Importance of wedding garters

It's interesting:
"Now, I appreciate that you're all missing the Wimbledon final to be here today, but let this wedding be a reminder that there's more to life than single events ..."

The garter toss is a longstanding wedding tradition that remains popular today. Wedding garters can range from whimsical to elegant, but should be carefully chosen since your guests will see your garter. What does the garter tradition really signify and what does it mean at your wedding? Planning for your garter toss can prevent embarrassment and make this a fun moment in your wedding and not one you will regret.

1. History

   • The tradition of tossing the bride's garter may date back to 14th-century France. Having a piece of the bride's clothing was considered good luck, so she often tossed easily removed parts of her attire to the wedding guests, including her garters. Over time, the tradition of the groom removing her garter and tossing it to the unwed male guests developed. It has also been suggested that the tradition developed from the "bedding" of the new couple. After friends and family tucked the couple in, they tossed stockings at the newlyweds.

   Significance

   • Wedding garters have a possible historical significance, but today the primary significance of the garter tradition is a playful one. The garter has also been seen as a symbol of the bride's virginity. The removal of the garter then symbolizes the loss of the bride's virginity. When the garter is tossed to the unmarried men attending the wedding, the man who catches the garter will typically put it on his sleeve and, tradition holds, will be the next to marry. The garter toss is a parallel tradition to the bridal bouquet toss.

   Garters

   • There are many beautiful wedding garters on the market. If you are opting for new wedding lingerie, your lingerie manufacturer may even offer matching garters. You can purchase expensive garters for your wedding and wear one on each leg or purchase one heirloom garter to keep and one less expensive garter for the garter toss. If you take this option, wear your toss garter on the left leg and your heirloom garter on the right. Many brides choose a yellow garter for luck or a blue garter to take the place of the "something blue" in the traditional wedding rhyme.

   Planning the Garter Toss

   • If you are planning a garter toss at your wedding, the toss can occur during the reception or right before the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon. If the bouquet and garter are thrown during the reception, the man who catches the wedding garter and the woman who catches the bouquet should dance together to begin the next dance. If a balcony or landing is available, this can be a good place to remove the garter, allowing a good tossing range as well as some degree of modesty.

   Considerations

   • Many brides make an unfortunate error with their garters. If you plan to toss, your garter should be placed directly above the knee, not high on the thigh. Plan to sit in a chair for the garter removal and remind the groom to be careful not to expose too much while removing the garter. If two garters will be worn, be sure that the right garter is tossed.

Source: www.ehow.com

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