7 traditional wedding garter fun facts

The garter toss is a popular Western wedding tradition. This ritual can be traced back to the Medieval ages, but before we delve into the fun facts of wedding garter history let me explain how this tradition works today. 

 

How the garter toss works today

The garter toss is considered a lighthearted tradition that takes place during the wedding reception. Most often, the bride is seated on a chair while all the guests circle around. The bachelors within the group congregate in one area. The groom then removes the garter. How this is done varies these days, but most often the husband removes the garter from the bride’s leg (usually worn just above the knee), with his hands. Once he has it in his hands, the groom turns his back and tosses it over his head to the group of bachelors. Think of it as a counterpart to the bouquet toss to the single women. Some people even have the woman who catches the bouquet dance the next dance with the bachelor who catches the garter. This leads to the question, where did this tradition come from?

7 traditional wedding garter fun facts

1. The garter toss started in England and France where guests tried to take a piece of the bride's dress for good luck.
2. Zealous guests often followed the couple from the reception to their marital bed, ripping at their clothes for a tatter of good luck.
3. To appease the eager guests and give the bride a break from the nerve-racking experience of people tearing bits form her wedding dress practice grooms started to toss out a piece of the bride's wedding attire. This was the inspiration behind the garter toss and bouquet toss. It started with the toss of the garters that held up the bride’s stockings up.
4. The garter toss was used as a distraction so the newlyweds could make a quick escape from the wedding reception as everyone scrambled to get their hands on the good luck charm.
5. Today the wedding garter symbolizes good luck to the bachelors in attendance.
6. Superstition attached to the garter is that whoever catches it will be next to get married.
7. Today the garter toss is a way to gather all of the unmarried men to the dance floor.

 Garter toss not for everyone

While this is a popular wedding tradition that’s meant to be lighthearted in today’s Western culture, it is not for everyone. Some consider the long-standing tradition to be raunchy or at least awkward. Like any tradition, if you feel this way, feel free to skip it entirely.