So, since it’s Wedding Wednesday and all, I thought I would do a lil’ wedding post. How do ya’ll feel about the bouquet/garter toss? I was going to forgo it at my wedding as I think it’s a bit brutal to force single folks to take center stage. However, I had a couple of very vocal bridesmaids, ahem Meg and my sis, who insisted that it was tradition.
In the end I went through with the tosses and they resulted in some cute photo ops at least. And I didn’t hear any groans from the dudes and dudettes who filed out onto the dance floor! There’s nothing wrong with a little tradition right?
So, tell me lovelies…Did ya’ll engage in the traditional tosses? Are you planning on doing so if you aren’t hitched yet? And better yet…Do you have any photos to share?
Hugs to Cheryl for sharing her toss photos!
This was staged. Can you tell? HA!
Here's the real thing!
Me and the bouquet catcher...my lovely bridesmaid Corinne!
The hubs really played it up for the crowd. I think we can thank scotch for that. HA!
p.s. Don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a gift certificate to Bellabini Boutique!
{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes…we did do the wedding bouquet & garter belt toss. The bouquet went straight for my bff, but she practically ducked out of the way to avoid catching it. I was so mad at her (not really) for not catching it. haha…
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We didn’t do it! We had a private ceremony and then later on that night had a reception. The booze & the band got the best of us and we just didn’t get around to it!
Your wedding photos are gorgeous!
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I would definitely vote nay on this one even though I did both at my wedding. I especially don’t like it when the groom removed the garter with his teeth… makes me cringe every time!
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cute pics! we did bouquet toss then totally forgot about the garter some how!
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We did both tosses….but in hindsight I kind of wish we hadn’t. Our wedding was pretty traditional. If I could redo it I’d try for less fuss and more fun. The annoying wedding planner tried to get the best man to get on all fours and me to sit on his back for the garter. Umm…no. No. Not in a million.
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you look fabulous!!
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i sort of hide when that is going to happen… women can get really aggressive when it happens… haha!
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We skipped both, lol. Great pictures!
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We did not opt to do the toss because I literally had some girl friends begging me not too. And..I think we had about 15 single girls and 2 single guys.
I don’t mind the tradition though, I think it can be really cute.
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This past Saturday my friend got married and I was one of the bridesmaids. She ended up doing the bouquet toss (after I had harrassed her to do it, lol) and guess who caught it? Me…! But I am sure there are no pretty pictures because I ended up hurting my right ankle and right shoulder. It was fun though and I am better now. But the more I think about it… I really don’t want to see those pictures. hahaha!
The garter was caught be a married man you gave it to my boyfriend. The garter when passed my boyfriend to the married man. Everyone was told to give it to him if they caught (which did not make it that fun but whatever)…
Overall it was a fun moment at the wedding. It really all depends on how people take the whole tradition. I went to a wedding once and only 3 people went to try to catch the bouquet… doesn’t it make it that much challenging and ENTERTAINING… I think thats what it is… pure entertainment.
Thats my long post and I will end it with saying, you were a beautiful bride! Love your dress!
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You look gorgeous! Our wedding was more of a dinner party, very low-key, but I kind of wish we had had all the fun stuff! XX!
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We skipped it. Although pretty much all our friends were single when we got married, none of them seemed to want to participate so I didn’t make anyone lol.
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I always hated being forced to do the bouquet catch when I was single, so I definitely didn’t want to toss a bouquet at my wedding! Also, I didn’t even have a bouquet. Or a garter. So I guess it wouldn’t have worked out anyway!
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This was SUCH an issue for me! I didn’t want to do either and my Mom and sister were horrified. I was marrying a Brit and they don’t have either of those traditions over there and it seemed to me like I would have only been doing it for the sake of doing it, which I didn’t like. In the end, I agreed to the bouquet toss (and the girl who caught it was engaged 2 months later) but we didn’t do the garter toss. I just didn’t want to be on display like that and I put my foot down. I think my Mom and sister are still annoyed, but good thing it wasn’t there wedding
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I wasn’t planning on it but a friend talked me into icing J during the garter toss…. definitely not the epitome of maturity but it was hilarious!! And like you said, the pictures from both are great. I think it is much less awkward if you know there are going to lots of single people there than if it is just a small handful.
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I did the bouquet but not the garter. If i had to do it again I would skip the bouquet too. LOL!
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I’m the Runaway Bride, so I can’t say… but I’m all for tradition!
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We did both – very mellow however. As a wedding planner, I love when the bride tosses it as she leaves and it is kind of seems more spontaneous. I despise the garter. Best idea ever…garter in the pinata!
