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All have received an invitation to a traditional wedding for the Union of a family member or close friend. We have all witnessed one of the most iconic and aggressive aspects of that loving wedding reception, The Dash to the Bride’s bouquet toss.
What happens if you catch the bouquet during the Bride’s bouquet toss?
This iconic event during the reception offers several implied results that push single women to grab the Bride’s bouquet. The two most important implied results are:
- good luck and good fortune
- next Bride to walk down the aisle
With these two reasons in mind, why do single women participate in the Bride’s bouquet toss?
To start, the tradition of the Bride’s bouquet toss goes back centuries into the early eighteen hundreds. Started in England, this ritual has evolved, indicating good luck for the recipient. Additionally, this lucky individual will be the next to walk down the aisle.
Initially, it was started as a diversion for The Newlywed Bride and Groom to make their escape from the reception untattered. Before the tradition, guests attending the event would try to touch the Bride’s gown or even remove pieces from the Bride’s attire. By doing this, they would secure good luck and prosperity for the future. This practice could leave the Bride and gown in tatters.
At that time, the only practical way for a woman to improve her station would be through marriage. Having touched or grab this critical item from the Bride, they felt that their prospects for good luck and prosperity were increased.
As this tradition evolved, it became a mainstay of many wedding celebrations. The design celebrated single friends and family.
Who participates in the Bride’s bouquet toss?
Obviously, single guests and family members are the ones involved in this honor. This activity is not to say that it is one of the most popular items at a wedding reception. Today, its popularity has waned, with only about 20% of single women participating in this event.
During the event, the DJ or master of ceremony will certainly call all single guests to the dance floor for participation in this event. However, many choose to hide out or take an opportunity to visit the restrooms and not put themselves under scrutiny. For many, this is an awkward situation for the single guest not wanting the attention.
With this in mind, you may consider modifying this activity or removing it altogether from your reception festivities.
The Bride’s bouquet toss takes place later in the reception event
Usually, the bridal bouquet toss time is later in the reception after the cake cutting ceremony. While there is no mandate as to the exact timing of this activity, you have the opportunity to incorporate it into your reception when you feel it best suits your style.
While some may choose to have it early on, having it later in the event also gives your guests an idea of the time frame of your reception.
After this activity, the party will continue with your guests dancing and celebrating for the remainder of the evening.
How is the Bride’s bouquet toss performed?
First, the DJ or master of ceremony will call all single individuals to the dance floor and lineup.
The Bride then stands at the head of the crowd, with her back to the group. Next, she simply tosses the bouquet over her shoulder into the crowd.
As you can imagine, sometimes this can be a downright aggressive situation with single participants grabbing and jumping to obtain the so-called brass ring.
Having obtained the symbol of prosperity, the recipient will usually look worse for wear with hair out of place and clothing tattered. Only one recipient will hold the honor.
The Bride’s bouquet
The tradition of the Bride’s bouquet has been around for centuries.
This flower arrangement initially started as the Means to ward off evil and prevent the plague for its holder.
The original construction of the Bride’s bouquet included spices, herbs, and garlic. It has since blossomed into the beautiful wedding bouquets we see today.
These bouquets come in a variety of shapes and sizes for any style and type of wedding. Only your imagination limits the possibilities.
They can include any type and color of flowers to help enhance the Bride’s gown while still supporting the overall theme and motif of the wedding.
Some bouquets are based solely on flowers, While others will include greenery and items to help enhance this wedding focal peace’s overall look and design.
Consider a toss wedding bouquet
Today, many brides wish to have the opportunity to save this flower bouquet as a keepsake for years to come and reflect on the day.
Whether freeze-dried or pressed, this wedding bouquet is symbolic. It is a reminder of the start of your life together with your partner.
For this reason, many brides consider purchasing a separate tossing bouquet for the sole purpose of the flower toss.
This tossing bouquet is usually smaller in size and is a simple version of the Bride’s bouquet. It has one purpose, to toss during the reception celebration.
With this in mind, it will typically be less expensive and purchased alongside Bride’s bouquet. When discussing flower options with your florist, ask to see if there is special pricing for buying the two Bride’s bouquets. This purchase will not only provide you the opportunity to save the bridal bouquet. It will also save you some money.
