Five Important Bouquet Toss Tips
The bouquet toss is a custom that dates back hundreds of years. Traditionally, the bride would throw her bouquet near the end of her reception to a waiting throng of single women and, according to superstition, the woman who captured it would be the next one to walk down the aisle (or at least get a gorgeous bouquet for her trouble).
Today’s brides often choose to have two bouquets, one for themselves and one for their bouquet toss. And some brides even add guys to the mix, because after all, single men can be just as excited as women about getting some good luck in the marriage department.
Below you will find 5 tips to make your bouquet toss seamless along with a dozen exciting photos from our galleries and one from our Moment Award winner from UK photographer, Rich Howman.
#1. To get prepared count all the single women and/or guys on your guest list. If there are only a few you may choose to forgo it, however we've found even small groups appreciate the game. Should you find that you have more married couples than singles you can add the "couples dance" where partners are slowly eliminated from the dance floor until the one pair with the most longevity is honored with a centerpiece or champagne.
#2. To ensure you don’t break the momentum of your party, we suggest you throw the bouquet after you cut the cake, when the toasts are finished, or just before your grand exit.
#3. Have your DJ call the participants to the dance floor and choose an upbeat song that will make people smile.
#4. To keep friends from getting injured during what can be a wild free for all, assemble them on a dry, flat surface with plenty of room around them, and suggest they take off their high heels.
#5. Practice throwing an object that is the size of your bouquet. If you can get access to your reception area before guests arrive, use a pillow or a squishy ball. Seriously, throwing your bouquet isn’t as easy as it looks and a little practice can go a long way.
Looking for more advice on everything from cutting your cake to how to make a stunning entrance? Check out the blog posts in our Wedding Planning section.