Belting it Out

One of the requisite moments at the reception following the completion of a wedding ceremony involves the bride and groom getting down to business — but it’s not what you may think. This business is all about removing the bride’s garter from her leg and tossing it to a waiting crowd of men.

Much like the throwing of the bouquet for women, modern tradition has it that the man to catch the garter will be the next of the group to wed.

The exact roots of the tossing of the garter tradition are not known, but old western traditions had it that it was good luck for guests to obtain a piece of the bride’s clothing following the wedding ceremony.

As such, brides and grooms were encouraged to dispatch with the garter quickly in order to pacify the superstitious among the guests.