Planning a wedding is no small feat, and with so many different wedding traditions out there, it can be difficult to decide which ones you want to include in your special day. One of the most popular traditions is the bouquet and garter toss. But is this tradition right for you and your wedding? Read on to find out!
The bouquet and garter toss is a wedding tradition that most of you are probably familiar with, especially if you grew up in the Pacific Northwest going to weddings. During the reception, the bride and groom will toss their wedding bouquet and garter to their single guests. Traditionally, the bouquet is thrown to the unmarried female guests and the garter to the unmarried male guests. The bouquet and garter are typically caught by the guests who are believed to be the next to get married.
This tradition is still popular today, but it has evolved over the years. For example, some couples choose to remove the gender aspect of the tradition and throw the bouquet and garter to all of their single guests. Others choose to have a fun game or competition before the toss to determine who gets to catch the bouquet and garter. (More on this later)
The origins of the bouquet and garter toss are a bit unclear, but it is believed to have originated in France during the 14th century. During this time, it was considered good luck for guests to get pieces of the bride’s dress and her garter as souvenirs. To appease their guests, the bride and groom would throw their bouquet and garter to the guests, who would then fight to catch them.
The tradition continued to evolve over the years, and by the 19th century, it had become a more formalized tradition. The bride and groom would toss the bouquet and garter to their single guests, and whoever caught them was said to be the next to get married.
The bouquet and garter toss is a great way to add some fun and excitement to your wedding reception. It’s also a fun activity that helps get your guests involved and makes them feel like they are part of your special day.
The bouquet and garter toss also serves as a great photo opportunity. Not only will you get some exciting action shots of the bride and groom tossing the bouquet and garter, but you’ll also get some cool pics of your guests trying to catch them.
Finally, the bouquet and garter toss is a great way to honor a longstanding wedding tradition. Especially for your older guests, it may be an element of the wedding they are looking forward to, and that will leave them disappointed if it’s left out.
The first step in setting up the bouquet and garter toss at your wedding is to decide who will be participating. You can either choose to have the bouquet and garter tossed to all of your single guests or have a fun game or competition to determine who will catch the bouquet and garter.
Once you’ve decided who will be participating, you’ll need to find a suitable spot for the toss. Depending on the size of the venue, you may want to designate a specific area for the bouquet and garter toss, such as the dance floor or a designated “toss area.”
The next step is to decide on the music that will be played during the toss. This is a great opportunity to get your wedding DJ involved. They can help you pick the perfect song to get your guests pumped up and ready for the toss.
Once you have the bouquet and garter toss set up, it’s time to make it fun and memorable for you and your guests. One way to do this is to make sure your guests are in the right mindset. Have your wedding DJ play some upbeat music to get your guests excited and ready to catch the bouquet and garter.
You can also add some fun and games to the mix. For example, you can have your wedding DJ play a game of “hot potato” with the bouquet and garter before the toss. This will add a fun element to the toss and give your guests a chance to show off their skills.
Finally, you can add a personal touch to the bouquet and garter toss. Have your wedding DJ announce the names of the people who are about to catch the bouquet and garter. This will make the moment even more special.
There are a variety of reasons why a couple might choose not to include a bouquet and garter toss in their wedding in 2023. Some of these reasons include:
Ultimately, the decision to include a bouquet and garter toss in a wedding is a personal one, and the couple should do what feels most meaningful and authentic to them.
If you decide to skip the bouquet and garter toss, there are plenty of other fun and creative alternatives. Here are some ideas:
No matter which wedding tradition you choose, it’s important to find the right wedding DJ to play the music. A wedding DJ can help make your special day even more memorable by playing the perfect music for your wedding ceremony, reception, and all the events in between. They can also help you choose the perfect songs for the bouquet and garter toss.
If you’re looking for a wedding DJ for your Oregon wedding, look no further than DJ Cutt Entertainment. At DJ Cutt Entertainment, we specialize in providing top-notch wedding services, including music, AV, sound, lighting, photo booths, and more. We’ll help make your Oregon wedding a night to remember.
We are a full-service entertainment company in Portland that provides its clients with top-quality service and leaves them feeling like they made the right decision in choosing us. With our wide range of services, we strive to meet your needs and exceed your expectations. We have extensive experience in DJing, videography, and live streaming, as well as other aspects of live events such as lighting design, sound engineering, and more!