Every bride, traditional or not, knows something about the wedding garter. This bridal attire hides underneath the dress, waiting to be taken off by the groom and thrown to all the single men attending the big day. Yet, not many people know much about this symbolic tradition. Here is some history about the garter!
There used to be a superstition, hundreds of years ago, that owning a piece of a bride’s dress would bring good luck. This led to wedding guests basically attacking the bride to rip off a piece of her gown. Eventually, things became much more tame and the bride would wear a specific article of clothing to be given out for good luck: the garter. Another belief is that the garter symbolized the bride and groom consummating the marriage, so it would be taken off and given to family and friends as proof. Both ancient beliefs require the garter be taken off and given away. Today, the removal of the garter is reserved for the groom and usually follows the bouquet toss. Whichever man catches it is said to be the next to marry.
How To Wear A Wedding Garter
The purpose of a wedding garter is to hold up stockings under the wedding gown. It can be worn on either leg, as long as the groom knows which one it is before he removes it. Some brides choose to wear two garters: one to throw and one to keep. When wearing two, the bride should wear the tossing garter below the keepsake garter to make things easier.The best place to wear your garter is right above the knee.
What’s fun about the garter is that it is now personalized to fit any style. You can choose one that fits the wedding theme or surprise your new spouse with one that incorporates one of their favorite sport teams or hobbies.
For more great ideas and tips, visit The Wedding and Party Network Blog!
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