The purpose of a wedding garter

It's interesting:
"I remember the last wedding I went to. It was in the function room of the Tate Gallery. The groom got plastered and ended up with red wine, gravy ..."

The tossing of the bouquet and garter are among the traditions at American weddings. Many brides wear a garter that is personalized in some way, making the event even more special.

The garter has long been a sought-after item by wedding guests. Through the years, the purpose has changed, but the garter still remains part of the celebration.

1. History of the Wedding Garter

   • The history of the wedding garter is a bit bizarre. The tradition was that the bride and groom were expected to consummate their marriage on their wedding night. To ensure it was done, some of the wedding attendees would follow the couple into their room to be witnesses. Those witnessing the consummation would take the garter from the bride and bring it out to show the others at the wedding as proof of the marriage consummation. It eventually became a tradition to gather the undergarments of the bride and groom for good luck. History says the battle over the undergarments could get a little violent sometimes, as many wedding attendants wanted to have the good luck souvenirs from the bride and groom.

   Today's Garter Purposes

   • Today, the bride generally sits on a chair and the groom retrieves the garter and tosses it to the single men attending the wedding. This signifies the historical aspect of the garter, but keeps wedding-goers out of the room when the couple consummates the marriage. Like the historical aspect of the garter, the one who catches the garter is said to have good luck.

   Modern-day Wedding Garter Toss

   • The garter toss is the man's equivalent of the bride's tossing of the bouquet. The single men gather on the dance floor, or some other central area of the reception, the groom removes the garter from the bride's leg and tosses it over his shoulder to the crowd of men. The one who catches it is said to have good luck and is also said to be the next to get married.

     There are some twists on the traditional wedding garter toss as well. Some cultures have a race or a battle to get the garter, and some have an auction and the garter goes to the highest bidder. Another tradition is that the couple will stay married 10 years for every inch that the groom reaches up the bride's leg.

   Types of Garters

   • Some brides choose to make their garter their "something blue" for the wedding tradition of "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."

     Most garters are made of a fabric sewn to an elastic band so it is easy to put on and to remove.

     Many wedding websites have a variety of garters to choose from, and some even offer personalization services so you can have the bride and groom's initials or the wedding date embroidered on the garter. Some bridal stores offer plus-size wedding garters as well.

   Choosing a Garter

   • The wedding garter can be a very personalized addition to the bride's attire. She can choose the material, color and decoration to match the wedding theme or her personality. For example, if the bride is having a beach wedding, she may choose a garter with seashells affixed to it.

     Many brides choose to have a blue garter to fulfill the wedding tradition of wearing something blue during the ceremony. Other brides choose a garter made from material in their wedding colors, or even in their favorite sports team or university's colors.

     Some brides make their own garters, or have a friend or family member make the garter for her. Others choose to order their wedding garter from an online store, or get it as part of a package when they order the wedding dress.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: bride groom, good luck, wedding garter, brides choose, from bride, garter from, have good