I don't get why people don't want the bouquet/garter toss...

Just want to add.. The garter toss can definitely be way more icky than it needs to be... Just because some grooms on Four Weddings put their head under and things like that doesn't mean I has to be done that way! Also I've never been to a wedding where the man who caught the garter put it on the girl who caught the bouquet. Also totally unnecessary!

I find them predictable and not original. But I also understand why many do them, still.

We're having a DW and only family are coming. So...that'd be awkward.

What the heck is a shoe game??

we are not doing the garter toss, we have teenagers that said gross mom or gross dad dont do that. lol

we are not doing the boquet tosd either, I am cheap! haha.

If it is something you want to do that go for it. You could always make a fun game out of it so everyone gets involved.

I detest wedding games. The shoe game is embarrassing and adults don't want to play I-spy.

I felt awkward as hell during the bouquet toss at every wedding I've ever been to. I'm not subjecting my single female guests to the same feeling.

Since my single female guests are in school (with a total of five over 18), I decided to have my bouquet break into five smaller ones to give to them with less hassle and less embarrassment for them instead of tossing it. and the garter toss isn't appealing to myself or my fh.

Julie, you've done absolutely the best thing possible - you consulted your friends about it! That is something that's a true rarity, and I'm glad everyone's excited and going to have fun with it. I think you've seen that the negative reactions among comments have to do with singletons being called out or being forced to do something they don't want to do - but that is definitely not what you're doing!

It sounds like you'll have great pics from the toss, and the girls and you will have fun... that truly is all that matters.

I have been to too many weddings where the guy that catches the garter is a drunk idiot and humiliates the girl that caught the bouquet and tries to make putting it on her too "Sexy".

Back when I was single I went to a wedding and as most weddings do, they had a bouquet toss. I had no interest in getting up to be a part of it, as I knew that I was one of the only single girls in the group and felt a little ashamed of it. Then the bride had the DJ make an announcement that I needed to go up to the dance floor and participate in the toss. To top off this terrible story, I was up there standing with all little girls. It was that exact moment I decided when I get married I will never do a bouquet/garter toss. Not everyone is comfortable with it.

We wouldn't replace it with the shoe game. The garter thing is just awkward for everyone. We only have about 3 boys and girls who are above 18 and who are still single. And watching the groom go under the bride's skirt is just too awkward and uncomfortable. Apparently the guy is supposed to put the garter on the girl who caught the bouquet... I've never seen that. But that would be even MORE awkward.

We chose not to do it because we just didn't want to. Since its our wedding we decided to take out a lot of things that were considered traditional that we didn't like. We didn't want to do something just because it is always done at weddings. I don't want him up my dress in front of our family and friends searching for a garter either. But thats just our views on it, everyone is different. We also decided not to have a bridal party either, just wanted our family and friends to relax and enjoy the day.

I despise the bouquet toss. Yes, please herd me up with other single ladies, and have me fight over a bouquet and hope folklore is correct and I will be the next to marry. Maybe cute for a girl in her teen or early twenties, but there is nothing cute about a 30 year old diving for a bouquet. I always disappeared during this ritual and did not participate.

As for the garter toss, just no. My DH and I are both hams and love being in the spot light, but no. I was not having him go up my dress for a garter in front of my guest. It's just yucky and awkward.

Embarrassing, but we did bribe people to participate in our ours with gift cards.. haha! We didn't do the thing with this person putting the garter on that person, etc. That's the embarrassing part that I was referring to.

We did the shoe game before the dancing started. People said that was one of their favorites parts of the reception.

We're doing the bouquet toss, but inviting all the ladies up. Same with garter toss. Our families just see it as a fun tradition, nothing more. Though, i'm not crazy about the idea of FH putting his head up my dress. There are more tackful ways of doing it, but that's what he wants to do. So, I'm just going to go with it.

I am however strongly against the idea of having the guy who caught the garter put it on the girl who caught the bouquet. Talk about awkward and mortifying! Even some traditions where they just dance together, still completely awkward and unnecessary. Nope, not doing that.

When my Aunt got married, they did the whole garter/bouquet thing. My Aunt was an older bride and her new husband was much older. No one wanted to see that. Then they tossed the garter and the creepiest Uncle caught it. The bouquet was caught by my (maybe 18 yr old) cousin. Oh yeah, he put that garter on her just like Angie said, trying to be sexy. Who even tries that with their niece? It's one of those images that comes up every time a bouquet toss is mentioned. It's one of those images that you didn't want to have and can't get rid of. It's the reason we didn't do it at our wedding.

We are not doing it because at 30, basically everyone else is married. I also think it is in extremely poor taste for the groom (of ANY bride) to go up her dress in front of the family, then fling a piece of lingerie to a bunch of men. I was at a wedding a few years ago and they had all the men (not just single) catch a football with the garter wrapped around it. While I thought that was funny and different, the guy who caught it was being very obscene - sniffing the garter, rubbing it on his face, acting like a total fool. The bride's family was mortified.

A common theme for the people against the game is "they felt shameful" for being Single.. Umm Why? There is nothing shameful about being single..you should be comfortable.. and I really hope you're not getting married so you don't have that "singlehood shame". Everyone finds the love of their life at a different age, and no one should feel"ashamed" for being single.

As for the garter situation of the guy putting it on the girl that caught the bouquet. I Have NEVER seen this or even HEARD of this!! That's not what's traditional..thats just some made up "extra" thing some freak made up...

We decided against both. We didn't have enough single people to not make them awkward. We definitely didn't miss either, our group rocked the reception, no activities needed!