Tasteful or Tacky: The Bouquet Toss

by Amy Gubner, Posted May 28th 2010 5:00PM

Youtube

Similar to the tradition of the garter toss, the bouquet toss dates back centuries to a time when guests would try and grab a piece of the couple's clothes for good luck. The bouquet toss is now thought of as good luck for the single ladies at a wedding. The lucky one to catch the bride's bouquet will be the next woman to get married. Many times this tradition turns into a catfight between two or more (desperate) singles who are willing to fight it out to be the next bride -- as you can see from the video here.

Verdict: Tacky

More than one bride has tossed her bouquet only to have it hit the floor in front of a disinterested gaggle of happily single girlfriends. The custom is outmoded -- best to let it go the way of the garter toss.

Tags: tasteful or tacky, videos, wedding traditions

Reader comments (Page 1 of 3)

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5-28-2010 @5:49PM

Danielle said...

Shame on you for making brides that like this tradition feel bad. It doesn't hurt anyone. It should be up to the B&G to gauge what their guests are like and make the determination themselves.

The only things that are tacky at a wedding are following someone else's advice other than your own heart, and anything where the guests have to pay (cash bar, money dance, etc).

But I do have to agree... the tradition where the catcher of the garter puts it on the leg of the catcher of the bouquet is the worst, most awkward moment I've ever seen at a wedding.
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6-03-2010 @2:11PM

ashlei said...

Very nicely put! I agree.

I've seen this end up as a huge hit at numerous weddings. If your guests are rude enough to let it fall on the floor in front of them or to start a psycho fight over it on your big day, then you need new friends, not a new tradition.
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6-03-2010 @3:10PM

Andrea said...

Well put, I agree. Your wedding, make it yours.
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6-03-2010 @8:04PM

Debi said...

I'm 56 years old & I've been to a lot of weddings. I've never seen the garter catcher put the garter on the bouquet catcher!! They just put it on their arm & it later ends up on their rearview mirror.
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10-15-2010 @10:25PM

Me said...

I absolutely hate this tradition. There's nothing more embarrassing than being called to the floor like a herd of cattle to be spotlighted as the single girls. Even worse is being questioned why you're not participating in the embarrassment if you are single!
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6-03-2010 @2:19PM

Rob in Oregon said...

I've been a professional wedding photographer for 35 years. I think the bride & groom "cake smashing in the face" thing is a lot more tacky than fighting over the tossed bouquet. I didn't watch the video, but it looks like the two women are laughing a lot. What's wrong with a little fun, even if people have had a bit too much to drink? Weddings are a celebration, among other things. - Rob in Oregon
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6-03-2010 @2:26PM

tommie said...

I second that opinion! I threatened my children with violence if they engaged in cake-in-the-face at their wedding receptions. lol
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6-03-2010 @2:40PM

Karen said...

Thank you, Robert! The "food fights" I've witnessed at the wedding cake cutting ceremony is far more tacky than any other tradition!
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6-04-2010 @2:44AM

undrgrndgirl said...

you said it! i hate to see the bride and groom be so disrespectful of one another...
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10-15-2010 @10:24PM

Me said...

I hate watching the cake smashing! It's absolutely tasteless and messes up makeup, hair, and sometimes, the dress/tux! And don't forget, it takes a baker a lot of time to decorate that cake you're about to desecrate in just seconds!
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6-03-2010 @2:56PM

Connie said...

I think when the bride and groom smash cake into each other's faces is far tackier! Talk about white trash behavior! My daughter is getting married soon, and they agree they would never do this. They have too much respect for one another.
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6-03-2010 @2:22PM

SkyBlue said...

Actually, weddings in general are tacky.
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6-03-2010 @3:51PM

David S. said...

Couldn't agree more, SkyBlue......weddings are tacky. Everyone should go to Vegas and get married by a fake Elvis. And there is nothing tacky about that.
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6-03-2010 @2:42PM

db said...

I cringe every time this happens, if ti makes some people happy, fine, but it's gross and weird and makes me uncomfortable and embarrassed for the participants.
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6-03-2010 @2:37PM

J. Shell said...

I've never seen women fighting over the bouquet (perhaps its because when it comes my way I always duck to get away from it). I agree that the cake smashing is far more tacky, and I'm not overly fond of the groom going under the bride's dress to find the garter either.
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6-03-2010 @2:59PM

Mary Rose said...

I have seen some brides have a cheaper made up bouquet just for throwing, while their real one was handed off to someone who actually preserves bridal bouquets by drying and framing. I have seen some beautiful bouquets that a family member preserved for brides to cherish their special day. She told me that the job was so labor intensive that she decided to get out of that business. However, she charged a small fortune to preserve those beautiful bouquets and there are some very lucky brides who now have a beautiful memory still intact to remind them of the scents of their wedding day.
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6-03-2010 @3:37PM

KA said...

My soulution? I had a 2nd boquet made up of single stemmed roses which I held together so it looked like a boquet, but when I threw it, it separated into individual flowers. Problem solved!
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6-03-2010 @3:37PM

Mei said...

i was the last single gal in a trio. At each of the wedding of the other two, when it came time to throw the bouquet each bride said...here it come...blank.. and people stepped back and I had not choice but to catch it as I did not want it to hit the ground. Strange to say but last one married but first one divorced 40 years later...
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6-03-2010 @3:39PM

Misty said...

I would add the drunken slightly off color toasts as well to the tacky list.
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6-03-2010 @3:52PM

Lynne said...

I don't think it's tacky. Maybe childish but it's in good fun. My daughter's 80+ year old great aunt caught her's. What a riot.
It's my own opinion but what I consider tacky is when the groom (and it's usually him) smears cake all over the brides face. I think that's inconsiderate to smear the face of the woman he loves on the day that is so special. As little girls, beautiful weddings are what we dream of. It makes him appear to be a stupid ass'd bafoon.