Wedding Traditions: Why Brides Toss Their Bridal Bouquet

source

The wedding vows have been said, the ceremonial duties performed and sealed with a kiss. Just before the newly weds make their getaway, the bride has one last task – the tossing of her bridal bouquet to all single women! The tossing of the bridal bouquet is usually one done in good fun for all single ladies and despite initial reservations, there is always a good laugh and scramble for the bouquet just before it hits the ground! Have you ever wondered why and how this tradition came about? If you have, read on below to see why brides toss their bouquet and how you can tweak this tradition for modern weddings.

Why Brides Toss Their Bridal Bouquet

The tradition of tossing the bridal bouquet dates back as far as the 14th century in ancient England. Back then, weddings were not the elegant affairs they are today. Instead, they were often rowdy drunken parties and it was believed that it was good luck to own a piece of the bride’s wedding gown. So when the ceremony was over, single women would make a mad dash to tear off pieces of the bride’s gown to keep for good luck! What a scary scene that must have been and what a waste of the wedding gown!

In time, as wedding gowns became more expensive and to prevent herself from ending up in tatters on her wedding day, brides started tossing other things instead to keep them at bay. Flowers were a good choice as they symbolized fertility, are perishable and no longer used once the wedding was over. Tradition says that the woman who catches the bridal bouquet will be the next to marry!

source

Do Modern Brides Toss The Bouquet?

Most modern brides still end off their wedding with a toss of the bridal bouquet for fun. However, some brides have chosen not to as single friends or relatives might not like being singled out for attention. Worse, sometimes there is a mad stampede for the bouquet where bridesmaids and women end up getting injured!

To avoid this, some brides have modified the tradition by giving out flowers to each woman at their reception, giving it to their best friend or family or staging it so their engaged friend catches it instead.

Tossing the bridal bouquet is great fun at every wedding and if you are the recipient of it, you do feel a little lucky! Whatever you choose to do, aren’t you glad it is just your bouquet rather than your beautiful wedding gown that gets torn to shreds at the end of your wedding?!