Twist on Tradition: Tacky or Fun?

@Kate Ew is that an actual thing?

I am skipping the garter. Small family wedding. My florist however is giving me a toss bouquet for free and I am going to do that with the little girls 12 and under at the reception.

I had a friend toss a collection of flowers not tied together at her wedding so they came apart and all the girls could have some.

I did the bouquet and garter toss. However I skipped the part where the groom go under my dress... That can be distasteful. I had a spare garter and bouquet and it went well. We also skipped the part where the garter was placed on the person who caught the bouquet and It was still very fun

@Olivia That's exactly why I already stated that it wouldn't go above the top of my knee and that I'd be putting it on right before the ordeal......

I put the garter on right before the garter toss and it was just below my knee. We had all the guys (married and single) go up if they wanted to participate in the garter toss. We did the same for the bouquet toss. Whoever caught the garter and bouquet was each given a bottle of wine; we didn't have the guy put the garter on the girl. One of my married friends was excited to finally be able to take part in a bouquet toss because she's been married since she was 18 and every wedding she's been to the tosses were for singles only.

@Ruth I actually really do like the wine idea. I might do growlers instead, since we're in a big brewery area.

Does that seem less tacky to everyone else too?

I think both ideas are tacky and juvenile, actually.

@ALC In regards to the "prizes" or the entire thing?

@Dani - I think the tossing of the garter and the bouquet are super fun traditions!! the part that gets to be gross is where the catcher of the garter puts it on the catcher of the bouquet. Ick.

My friend popped a $50 bill into the bouquet before tossing it and had a bridesmaid spread the word. Worked great.

That's my plan. I know WW isn't crazy about the garter/bouquet toss, but I'm excited for it and it has been done at all the weddings I've been too.

ETA: I don't know if I'm gonna do the prize tho.

Exactly. I'm also excited for it, and doing it was never up for negotiation haha. I just wanted it to be a little extra something that people aren't expecting, so maybe some people will be more excited to participate.

I think it's a fun tradition and will be doing it at my wedding. Don't see the "ick" in it. But usually the single people that I have seen go up to participate are the people that or couples but not engaged so usually when the girl catches the bouquet then whichever guy catches the garter they give it to her significant other to put on her. So there is no eww factor, just fun. We aren't prudes.

@Sarah oh I didn't even think of that, that makes a lot of sense to avoid it then. That doesn't apply to anyone we know personally, but that is a really good thing to keep in mind just in general.

Garter toss is kind of sexist but traditional.

We are not including either tradition in our wedding. That being said, I like the idea of including everyone, not just the singles. Not a huge fan of the gift card idea.

One idea that I have seen in the past that I really enjoyed (if having kids at the wedding) is a teddy bear toss. Having 2 bears-one dressed as a bride and the other as a groom.

ETA: I really like the idea of the wine/growler as a prize. Maybe personalize it with a label of you and your FH thanking them.

The garter sounds good!

Nancy, what makes it sexist? That it's more "sexual" than a bouquet toss? It's an honest question, no sarcasm. Just want to hear your views.

Teamgrz, I'm trying to get away from the gift card thing, because the more I think the more I agree with people that it's kind of tacky for a wedding, even if people do love free gift cards. I can see the teddy bear toss being cute, but not really a fan of it. Again, no real reason, just not into it.

I'm so happy to have found this post because we are also doing the garter and bouquet toss but I was looking for an alternative to having the "winners" dance together. I love the idea of wine/growlers! Especially since our crowd here in Wisconsin are big drinkers lol. Reading through these comments I had NO idea some people had the garter toss winner put the garter on the boquet toss winner...I have never heard of that. Now I understand a little more why some people find it icky. I think (if you don't do that) it's fun!