Bouquet Toss Alternative?

I went to a DW years ago where they did a hot potato kind of game with the bouquet. The ladies made a circle on the dance floor & the bride gave the bouquet to one lady & it was passed around til the music stopped. The same thing was also done with the garter. Or you can just skip it. It's not like it's mandatory.

We are doing an anniversary dance. All married couples will start on the dance floor, then the DJ will announce year increments and people will sit, then the last couple standing (married the longest) will get the bouquet.

We're just skipping it. A toss bouquet isn't included in my floral package, and I'm not paying another $100+ for a bouquet to give away. I've seen some people to a dance where all married couples get on the dance floor, and the DJ/MC tells couples who have been married a certain amount of time to stay on the floor, until you get to the couple that's been married the longest and you give the bouquet to the lady. We won't do this though, as my parents are recently divorced and my fiancees grandpa just died, it would cause more pain than happiness for our crowd.

Just skip it! You won't want to stop the party

We're planning to skip it and do a different kind of dance during that time. I've never been a fan of the bouquet toss or even the garter toss.

We also skipped.

@Happily - just FYI since you are new to the community (again welcome!!). Money dances are generally frowned upon here. Just letting you know that you may experience a bit of a virtual side-eye from time to time.

We just skipped it altogether.

I agree with KD - and a money dance isn't a replacement for a bouquet toss.

We're skipping it (and the garter toss) altogether.

@OriginalKD

Thanks for the heads up. I wish there was a way around it. I'd never heard of the tradition before FH said it was something his family did.

It may be something really important to him, but if you are ever interested in different perspectives about how it can be perceived, feel free to ask

Money dances are done in WI with no shame about it! My first wedding was an incredibly classy event and we had a money dance and no one batted an eye. We also did the Chicken Dance and, to my knowledge, no chickens were offended. It's a fun, light-hearted, silly tradition. If it's tradition in your area, family, culture, and acceptable there who the heck cares what people think? Traditions vary widely across regions and the world.

We are doing an anniversary dance and skipping the bouquet and garter tosses.

If you don't want to do a bouquet toss, then just let your DJ fill that period of time with more music and dancing. You don't have to have substitutes for traditions you choose to preclude. A hot potato game isn't necessary (full disclosure -- I don't understand games, scavenger hunts, or answer questions about the couple routines at weddings. It's an adult affair -- a wedding -- and an evening filled with dinner, cocktails, and dancing is what adults really like) . Why interrupt the flow of the music and dancing just because you think you need something to fill that slot? An anniversary dance is a nice idea, but it will eat up a portion of time. It's totally up to you. If it's any consolation, at least a 20% of our brides have no interest in the bouquet toss or the accompanying garter toss. It's your wedding. As long as you are properly hosting your guests, you're good to go. The format of your reception -- what to leave in and what to leave out -- is completely up to you.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! (:

I bought an antique cage and a padlock. We are putting a bouquet inside that and giving all the ladies a key. Whoever has the key to open the lock, gets the bouquet.

As a wedding guest I have never noticed anything missing if the bouquet toss was skipped. I plan to have a game of musical chairs for the bouquet at my reception.

If we do them we will be doing a gift card for who ever catches it and they don't have to be single. Most of our guests are not single so we decided to have a little fun with it. We are still not completely set on what we are going to give away with it though. I also think of the games as s little fun for everyone since not everyone dances.

I didn't do one, and I doubt anyone missed it. Everyone had a great time on the dance floor, and I'm glad we didn't have to interrupt that.