FH's tradition of garter removal/toss....

Probably the easiest way is to have the MC/DJ explain, or if they aren't comfortable, one of your French Canadian relatives could do it.

If you're having a website, you could put it there, but there's no guarantee everyone will look at it. You could also include it on a menu card or a table tent, but that would be extra work for you.

I would make a comedy bit out of it. Don't put the garter so high up that he has to really climb under your dress, and see if you can put some fun props up there as well. Like a snorkel, a long scarf (like in a magic trick), a toy rabbit, etc.

Or, you can have your DJ explain the French Canadian custom to your guests before it starts.

Maybe slide the tradition part in with the announcement. The MC can say something along the lines of:

"And now, welcome Genevieve and [Groom] to the center of the floor, for the French Canadian traditional garter removal and toss!"

I'm sure your MC could put it more eloquently than I could, but I would try to include that it is a tradition so people aren't taken aback, if you are concerned with that!

Hmmm ... i think i'd just let it spread by word of mouth. tell some of your American friends that "FH is Canadian and they have this crazy garter tradition ... He has to take it off with his teeth while I stand on a chair! Can you believe it?"

Some version of that conversation?

My family is not french Canadian and they are religious but for some reason they all do that tradition so I don't think its trash...funny yes. But I was like 6 at the first wedding and I remember it. Lol.

Those are all super helpful, I feel relieved that there can be ways of doing that. I'm going to talk to my MC and see what he thinks would work better, if he announced it or if I just got word to spread around. thanks ladies!

Oh, I'm Canadian, but not French Canadian and I've seen this done with teeth before (Alberta)! So maybe the Americans will know?

Americans do it with teeth some times too.

I'm French Canadian American, my grandparents were from Quebec. Most of my relatives still speak french.... I've never heard of this tradition and I haven't seen it at any weddings. It sounds like it is just a tradition in his family. My name is Deneige Pelletier, doesn't get much frencher haha

Just saw that your parents had to do it too... Hmm interesting.

I'm French Canadian. My grandparents were born in Quebec and we still have some family up there and in Minnesota. I've NEVER heard of this tradition or seen it at any weddings. Are you sure its just not a family one?

I have seen just plain Americans do it with their teeth --- I always thought it was trashy (and always felt super embarrassed for the bride), but I think the whole idea of the garter toss is trashy.

Weird, both my family and his family have all done it at all their weddings and have all said it was a french canadian thing?! maybe its regional in Quebec idk. but like literally 3/4 of our family will be expecting it. soo i feel rude to not do it. since it is tradition to both the french canadian sides, i guess we can have the MC explain that it is their custom regionally. I will have to ask my cousins/FH. FH has said he has never been to any wedding in Quebec that didn't have it and his parents and my aunts agreed. Now I am curious to know if it is regional or what! lol. Well at least some Americans will have probably seen it before too. I still feel like I want it announced cause if I was a bystander, without knowing why this was being done, I would probably think of it as trashy with the teeth ha.