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Hmm, I like catch-the-bouqet, but personally I hate garter tosses.
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I love the bouquet toss — I think it’s a sweet thing, but can see how it can be embarrassing for singles. I don’t know how I feel about the garter toss, at least for me — maybe I’d bring a spare one along?
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com
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Nope. I don’t like the implications that individuals have to get married or something is wrong with them, plus I had friends there with different sexual preferances.
It doesnt bother me when my friends do it at their weddings, but for me, it wasnt the right fit.
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We did both. Our wedding was uber traditional. (I think we both realized it was really a party for our parents and we were both ok with that. We both now joke about throwing some insane unconventional vow renewal or something.) I don’t really remember who caught either. Oh, and we both come from SUPER traditional families, so the garter toss was INSANELY uncomfortable.
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I just went to my besties wedding and she did the toss and it was so much fun! Especially with Beyonce “Single Ladies” playing. And the girl who caught the bouquet, her bf caught the garter! Coincidence or a sign of things to come???
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Yeah we always do here. I love looking at the pictures.
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I got married in a small village in Greece so we did not do a bouquet toss.
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No tosses at my wedding!
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We did bouqets but not garter. It was fun!
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We did it – although it was a total setup for my sister!!!
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I only did the bouquet toss. I think its a cute and fun tradition. Definitely dont agree with forcing people to go up there though. The garter to me can get really cheesy real fast.
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I love seeing pics of your wedding
I will definitely do the bouquet and garter toss at ours next year!
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We did the traditional tosses. It’s funny because on The Knot all the brides are SO over tradition but I think they’re fun little traditions.
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Have I told you that you were the most beautiful bride
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I tossed the bouquet. I think. I’d have to see if I have pics of it. Definitely didn’t do the garter. Can’t even remember if I wore one. Probably not. All that stress about planning and my memory is fuzzy. *lol*
Great photos
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looks like such fun! I do have a tossing bouquet (NOT throwing my real one
) but we’re skipping the garter 
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We did bouquet (I wasn’t even going to that), but not garter. Just wasn’t for me.
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Definitely gonna do the toss thing!! I have to torture all of those single woman the way I have been tortured at every wedding! Haha. Your dress is gorgeous btw!
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When my parents got married, my dad sprained his knee while taking off her garter, and they had to spend the next morning in the ER. He spent the first few days of their honeymoon in Greece on crutches. Funniest part of the story, when they arrived at the ER, the doc charted “Hurt knee kneeling down before wife”
I think it is the best garter story ever!
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You are such a gorgeous bride, just beautiful!
I have no idea what I will do at my wedding…shocking, huh?!?!? LOL!!
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Great wedding pics! Well I’ve caught the bouquet three times and I am still not married…heck I don’t even have a bf…
I think it doesn’t hurt to have one. Single people don’t have to participate. I don’t always go out there.
I am big on tradition though
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I love doing the flower toss! I revel in it now too because I feel like I have less than 5 years to be a single lady catching it so I’m always really excited. Your wedding looks so pretty
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I didn’t do either. The bouquet toss or the garter toss. For some reason I didn’t want to.
I never used to line up for the bouquet toss so that could be one of the reasons.
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Hahaha, that looks like fun. I’d do it because it’s just fun to do. Tradition or not, I don’t really care for
You look beautiful in your gown!
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we never had a toss since we didn’t have a traditional wedding, but i always think they are SUCH a blast!! one of my fav parts!! and i love the pics!
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Yay for more wedding pics!:) I definitely groan everytime I have to go up there for the toss LOL but I would probably still have one at my wedding. I agree, it’s tradition!
TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com
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U look so wonderful!
♥
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I think it’s a fun tradition. We did both, I think it’s expected.
We did NOT do the “dollar dance”. That’s one, I feel, that should stay nicely back in the early 90s.
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I think you gotta do the bouquet/garter toss (though I must admit I don’t try very hard to catch at weddings!) They are just a great/fun tradition.
Love the wedding pics xo
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Looks like I won (this is Meg) and I was right to make you throw that bouquet! Weird thing is I’m in the back of these pics and not even making a jump for it. But once again your sis and I were spot on! Ha!
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i love the bouquet tradition!!
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I love the flower in your hair. I would have to say nay for the bouquet toss, for my own wedding, but I am not offended when other people force me to participate. Haha!
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I did do it, but I was coerced! TOTALLY didn’t want to! This one girl nearly tackled the poor girl who caught it. And she was twice her size too. I’m pretty sure poor Jen had some bruising.
