Bouquet/Garter Toss

[maybride]

I can think of only two or three single (unmarried) guests at our wedding, making the bouquet/garter toss kind of pointless. Our DJ suggested the Anniversary dance and my FH and I agreed it would be a great idea. For those of you who aren't familiar with this: The DJ calls out all couples who have been married for more than five minutes to the dance floor. Then he starts eliminating people by asking only those who have been married for one year, then five years, then ten years, and so forth until only one couple remains. The B&G then come out on the dancefloor and present the couple with the bride's bouquet.
My question is what do we do about my garter? I have always loved the part of the reception where the groom takes the bride's garter off. I think it looks cute and fun. How do I work this into the whole Anniversary dance thing? And do I present the couple with the garter also or just the bouquet? In all probability, his parents will be the last couple, so do I really want to hand my new FIL my garter? :o

[esp1087]

I think even with only a small amount of single friends that you can still do the traditional bouquet/garter toss. You can do the anniversary dance too, but maybe have a small gift certificate to a restaurant to give them instead?

I have seen a garter toss with only 3-5 guys out there. Plus, you should have all friends that aren't engaged/married out on the floor. Not just the ones that aren't dating someone. Does that increase your numbers?

I think the tosses are fun, and if you want to do them, you should. It doesn't matter how many single friends will be participating because everyone will enjoy seeing it!

[maybride]

I think even with only a small amount of single friends that you can still do the traditional bouquet/garter toss. You can do the anniversary dance too, but maybe have a small gift certificate to a restaurant to give them instead?

I have seen a garter toss with only 3-5 guys out there. Plus, you should have all friends that aren't engaged/married out on the floor. Not just the ones that aren't dating someone. Does that increase your numbers?

I think the tosses are fun, and if you want to do them, you should. It doesn't matter how many single friends will be participating because everyone will enjoy seeing it!
Well, I only have two female friends that are not married but have kids. My FH has one male friend who is not engaged or married. I think they would feel uncomfortable going out there at all being the "tragic minority" as one of my friends called it. I think the anniversary dance would be a great way to honor the institute of marriage. My only concern is how to squeeze in the garter removal and whether or not to present it to the couple as well.

[esp1087]

Well, I only have two female friends that are not married but have kids. My FH has one male friend who is not engaged or married. I think they would feel uncomfortable going out there at all being the "tragic minority" as one of my friends called it. I think the anniversary dance would be a great way to honor the institute of marriage. My only concern is how to squeeze in the garter removal and whether or not to present it to the couple as well.
I wouldn't present the garter to the couple because I don't think the older couples I know would feel comfortable with that. Why not have all the single friends (female and male) participate in the garter toss? It would be a break from tradition and a little different, but I don't see anything wrong with it. What do you think?

Do you think the couple would feel comfortable getting the garter? For instance, I know that my grandma would be mortified... If you know the couple would be okay with it, then go for it.

[maybride]

I wouldn't present the garter to the couple because I don't think the older couples I know would feel comfortable with that. Why not have all the single friends (female and male) participate in the garter toss? It would be a break from tradition and a little different, but I don't see anything wrong with it. What do you think?

Do you think the couple would feel comfortable getting the garter? For instance, I know that my grandma would be mortified... If you know the couple would be okay with it, then go for it.
Two of the couples that I think would be in the running for it are big jokers and would probably put it on his head or something! LOL! BUT...the one other couple might be a little uncomfortable about it. I think the garter toss for the remaining singles might be fun. I can tell you who will catch it though. The girls are maybe 5' tall and the guy is about 6'4". That'll be a good pic moment!

[esp1087]

Two of the couples that I think would be in the running for it are big jokers and would probably put it on his head or something! LOL! BUT...the one other couple might be a little uncomfortable about it. I think the garter toss for the remaining singles might be fun. I can tell you who will catch it though. The girls are maybe 5' tall and the guy is about 6'4". That'll be a good pic moment!
You'd be surprised... I've seen women knock over each other to get the bouquet and dive for it! It will be interesting!