While similar in design, the tossing bouquet should still reflect the overall theme of the bridal bouquet. Utilize similar flowers and colors but on a lesser scale. Use similar colors and flowers to help achieve that perfect look.
In turn, the lucky person who secures this bouquet may also want to save it for a lifetime. Not only is it a symbol of your wedding, but it also implies good luck, fertility, and hopes of walking down the aisle.
What happens after the Bride’s bouquet toss?
Once the battle has ended for the bouquet, the party resumes. Guests continue to dance and mingle until the newlyweds make their escape for their honeymoon and Life Beyond.
Initially created as a distraction for the Bride and groom to escape, this activity is not the end of the fun.
With no more touching and tugging on the Bride’s gown, the couple can continue the party until the wee hours until they move to their getaway vehicle.
Where does the Bride’s bouquet toss take place?
Keep in mind that this activity includes many guests. If your reception location is a hall or large banquet facility, typically performed on the Dance Floor. This location allows for ample space for everyone to spread out and try to keep the activity as safe as possible.
If you’ve opted for an outdoor wedding or smaller venue, you should consider a side area with no tables and chairs to obstruct the struggle for the bouquet.
If you have an outdoor wedding and reception, another thought would be a shaded area. Tent or tree cover will serve well. Remember that the party is not over, and there’s no need for the guests to be sweltering in the Summer sun while trying to grab this Brass Ring.
No matter the type and style of reception, always keep your mind on the safety of the participants. Space is essential.
Do you have to do a bouquet toss?
While the bouquet toss is a common activity and event in many weddings, it is not as popular as one might think.
With 80% of singles feeling sold out in the middle of the celebration, its popularity has declined.
If this is also your thought, then you should consider up some options or alternatives to the bouquet toss
Activities such as a dance contest with prizes are a great way to fill the void of the bouquet toss.
Offer prizes like scratch tickets and candy to help generate excitement from your wedding guests and increase their participation.
In this situation, the focus is no longer on the singles. Now they can enjoy the entire wedding reception with no need to run for the bathroom or some dark corner to hide away. On the dance floor, an increase of energy and excitement increased during the reception.
Another alternative to the Bride’s toss is the addition of many tossing bouquets. Your florist can arrange a tossing bouquet comprised of several smaller bouquets for the purpose.
With this method, you will not be singling out one single individual. The hope and good luck will be spread amongst many people, bringing comfort to the crowd.
Another option would be to include the bride toss for the entire reception. Have everyone vie for the opportunity to have good luck for years to come. With no one individual or group singled out, the whole wedding reception will enjoy and increase the excitement of the party.
So what are the truths about the bouquet toss
First, catching the bouquet will have no real physical impact on your day-to-day life. However, for some individuals, it may increase a sense of hope. This objective is one of the many reasons that the bouquet toss still survives today
Second, the toss can be downright dangerous. With all of your singles winding up in a cluster, makeup and clothing can certainly get damaged during this event. Some of your wedding guests may take this activity seriously, so be wary.
Many of the recipients of the Bride’s bouquet will use this item as a keepsake. It not only serves as a fantastic reminder of your wedding but also symbolizes hope and desire to be the next to walk down the aisle.
Finally, this reception event is not as popular as it once was. Mindsets changing over time, there’s no need to ward off evil and the plague. Well, maybe this is still the case. However, few singles believe in these superstitions today.
Today, the upward mobility of women no longer serves as a method for the better one’s station.
It is evolved into a traditional part of your wedding reception the guests will enjoy. However, the participants may not.
Final thoughts
Bride’s bouquet toss has been around for centuries and is a traditional part of many wedding receptions today.
It has that tendency to focus on single individuals and therefore is declining in popularity.
Its overall purpose for warding off evil and increasing the ability for Upward Mobility within the world around you has also declined.
With all of this in mind, you may or may not include this activity in your reception schedule. Remember, you can always alter or modify the bouquet toss to involve more individuals and increase the fun. Substitution of another activity is certainly acceptable today, so consider your thoughts and desires for your wedding reception.
If you have been one of those lucky individuals to catch the Bride’s bouquet, this might also increase your desire to keep it in your celebration. Be mindful though of the people around you so that you can enjoy the best celebration possible.
if you want to read a few other articles on the site I have a few that might be helpful to you. one is about how to politely not invite someone to your wedding here. the other is about the flower you don’t want in your bouquet and you can read that here.
