Bouquet Toss Ideas

Almost all weddings include in their reception programme the so-called “garter and bouquet toss”. It has been a long-standing wedding tradition and has undeniably brought a lot of glee to those events.

Traditional Bouquet Toss
It is believed that the bridal bouquet brings fortune to the one who receives it. She may also be the next one to become a bride. The herbs that were placed in the bouquet beforehand are also said to be associated with good luck, health and long-life.

Here are some useful ideas you might want to consider for your bouquet toss:

• To get the single women to come forward the DJ can try saying “All married women, please raise your hand. All women with hands down, please come out onto the dance floor.”
• Throw garter and bouquet at the same time.
• Get the single women in a circle around the bride, blindfold the bride and spin her around before tossing the bouquet.
• Victorian tradition: having all the guests assemble for the toss. The bride or MC can preface the event by saying that in Victorian tradition, all the guests assembled for the throwing of the bouquet, and that they wished all of their loved ones to gather at the stairs/on the dance floor, etc. As the tradition goes, luck will come to the guest who catches the bouquet.
• A bride wrote in soc.couples.wedding: I watched a documentary on television about Finnish wedding customs and in one wedding all of the available women formed a circle around the bride (who was blindfolded). The bride spun in one direction (slowly) and the women walked (holding hands) in the opposite direction. At some point everyone stops and the bride hands the bouquet to the person who is facing her. I suppose it would work better for smaller groups of people. The whole idea seemed more calm to me than the traditional “women fight for the bouquet” sort of thing I’ve been subjected to.

Alternative Toss Ideas
But almost constantly, the event handlers would find it hard to get the single men and ladies to join the fun, thus, creating the tendency of lagging the whole event. They are either shy, uninterested, or don’t want to be the next bride and maybe just not yet. Many modern gals are ditching this traditional altogether, and looking for new variations and interpretations. Many women see the bouquet toss as pressure, and hate the implication that single women are chomping at the bit to be married.

We, therefore, have thought of compiling various alternative “garter and bouquet toss ideas” from around the web to replace that old-fashioned way that might have brought jitters to those men and women.

• Wish Come True Bouquet Toss — Invite all the women onto the dance floor, married and single. Ask them all to make a wish right as the bouquet is tossed and whoever catches it will get their wish.
• Fortune Bouquet Toss – Invite everyone onto the dance floor and have a bouquet that consists of several small bunches of flowers are simply held together in your hand. On each bunch, have a handwritten “fortune” or even a “love quote” attached to it that you made up. When you throw the flower bunches in the air, they break apart so several people will get a “fortune” bouquet. Before throwing a break-apart bouquet make sure they are easily separated and not entwined together so they really do break apart in the air.
• Longest Married Bouquet Toss – Invite all married couples onto the dance floor and have the DJ announce that everyone married less than 5 years to leave, then less than 10 years to leave and so on until the couple married the longest is left dancing and they are awarded with the bouquet. Keep in mind that this may not be the right bouquet toss for you, especially if you have a recently deceased grandparent that would have been married the longest if they were still living. This also focuses on married people and leaves out the single folks.
• Special Honors Bouquet Toss – Split up the bouquet into halves and give one half to your mother and one to your mother-in-law. The bridal bouquet could also be presented to grandparents, split apart for all the women in the bridal party, presented to your maid of honor, your sisters, a friend who is engaged, etc. Think of someone you’d like to honor and give it to them as a “good luck” bouquet.
• Parents – You could instead give your bouquet to your parents or your mother or any of them as a token of thanks for all their help in the preparation of your wedding and raising you well. You can either do this formally at the wedding reception, and incorporate it into the speeches, or do it more discreetly later on. I’m pretty sure emotions will pour out with this kind of idea.
• Favors Toss – Instead of tossing flowers, toss the wedding favors! Much like candy being tossed in a parade you can toss small or soft favors to the guests. Children can help in the fun, and everybody has a chance to get something. Candy, small stuffed animals, silly toys and gift cards are good choices.
• Gift Cards & Money Bouquet Toss – Rather than have fortunes attached to a break away bouquet, why not attach gift cards (from coffee shops, record stores, etc) to your bridal bouquet! Rolled up bills are also fun for everyone. You can invite everyone onto the dance floor, men and women alike.
• Toss Bouquet — Instead of tossing your main bouquet, you can have your florist make up a smaller ‘toss bouquet’ especially for the tradition. This way you get to retain your bouquet as a keepsake. The toss bouquet can be made up in the same flowers as your main bouquet.
• Furthest Travelled – it is definitely amazing how far people come to make sure they are present on a loved-ones wedding day. Inter-continental flights are no problem to these loyal friends. Why not say thanks by giving your bouquet to the person who has travelled the furthest?

Make Your Own
So rather than skip the bridal bouquet toss entirely, why not start your own tradition? Unusual tosses can be explained by your DJ, an appointed person or
written in your program. Choose a bridal bouquet toss that is meaningful to you and don’t be afraid to simply present it to someone you care about.

Step1
Seek advice from your wedding planner or coordinator for any alternative bridal bouquet toss ideas. Consult your florist or the person making your floral arrangements about non-traditional bridal bouquet toss.
Step2
Search through all the wedding magazines and books you can find for ideas. Find a magazine that includes a section where brides write in their ideas.
Step3
Get ideas by joining online wedding idea boards where brides share their alternative bridal bouquet tosses. One suggested twist on the traditional bouquet toss, is to gather all the married women onto the dance floor. Find out which woman who has been married the longest and give her the bridal bouquet!
Step4
Attend a local bridal show. Talk with other brides there about what they are doing for an alternative to the traditional bridal bouquet toss. Bridal shows have many vendors there to offer creative suggestion.
Step5
Browse the internet for other ideas. There are many Web sites with lists of bouquet toss ideas or alternatives to the traditional wedding bouquet toss. An alternative mentioned often is give the bouquet to a special friend or the bride’s mom.

Tips & Warnings
• Write any ideas that you like down so that you can remember them and compare them when the time comes to making a decision.
• Ask your friends and family to help you brainstorm ideas they have.
• Attend other weddings before yours to get ideas.

Sources: http://www.ezinearticles.com

http://www.wedding-flowers-guide.com

http://www.weddingideas.com

http://www.ehow.com