoon tea party, spa day, bridesmaid brunch or a barbeque. You don’t have to make it super traditional and stuffy, so long as you find a way to honor your friends.
Jenny L Moore
