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?

[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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by maybride

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]

Originally Posted by esp1087

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]

Originally Posted by maybride

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]

Originally Posted by maybride

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