The tradition of the wedding garter toss has evolved over the centuries to the more palatable “event” that it is today. Today’s bride will often wear two garters on the right leg above the knee. At some point during the wedding reception, after the bridal bouquet toss, the bride is seated in a chair with the groom kneeling before her. With all the single men in attendance (and many others!) gathered behind and cheering him on, he removes the first garter from his brides leg (sometimes with his teeth!) and tosses it to the single men who, as tradition says, are the next to be married. Sometimes, the lucky man places the garter on the leg of the lucky lady who caught the bridal bouquet.

What about the second garter? That is removed in private later.

This lively tradition is believed by some to have evolved from the belief that having a piece of the brides clothing was lucky so the guests would begin tearing pieces off the brides wedding dress. Not exactly practical with the cost of wedding dresses today among other things to say the least.

The garter eventually replaced all the ripping and tearing, and at one time, was tossed to the lucky winner of the “garter race”. A race from the church to the bride house. Unfortunately, some of the men in attendance who had a bit too much to drink, tried to remove the brides garter ahead of time so this too changed and has evolved into the tradition that we often see today.

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