Mint Macarons with Cacao Nibs: Despedida de Soltera for Nelly

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Although I have been quiet on the email threads, I have been planning in my head, and been going back and forth with Shulie and Anuradha how to make Nelly’s big day even more special.  I am not the gifted storyteller Shulie is, and I’m not a talented baker like Anuradha either.  Well, I am good around plants, so when everybody went emailing back and forth about the links, and finalizing the hashtag, I went to the San Francisco Flower Mart to scope out flowers.

One thing I know of however, and would like to share with Nelly today, is one of the loveliest Filipino marriage traditions called despedida de soltera, or farewell to the single woman as she says goodbye to her single life.  It is a send-off dinner to the bride, usually given by her family (in this case, social-media family) close to the wedding date.  One might say that it is the ritual show of the family’s consent to the marriage and bestowal of its blessings.

The groom, his family, close relatives and close friends from both sides are invited to the despedida de soltera to meet and to know one another, at least enough not to be strangers at the wedding and at the reception.

Welcome to our family, M!

A special thank you to my friend Sanjeeta for inviting me to this virtual bridal shower for our dearest Nelly, and to Heather, for designing a banner.

Please hop on over to Baker Street to see the Mocha Walnut Marble Bundt Cake Anuradha baked for this special occasion.

50 thoughts on “Mint Macarons with Cacao Nibs: Despedida de Soltera for Nelly”

  1. Annapet, this is the loveliest Filipino traditions: the sending off of the bride. Thanks to Nelly’s getting married otherwise I would not know about it. Thanks for generosity in including me in the send off of our friend and virtual party. You are a good friend and we three wish Nelly the best and lots of happiness from the bottom of our hearts. BTW, you are a fantastic storyteller and baker in addition to a gardener!
    foodwanderings recently posted..Celeriac Mashed Potatoes – No Traditional Recipe, Just a Thanksgiving Recount

  4. Lovely post Annapet, and I think you are both a fabulous storyteller and baker too! You can bring flowers to my party ANYTIME :-) Love your beautiful photos and learning more about the FIlipino Marriage Tradition :-) .

  6. If there’s one thing I wish, it is that I could bake macs even half as well as you do! These are gorgeous Annapet! Thank you for including me and Shulie in your post.

    Thank you for sharing the tradition, I had no idea about. Its been a so much fun putting this together :) .
    Baker Street recently posted..Mocha Walnut Marble Bundt Cake

  17. What a lovely tradition this is :-) ! I love reading about cultural traditions; they make the world seem more beautiful ;-) . I believe you are good in what you do, and you are just lovely the way you are :D .
    Christy recently posted..Teppanyaki and Bento

  18. Gorgeous photos, gorgeous macarons, and gorgeous post! You are so talented Annapet! I wish I could be as meticulous as you. You’ve def inspired me to try to make macarons!

  19. This is beautiful. What a wonderful way to celebrate a milestone in life-Virtually.
    I love the tradition of having a dinner for the bride before the wedding for the opportunity to get to know one another before the wedding…In American customs this might be referred to as the Rehearsal Dinner.

    Loved reading this post.

    Velva

  22. Even being as close as I am, I have never been to the flower mart…you’re making me jealous!!
    What beautiful flowers and equally beautiful macarons! And I love that tradition…it sounds like a wonderful family event.
    Karen recently posted..Sometimes, life is hard…

  23. ah, ‘despedida de soltera’ has such lovely music to it. even without knowing the language, it sounds like a farewell. what a lovely thing to have learnt about. and contrary to what you think, you tell beautiful, warm stories with your posts, annapet!
    Pia recently posted..Nearly, nearly

    • Joyti, so happy we got you for a couple of weeks! Your Christmas post largely inspired my upcoming post! Today, I got to try shelling a bag of hazelnuts. Then two ways of removing the skins!

    • Oh, you are so sweet! I was looking for a commercial kitchen to rent, and it was in San Rafael. I hope we get to have an opportunity to meet so I can hand you over a box as a simple gift ;-) .