Okay, if you really have your heart set on doing the bouquet toss, removing the garter and the garter toss, please consider skipping the custom that comes next. The man who caught the garter must place it on the leg of the woman who caught the bouquet. According to tradition, the higher the garter is placed on her leg the longer the couple will stay married.
This particular reception activity has caused very awkward moments at a few of my weddings.
Wedding #1: The man and woman have never met. The man starts the process by putting the garter in his mouth so that he can place it on the woman’s leg using his teeth. If that wasn’t awkward enough, he tried his best to get it past mid thigh until the woman finally put an end to it. Later we saw the woman crying outside the ballroom arguing with her very upset male date.
Wedding #2: The man that caught the bouquet was the groom’s best friend and groomsman. The woman that caught the bouquet was the groom’s sister. The man and woman have practically grown up together over the years and felt it was WAY too weird to go along with tradition. Instead, I asked them to pose for a picture with the bride and groom while holding the bouquet and garter. To comprise, the man decided to place the garter on the woman’s arm.
Wedding #3: The woman that caught the bouquet was the much older aunt of the man that caught the garter. No further explanation needed.
Instead of the bouquet/garter toss, why not follow the suggestions from By Your Side Events.
~ Some brides decide to present the bouquet to their mother during a heart felt thank you speech.
~ If there is an engaged couple in attendance, some brides decide to pass on the bouquet to the bride-to-be.
~ Do an anniversary dance. This is when the DJ or band plays a song and all couples dance. The emcee calls out years and couples leave the dance floor according to the number of years they’ve been together. The couple standing at the end who have been together the longest is the one you can present your bouquet to.
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I completely agree… awkward!!!
I cannot cope with the garter tradition at all!! I love your idea of presenting the bouquet to your mother! I think I will make this my tradition at my wedding. Thanks for the idea.