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We did both and had a blast doing it and didn’t have any complaints from our guests =)
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We did it, as well! We never even questioned doing it. It’s something that we all have always had fun with.
P.S. I crack up everytime I see your wedding pictures because you really never did put your glass down! haha! Your were a beautiful bride though!
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We did the traditional tosses and it was fun!
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If I had a “real” wedding, I would’ve said nay to to both. Not a fan of screaming girls tugging at each other for the chance at a bouquet and marriage “blissdom”. And the garter thing…not for me. But then again, I’m “boring ol’ Maddy”, don’t listen to me
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We did the toss!!!! We at first were going to forego it as well becasue we are both a little shy but I am so happy we went with tradition. We have the funniest picture of my husband literally carrying my brother to the stage becasue he tried to hide in a corner… soooo funny.
You look Stunning by the way!!!
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I just realized I totally spelled because wrong TWICE… oops
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You looked great on your big day! I don’t see myself doing the whole garter thing (shy here!) but the bouquet toss definitely, it’s fun!
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Yep, we did the whole toss! We were married on the 4th of July and Jon’s grandmother, who was 81 years young created such a cool red white and blue garter! Jon’s best friend still has it. Grandmother still talks about how much she loved creating that piece!
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We followed tradition and did this as well. I was on the fence about it, but glad we did it in the end. My friend Kristen caught my bouquet and her boyfriend (at the time) Sean caught the garter. They’re wedding is in about 2 weeks
I’d like to think Geof and I had something to do with it…haha.
I love these photos and again, you were such a beautiful bride!
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great pictures Kristen. We didn’t do either…..I decided to go against tradition.
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Honestly….I hate them both. The bouquet toss is so awkward and I hate going up to do it. I usually hide in the bathroom or take refuge at the bar. No part of me wants to scramble around and wrestle for flowers like a marriage-hungry crazy person. And I can’t imagine EVER wanting to have my husband reach up under my dress while my dad sat a few feet away!
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The BonBon Rose Girls Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 1:15 pm
That’s why I had my garter on my knee practically, so the hubs didn’t really have to reach up. HA!
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I don’t think I’ve ever been to a wedding where they skipped it… although I tend to hide out in the bathroom until it’s over so i am not forced to participate
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We didn’t do it, only because it was the one “tradition” I dreaded at every wedding I attended as a single girl. I do love, love, love a good wedding tradition, but as a guest I always hated being mauled by those single ladies who immediately transform and seem to be out for blood when the bouquet is tossed.
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Your wedding pictures are so pretty. I love your dress and hair. What a gorgeous bride! I did throw the bouquet, but Gabe didn’t throw the garter. I went back and forth about both of them, but decided to do one and not the other. It’s such a fun tradition!
xo
Valerie
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You looked stunning!!!!
Nay! I do love traditions but, hate this one! I have not been to a wedding where the bride tossed her bouquet since maybe my cousins when I was in high school??? None of my friends have…
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We did it but that was 25 years ago and I am not sure I would do it again!
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I think everyone secretly loves that toss
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i vote for the tradition! love your gown!!! looks like a happy & fun wedding! xoxo
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Omg, no bouquet toss for me! I love attending fun weddings, but as soon as that toss happens, I peace out and hide in the bathroom!
You are so beautiful!!
xoxo J
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Sorry, I couldn’t pay attention to the actual blog post..because holy beautiful bride here!!!!
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Beautiful photos! I say yay. Traditions are nice.
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I loved it….but i had a smaller wedding!
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Look how beautiful you are in your gown! Wow. Love your hair too. So I did not do the garter thing or the bouquet throw. I just felt a little embarrassed by it all and there were so few single people at our wedding that we would have ended up throwing those things into an empty and sad dance floor!
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I think I’ll do the bouquet toss! But not the garter thing!
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I plan to do the toss at my wedding in March… However, I also plan to have my garter sitting on my knee so Grams doesn’t have to see my wedding night goods!
XO
Carly
All this is Grace and Charm
http://allthisgraceandcharm.blogspot.com
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love all your wedding photos. and we did partake in the traditional tosses. it was super hilarious!
pics here:
http://ohtobeamuse.com/2010/04/nice-day-for-white-wedding.html
http://ohtobeamuse.com
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I used to think it was a fun idea and definitely a tradition, but the older I get, the more I don’t want to be one of those girls waiting to catch it. So when I finally do get married, I guess I would only do it if I knew there were going to be more than just 2 or 3 single girls there!
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