“All single ladies, please report to the dance floor immediately! It’s time for the bouquet toss!!” the DJ belts out.
“Come on, single gals, you know who you are. Don’t make us call you out by name.”
A few uncomfortable moments pass. No one is moving.
The bride takes the mic in her hands. She begins pointing at her single girlfriends and calling them out one by one. I sit coyly in the corner thinking I’ve got this one in the bag. I’m engaged after all. I’ve redeemed myself from participating in this long standing tradition once and for all. At this particular moment, my self- confidence is soaring. But then I hear, “Miss Glitter!! I see you back there hiding. Just because you are ENGAGED doesn’t mean you CAN’T participate. Single is single. Get out here NOW!!”
Drats! What good is being engaged if it can’t get me out of a simple bouquet toss?! 🙂
The bride may have been technically correct. I may have still been “single” despite my engaged status. But, come on. There is a reason I didn’t run out and claim my spot center stage. I didn’t want to. And I would guess some women might agree with me. That’s usually why they hide behind the centerpieces or are conveniently in the bathroom when this sacred event takes place.
It’s one thing if you have a ton of friends that are about college-aged or a lot of young family members. They can all stand in a group and have a blast with it. But it is different when you start to get older. This clip kinda sums up my lack of enthusiasm about the whole thing. I’m like that girl closest to the camera who can’t wait to get back to her seat!
I hate to trample on or mock tradition. But, I am wondering if there is a way to neutralize the whole process; make it more tolerable for all involved parties. I wouldn’t mind throwing my bouquet into a sea of guests mixed by age, gender, and relationship status and giving everyone a chance to catch it. I think that might be fun! No one gets called out. No single teenage cousins have to stand by their lonesome while everyone else scatters to the wind.
Are any of you thinking about nixing the bouquet toss/garter toss? Or are you thinking of putting a fun twist on the old tradition?
Jenny
I always hated the bouquet toss too. My body just got in the way of all the girlies pushing each other in their dive for the bouquet.
That being said, it is a tradition and I think I’m stuck with it.
Cyd
Eh, I hate this one too and I refuse to do it at our reception. Bouquet and garter toss are absolutely out. I’ve seen it be fun, I’ve also seen it be outright awkward and a waste of time. We’re paying a lot for our reception – no time wasting allowed! 😉
Nicole
haha that video made me uncomfortable.
We’re not doing the bouquet or garter toss.
Victory Bird
Yep, we’re also skipping both bouquet/garter toss too. Simply not our style, and I flat out refuse to do things just because they are ‘tradition’. I don’t want to feel obligated to do anything!
But I do really like your idea that you could put a twist on the bouquet toss. Maybe get all the guests up ready to catch it for the sake of getting a huge group photo? And the one to catch it wins a prize??
Anne K. in L.A.
Our single guy friends are anti-marriage. {Don’t ask}. My single girl friends would have been put on the spot. So, we skipped it. No one even noticed. We gave my toss bouquet to the couple that had been married the longest.
AmyJean
We’re not doing the bouquet or garter toss 🙂
RelentlessBride
-J.Darling
I know I’m late in popping in to this, but yeah – I HATE these things too. I once had the bouquet thrown right at me. My date to the wedding had been hoping we’d head down the aisle, but I was not yet sold and I knew catching it would cause a chain of events that may lead to heart break. (Afterall, he caught the garter.) So I pretty narrowly avoided it and allowed the shorter, more enthusiastic gal in front of me to grab it.
I hate those things…
-J.Darling
Just a side note –
I have seen something more beautiful done – a bouquet dedication. Why not consider giving your bouquet to a family member or beloved friend? No one really questions it, and it goes that whole “is she gonna toss it?” question out of the way. 😉