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- Wedding Ideas & Advice for the Couple, Wedding Party and Guests
The Bouquet: To Toss or Not To Toss?
| Tossing the wedding bouquet is an age-old tradition that originated as a bridal self-defense technique. Since getting married was pretty much the luckiest thing that could happen to a woman, guests wanted to share in that luck by taking a little bit of the bride home - literally. At the end of the wedding reception, guests would often tear off pieces of the bride’s dress, veil or flowers as take-home tokens of good luck. To escape unscathed, the bride would toss her bouquet into the throng and run away. |
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| You probably don’t expect to be assaulted at your wedding, so whether or not to toss the bouquet is completely up to you. You, your attendants and your guests may view the bouquet toss as a fun and lighthearted part of the wedding reception. However, some consider the tradition outdated or even inappropriate due to its surrounding folklore that the lucky lady who catches the bouquet will be the next to wed. You may prefer not to put your unmarried female attendants and guests “on the spot” by having them assemble for the bouquet toss. "In fact, many brides today are choosing to 'toss the bouquet' in other ways," says Diane Forden, Editor in Chief of Bridal Guide magazine. "Some present the bouquet to their parents as a token of love and appreciation, while others acknowledge a couple at the wedding who've been married the longest, and give the flowers to them. |
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Tossing Out Traditional Thoughts |
| Even if you’re perfectly comfortable with the tradition, you may prefer to keep your bouquet as a cherished memento of your wedding day. If you do want to give away your bouquet, but would rather not include a conventional bouquet toss as part of your wedding reception, you might want to consider the following alternatives: |
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One For All- Break up your bouquet into smaller arrangements and present them to your attendants or guests. While planning your flowers, let your florist know that you intend to distribute your bouquet this way, so that you can be sure it will come apart easily. |
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Special Delivery- Bestow the bouquet upon someone special; it can be an exceptionally meaningful gift for an engaged friend or relative. If you want to present the bouquet at the reception, clear it with the recipient ahead of time to avoid any potential embarrassment. Not everyone enjoys being the center of attention! |
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Forget Me Not- Honor a deceased loved one dedicating your bouquet to them. At your reception or in your program, you may want to mention that you will be doing this with your flowers. It’s a beautiful way to make your loved one’s memory a part of your special day. |
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Go for the Throw |
| If you’re a die-hard traditionalist and wouldn’t dream of forgoing the bouquet toss, keep these tips in mind: |
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Ask your florist to create a “toss bouquet,” usually a smaller, lighter version of your arrangement. The toss bouquet not only allows you to keep your own wedding flowers, but also prevents you from accidentally bestowing a black eye on one of your guests! Some florists will provide the toss bouquet for free along with your other flowers. |
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The bride traditionally throws the bouquet after the cake is cut and before she leaves to change out of her wedding dress, but don’t feel bound to this schedule, especially if your wedding is more informal. |
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Avoid singling out your unmarried guests by having all of your guests assemble for the bouquet toss. According to this Victorian tradition, luck will come to the guest who catches the bouquet. |
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| Remember, there are no longer any hard and fast rules about tossing your bouquet. To toss or not to toss? Just like the other aspects of your wedding celebration, feel free to choose the option that best suits you and your own wedding style. |
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Ideas & Advice Archives for the Couple
Ideas & Advice Archives for the Wedding Party
Ideas & Advice Archives for the Guests
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