From time to time, I've been asked, "what's with the pineapple"? And after stumbling upon a really interesting article from the latest issue of Southern Living magazine on the history behind pineapple decor, I thought it would be fun to share the meaning behind The Graceful Host's pineapple symbol.

But first, a quick little history lesson - because the pineapple has a very interesting history, believe it or not!  The pineapple got its English name from good ole' Christopher Columbus, who brought it back to Europe from Guadeloupe Island, which is off the coast of Mexico, as an exotic treat from his second voyage the New World.  The name was given for its resemblance to a pine cone.  Later, ship Captains and sailors would spear a pineapple and then display it on their porch to show that they had returned home from foreign posts and were ready to welcome visitors into their homes.  In the early days, the exotic Pineapples were the crowning glory of lavish American banquets, and were considered the height of extravagant hospitality. Within larger, well-to-do homes, the dining room doors were kept closed to heighten visitors' suspense about the dinner table on the other side. With pomp and full drama, the doors were flung open to reveal the evening's main event to guests - and visitors would see a pineapple-topped food display!  The guests' felt particularly honored by a hostess who obviously spared no expense to ensure her guests' dining pleasure.  In this manner, the pineapple became a visual keystone of the feast and came to symbolize the high spirits of social events.  It's only natural that the image of the pineapple would come to express the sense of welcome, good cheer, human warmth and family affection inherent to such gracious home gatherings.

So, why use the pineapple?  Well, the pineapple is the universal symbol of hospitality, which I think is so important for weddings and events.  Being a good hostess and treating your guests to an amazing night is a huge priority.  That's why you work with a wedding planner - so that you can be a graceful host on the biggest day of your life!  In addition to it being the international symbol of hospitality, for me, the pineapple resembles tradition and history.  I absolutely love traditions - a love that was instilled in me from my great big Italian family.  "It's important to remember where you came from, in order to know where you're going" - something my grandfather would say all the time.  I love using the pineapple as a representation of The Graceful Host because it symbolizes the journey that this little company has gone through over the years.  It's an icon for the Southern culture that I love; each marriage that I've witnessed; each couple that I've had the pleasure of knowing; each rebranding effort; each change I've made to improve the experience of TGH brides; and the future we have to look forward to.  To me, it's a powerful symbol that embodies so much history and immediately conveys the mission of The Graceful Host - Perfecting The Art of Celebration.

XO,
A.