Going with Tradition: The Garter Toss

Wedding day traditions have many to choose from: from the first kiss to your first dance, ring exchange to cake cutting, the sky is the limit. The garter toss is a widespread tradition that still makes it to many weddings. Now, you might be wondering if you should add this to your wedding day agenda, and we're here to help you make the best decision for your wedding day.

What is a Garter Toss?

If you have not seen a garter toss in action, we'll clue you in on the specifics. Traditionally, a bride wears a garter on her thigh throughout the wedding. During the reception festivities, the bride's spouse will pull a chair onto the dance floor for the bride to sit; the other bride or groom will then find the garter under the bride's dress. After the garter has been retrieved, the MC will gather all the singles to the dance floor to catch it after the spouse has tossed it toward the crowd. Similar to a bouquet toss, this tends to be a boisterous affair where there's a lot of jumping, laughing, and clapping upon seeing the recipient of the garter.

Why a Garter Toss?

In days of yore, when the Bard was writing about star-crossed lovers, many of today's wedding traditions came alive, the garter toss included. Tossing the garter symbolized the transition from maidenhood to womanhood back in those times, but nowadays, it's a symbol of good luck to whoever catches the garter, and frankly, it's fun to see who will tackle who for the garter.

Fun Alternatives to the Toss

Are you asking yourself, "Should I have a garter toss at my wedding?" When it comes to including a garter toss in your wedding, there is no right or wrong answer as to whether or not you should include it. Do what you feel is right for your wedding! While you might feel pressure from family or friends to include it in your wedding because "it's tradition," many couples have opted out of doing a garter toss altogether with fun alternatives. Instead of a garter toss, consider one of the following for your celebration.

Anniversary Dance

We love a good Anniversary Dance; it's a beautiful way to celebrate so many of your guests in attendance and the love they are bringing to your wedding day. Let your MC do all the work if you're unfamiliar with an Anniversary Dance. They'll ask all couples to the dance floor (married or otherwise), and as the song progresses, they'll mark off significant milestone anniversaries. Couples that have been together one year will depart the dance floor, and then five, ten, and so on. Save a special gift for the couple who stays on the dance floor the longest, and snag a picture with them before they head back to their seats. It's a sweet tradition that reinforces the importance of your special day.

Hide the Garter

Do you have an event crew helping you set up for your day? If so, ask your coordinator to hide the garter beneath one of the reception chairs. Once your reception has reached the right moment in the night, your MC can announce to the crowd the opportunity to find the garter themselves. Attach an envelope to the garter with a gift card or cash for an extra special surprise for your guests.

Shoe Game

The Shoe Game has become a crowd favorite, allowing you and your spouse to take center stage as you tell your friends and family who in your relationship is best known for A, B, or C scenario. Think of this as the Newlywed Game on the dance floor. You and your spouse sit back to back in the center of the dance floor, each holding one of their shoes and one of their spouses. Who's most likely to fall asleep early? Who is the better driver? Who fell in love first? The list goes on as far as possible questions are concerned. You can even get your guests involved and ask them to submit their questions during cocktail hour. Post a QR code at cocktail tables and at seats with the invitation to submit their questions and watch the silliness evolve. One recommendation is to ask your MC to set a time limit for the shoe game; five to ten minutes is ideal.

Skip It!

This is your permission slip! As we said, this is your wedding, so honor, drop, or reinvent what you'd like. If you remove the toss and replace it with nothing, chances are you'll be so busy dancing and mingling that no one will notice it's missing. Did you already add a garter toss to your event? Track down your MC and wedding coordinator and ask them to skip the toss.

Making a Garter Toss Less Awkward

We'll be honest: The garter toss can be slightly uncomfortable when your closest family and friends are in attendance. If you're committed to doing the garter toss, talk to your soon-to-be spouse ahead of time and discuss alternative retrieval methods that will make you feel more comfortable. Here are ideas to make this tradition a less awkward addition to your wedding.

Reposition the Garter

While you can keep your garter high on your thigh, you can also change tradition and place it just above your knee or calf instead. This will make it easier for your honey to access. If you opt for this lower positioning, do ensure your garter belt has straps that can either go that low or invest in a garter with an adhesive or non-slip lining that won't move throughout the day.

Assist the Positioning

If your dress allows, help your spouse by positioning your skirts yourself. Have fun with this and slowly reveal your leg, or start sliding the garter down it and let them help the rest of the way. If you want to go this route, consider your dress's size and test it out beforehand.

Timing is Everything

Work with your DJ to plan out your garter toss and save it closer to the end of the reception. It's common for older guests and those with younger children to depart a short time after dinner. With that in mind, those people you were worried about seeing the garter toss might not even be around that late into the evening. So rest easy with that knowledge in hand.

So there you have it. The garter toss has been a long-standing tradition, but your wedding will still be a hit whether you decide to keep, modify, or drop it altogether. From all of us at Wedgewood Weddings, happy planning!