[Stephie]

What about maybe giving the garter to the youngest couple??? I agree that it could be extremely awkward giving your FIL your garter...You could make the bouquet for the oldest couple and the garter to the youngest...It could make it fun...I guarantee the young couple would laugh or get a kick out of getting the garter because they recently tied the knot as well...It's a suggestion...

[SusanM18]

I am most likely skipping over both the bouquet toss & garter toss. But, if you really like the garter toss, there's no reason you cannot still do it. You can have him remove it, and even do something like have the first married couple off the dancefloor do the garter thing.

[Cashy98]

Two of the couples that I think would be in the running for it are big jokers and would probably put it on his head or something! LOL! BUT...the one other couple might be a little uncomfortable about it. I think the garter toss for the remaining singles might be fun. I can tell you who will catch it though. The girls are maybe 5' tall and the guy is about 6'4". That'll be a good pic moment!

I don't think you'll have to worry about the guys being taller than the girls. At all the weddings I've been to, the guys will gather like they are going to catch the garter. But when the garter is in the air, coming towards them, they all dodge it and let it hit the floor! (And to think... none of them want to be married! LOL!). So the girls would probably have a pretty good chance of catching it. I think its a good idea to do the co-ed garter toss thing.

[reecey]

Heheh...up until my sister got married, she always and I mean ALWAYS caught the bouquet. She's 6'1 and there really isn't much competition for her. It was always a big joke that we better get her married off soon or any guy was going to think she was weird because she had all these bouquets all over her apartment :P

[nle5]

Ok ladies talking about the bouquet toss .... if you had children at your wedding would you allow them to participate in the bouquet toss? My daughters keep begging me to allow them to participate in this and I am really undecided. Any help will beappreciated.

[esp1087]

Ok ladies talking about the bouquet toss .... if you had children at your wedding would you allow them to participate in the bouquet toss? My daughters keep begging me to allow them to participate in this and I am really undecided. Any help will beappreciated.
I guess it would depend on their ages. If they are over ten, then I say they can participate if they like. If they are younger though, I would be worried about them getting hurt. I've seen woman that will stop at nothing including knocking people over to catch the bouquet!

[Kelly1Mickey]

Ok ladies talking about the bouquet toss .... if you had children at your wedding would you allow them to participate in the bouquet toss? My daughters keep begging me to allow them to participate in this and I am really undecided. Any help will beappreciated.


Hmmm.. I am not sure about this one. I don't seem to remember being allowed to participate when I was little. I would say no if you think that there will be a lot of single ladies. two reaons 1. Let those single women have their moment of fun and silliness 2. Kids could get hurt- I have seen bouquet tosses get pretty violent :p ! Could anybody think of an alternative? I remember reading in another post about a candy bouquet toss. Sounds a little risky (someone could poke an eye out :p )!LOL

[esp1087]

Hmmm.. I am not sure about this one. I don't seem to remember being allowed to participate when I was little. I would say no if you think that there will be a lot of single ladies. two reaons 1. Let those single women have their moment of fun and silliness 2. Kids could get hurt- I have seen bouquet tosses get pretty violent :p ! Could anybody think of an alternative? I remember reading in another post about a candy bouquet toss. Sounds a little risky (someone could poke an eye out :p )!LOL
A heart-shaped or theme related pinata would be good too!

[nmb082005]

Okay unfortunatly I don't have any ideas, just things to think about...If you put an age limit on it and the older daughter makes the cut but the younger ones doesn't she would feel very disapointed and left out, throwing a bouqet of candy could hurt someone, a pinata would scare me to death - kids swinging a bat around inside a reception hall, someone could get hit, or the bat could fly out of their hands and hit someone or break something, although if your reception was durring the day and you could do this outside it wouldn't be quite as bad. I have heard of a teddy bear toss which would be okay for young children but older children would not be too into a stuffed animal. I just don't know hopefully between everyone we can come up with some other suggestions, I just can't think of any that would be safe and work for all ages right now :(

[MommaBird]

Ok ladies talking about the bouquet toss .... if you had children at your wedding would you allow them to participate in the bouquet toss? My daughters keep begging me to allow them to participate in this and I am really undecided. Any help will beappreciated.

