The tossing of a bride’s wedding garter has become a feature of many wedding reception celebrations, and originates back to the 14th Century. Around Europe it was believed that having a piece of the bride’s clothing was thought to bring good luck.
Garters are articles of clothing made from heavy cloth or ribbon. In the olden days the garter was worn just below the knee, where the leg is most slender, to prevent a woman’s stocking from sliding. Nowadays they are worn above the knee for fashion.
Historically the garter represents purity of the bride. The groom would remove the garter as a symbol that he now had the right to his bride’s virginity. Today a garter represents one of the most intimate pieces of apparel that the bride can reserve for her groom.
These days the bride wears two garters, one for her keepsake and the other to be thrown at the ceremony. Before the throw of the garter the bride first throws her bouquet to her single female guests. Then the groom seats his bride on a chair in the middle of the dance floor and removes the garter from the bride’s leg, sometimes he does it with his teeth, but it’s more appropriately done with his hands.
After the garter has been removed, the groom throws it to his single male guests. According to superstition, the male who catches the garter and the female who catches the bouquet are next to be married in the next 12 months.
The keepsake garter is saved for only the groom to see on their wedding night!
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Heather Lindsay Weddings & Events 