What is the purpose of the garter removal and garter toss?

If you are curious about the wedding garter toss tradition or are wondering why brides wear garters on their big day, this is the right place for you!

We have dived deep into the history of this age-old ritual to provide you with the ultimate guidelines and information to help you choose how you want to include it on your special day. Are you ready?

What is the significance of the garter toss tradition?

The wedding garter is a piece of lingerie (usually a delicate band or vintage-styled piece of lace) worn around the leg by the bride. This intricate attire often comes in traditional white but you can always choose to customize it to match your nuptial aesthetics.

This is a fun Victorian wedding tradition that has several meanings. Some believe this piece of clothing symbolizes good luck and fertility, while for others the garter indicates the transition from single life to happily-ever-after. In certain regions, it is believed that the bachelor who catches the garter will be next in line to get married- basically the male version of the bridal bouquet toss! Sounds amazing, right?

What is the garter toss and how is it carried out?         

The garter toss ritual dates back to ancient times. Today, it is often practiced in a modernized form whereby the bride sits on a chair during the reception, and the groom removes the garter from her leg (by using his teeth or his hands) and tosses it into the crowd.

This wedding tradition is often seen as the equivalent of the bridal bouquet toss. The unmarried men strive to catch this delicate accessory and whoever succeeds is believed to be next in line to get married.

What is garter removal?

The garter removal is often carried out at the end of the reception by the groom. This piece of clothing is then tossed by the groom into the crowd.

Despite the history of the garter toss tradition being a bit controversial, it is now largely viewed as a cute and fun tradition to be included in a contemporary wedding.