When I was 10, I attended my uncle's wedding, and I caught the bouquet. I think I was allowed to 'go up' because my eternally-single aunt was up there, watching over me. All the women were really nice & not catty (as I remember!) I'd say if they're not super shorties, and old enough not to be upset if they don't catch it, let them go up!

[maybride]

Ladies,
Let us not forget what the bouquet toss is all about. The woman who catches it gets to believe for a night that she will be the next to get married. Also, if she is not there with anyone significant, it gives her the opportunity to dance with a possible prospect. Not to mention, if one of your daughters catches the bouquet, one of your FH's eligible bachelor friends may get stuck dancing with a kid. Sorry, but I don't think they should be up there.

[reecey]

Ladies,
Let us not forget what the bouquet toss is all about. The woman who catches it gets to believe for a night that she will be the next to get married. Also, if she is not there with anyone significant, it gives her the opportunity to dance with a possible prospect. Not to mention, if one of your daughters catches the bouquet, one of your FH's eligible bachelor friends may get stuck dancing with a kid. Sorry, but I don't think they should be up there.

Oh come on now! that can be totally adorable! Picture this - little girl catches the bouquet. Handsome single man catches the garter. Handsome single man dances with little girl. All the single women SWOON at how sweet he is with the little girl! Its just too cute! :)

[maybride]

Oh come on now! that can be totally adorable! Picture this - little girl catches the bouquet. Handsome single man catches the garter. Handsome single man dances with little girl. All the single women SWOON at how sweet he is with the little girl! Its just too cute! :)
OK Reecey,
You got me on that one! :p I never would have pictured that. I guess that is why I am so addicted to this website. :D

[nmb082005]

Oh come on now! that can be totally adorable! Picture this - little girl catches the bouquet. Handsome single man catches the garter. Handsome single man dances with little girl. All the single women SWOON at how sweet he is with the little girl! Its just too cute! :)


That would be a sweet picture

[reecey]

OK Reecey,
You got me on that one! :p I never would have pictured that. I guess that is why I am so addicted to this website. :D


and I'm not a mushy person - I don't have kids, etc. But I remember dancing on my uncles shoes at weddings when I was a little kid - I thought this guy helped my dad hang the moon, ya know? He's only 5 years older than me so we were really close and it just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside thinking of that :)

[1st Time Bride at 50]

Having been to MANY weddings over the years, I've seen "the toss" done to varied groups. As a single guest and/or bridesmaid, I must admit I resented having "children" (anyone too young to be seriously considered "marriage available") out in the group trying to catch the bouquet. The tradition or superstition behind tossing the bouquet is that the young lady will be the next to wed (and it allowed all the single guys to see who the single girls were for dancing!). The same goes for the gentleman catching the garter. I have seen things get very "rough", especially after everyone has been drinking for several hours, and sometimes guests have landed on the floor trying to catch the "prize". Who would want children potentially hurt in this melee?

There is a flip side to the young girl catching the flowers and "handsome older man" getting the garter--- a young boy (8 or 9 years old) caught the garter, and I caught the bouquet!!! Following tradition, he had to put the garter on ME, with everyone watching and the photographer "shooting up my dress"!! I was mortified, and the kid was almost in tears--- his Dad "made him" put the garter on my leg!!!!! So please spare everyone potential embarrassment, and have the DJ announce that all single guests over 16 or 18 may participate.

On the other hand, I've been to weddings where neither activity happened. The bride just explained that she wanted to keep her bouquet, and just "smiled" when asked about the garter!! :)