Bouquet/Garter Toss Alternative

No tossing but we will be playing the shoe game.

We are nixing the garter toss altogether and I am dedicating my bouquet to my aunt and uncle. Out of all of our potential guests, they have been married the longest so I'm giving a short toast thanking them for everything they have done (they are hosting our rehearsal dinner) and playing their wedding song for them to dance to...others will join in after after the song starts to make it less awkward

I think in theory the anniversary dance is a cute idea, but then I start thinking logistically... this wouldn't make my grandfather who just lost his wife feel very good, and my parents who just split up (not divorced) 2 years ago and will be seeing each other since then for the first time at my wedding...might be awkward for them. If don't have these types of difficult situations in your group of friends/families, then go for it.

I'm doing a bouquet toss but I'm not gonna let FH go under my dress in front of my parents (it's disrespectful) instead we will have a fake ring attach in a string where we will put a lot of string attached with candy on a large bowl and the single guy have to pick the ring for luck...

We are putting a twist on ours. Since most people are married on our guest list, we are passing a salt shaker around for all the ladies. When the music stops, whoever has the salt shaker gets the bouquet. We are passing a pepper shaker around for the guys. Same principle only the guy who gets the garter doesn't put it on the lady.

MsDani - what's the shoe game?

I think the anniversary dance backwards is a great idea!

@MsDani I can't wait to do the shoe game! It sounds so fun!

The reunion dance sounds like a great alternative!

We decided to forgo the toss. Instead, FHs oldest nephew (age 12) and my oldest niece (age 6) will be called put onto the floor where we will give them the garter (on a football) and my bouquet.

I'm doing something a little different for my bouquet toss.

I was going to put the bouquet in a clear box and have chains surrounding the box with a lock.

I was going to give keys to all the single ladies (I have a lot of single friends) and have them go up and see if their key unlocks the chains, if so, then they keep the bouquet. It's almost like destiny haha

I love this idea since it would involve the ladies without the toss. What do you think about that?

@stephanie I love this idea!!!!! Would you do the same for the guys?

I was at a wedding recently and the couple did the garter and bouquet toss but instead of having the guy who caught the garter put it on the girl who caught the bouquet, they just each took a picture with the bride and groom. I thought that that was a classy alternative to making it awkward if two strangers catch them.

I've heard of a 'gift card bouquet' toss on Offbeat Bride before - not exactly cost effective, but it got everyone involved.

I have never been to a wedding where the guy that catches the garter puts it on the girl that catches the bouquet. They always simply take a picture with the bride and groom. I think that instead of the garter and bouquet toss I am going to give a speech thanking our guests and then thank my parents and give them the garter and bouquet. May be odd but I want to honor them in some way. So I figured I would thank them for their contribution to our day and also honor their 30 years of marriage. Not set in stone yet but throwing the idea around.