New Orleans Wedding Traditions

New Orleans is known being rich in culture in traditions. Below are a few wedding traditions that are popular in New Orleans, Louisianna.
Tradition One: Wedding Cake Pull What is a wedding cake pull? A wedding cake pull is a New Orleans tradition that involves putting a charm on a ribbon, then hiding the charm within a layer of the wedding cake. Before the bride and groom cut into their wedding cake, the bride will have her bridesmaids and/or other close friends pull a ribbon from the cake. Each ribbon pulled will have a different charm on the end. Based on the ribbon is pulled, the charm on the end is supposed to represent a fortune "to come" for that person. Where did it orginiate? There are a variety of theories as to where this tradition began- but there's no evidence to prove which is correct. One common belief is that the wedding cake pull orginated from English traditions related to talismans. The English traidition of including charms as a token, is thought to be the inspiration behind the charms within the New Orleans wedding cake pull. Another theory is that the inspiration come from a 1879 custom in Scotland and England that baked a ring and sixpence into a wedding cake; the guest that got the piece of cake with the ring inside was said to be the next married whereas the guest with the sixpence inside was rumored to die without ever being married. Popular Charms in the Weddding Cake Pull & What They Signify Wedding Cake Pull by kimberly.bahl Tradition Two: Second Line Parade What is a Second Line Parade? Once a bride and groom are officially married, the start the beginning of their new life together. A brass band will lead the newlyweds from the ceremony to the reception location. It is refered to as a "second line" parade because there are two different sections within this parade. The first section includes a line involving the brass band and the bride and groom. The newlyweds will have decorated umbrellas dance around with. If requested, a grand marshall and/or the wedding party could be part of the first line as well. The second line follows behind and is made up of the rest of the wedding guests. The wedding guests in the second line will typically wave handkerchiefs as they dance behind the brass band. The History of a Second Line Parade: This tradition began as a way to advertise aid for freed slaves. This advertisment became very popular and celebrated and people began doing a second line parade to honor a member who died within a community. Eventually the tradition grew to included weddings, also. The Steps to Plan a Second Line Parade 1. Plan the route you want to take. 2. Get the proper permits 3. Hire a parade escort (mandated by the city) 4. Hire a brass band 5. Purchase umbrellas and handkerchiefs To learn more specific about planning your own second line parade, visit the website "Plan Your Second Line". Take This Quiz to Test Your Knowledge on New Orleans Wedding Traditions Source: Gaudet, Marcia. “Ribbon Pulls in Wedding Cakes: Tracing a New Orleans Tradition.” Folklore, vol. 117, no. 1, 2006, pp. 87–96. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30035323. Accessed 14 Mar. 2023. Second Line Video: “Second Line Parade - New Orleans Street Band Wedding Parade October 19, 2013.” YouTube, 20 Nov. 2013, https://youtu.be/sZ9FY55BKwQ.

What is a wedding cake pull? A wedding cake pull is a New Orleans tradition that involves putting a charm on a ribbon, then hiding the charm within a layer of the wedding cake. Before the bride and groom cut into their wedding cake, the bride will have her bridesmaids and/or other close friends pull a ribbon from the cake. Each ribbon pulled will have a different charm on the end. Based on the ribbon is pulled, the charm on the end is supposed to represent a fortune "to come" for that person.

Where did it orginiate? There are a variety of theories as to where this tradition began- but there's no evidence to prove which is correct. One common belief is that the wedding cake pull orginated from English traditions related to talismans. The English traidition of including charms as a token, is thought to be the inspiration behind the charms within the New Orleans wedding cake pull. Another theory is that the inspiration come from a 1879 custom in Scotland and England that baked a ring and sixpence into a wedding cake; the guest that got the piece of cake with the ring inside was said to be the next married whereas the guest with the sixpence inside was rumored to die without ever being married.

What is a Second Line Parade? Once a bride and groom are officially married, the start the beginning of their new life together. A brass band will lead the newlyweds from the ceremony to the reception location. It is refered to as a "second line" parade because there are two different sections within this parade. The first section includes a line involving the brass band and the bride and groom. The newlyweds will have decorated umbrellas dance around with. If requested, a grand marshall and/or the wedding party could be part of the first line as well. The second line follows behind and is made up of the rest of the wedding guests. The wedding guests in the second line will typically wave handkerchiefs as they dance behind the brass band.

The History of a Second Line Parade: This tradition began as a way to advertise aid for freed slaves. This advertisment became very popular and celebrated and people began doing a second line parade to honor a member who died within a community. Eventually the tradition grew to included weddings, also.

To learn more specific about planning your own second line parade, visit the website "Plan Your Second Line".

Source: Gaudet, Marcia. “Ribbon Pulls in Wedding Cakes: Tracing a New Orleans Tradition.” Folklore, vol. 117, no. 1, 2006, pp. 87–96. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30035323. Accessed 14 Mar. 2023.

Second Line Video: “Second Line Parade - New Orleans Street Band Wedding Parade October 19, 2013.” YouTube, 20 Nov. 2013, https://youtu.be/sZ9FY55BKwQ.


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