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Laker0107
Devoted August 2015

So... are you having a garter??

Laker0107, on March 17, 2015 at 4:18 PM Posted in Planning 0 49

I'm honestly horrified at the idea of FH fumbling around under my dress in front of all our guests... are they really necessary?? Are you having a garter? Anyone know the history/reason for them??

49 Comments

Latest activity by Della, on March 18, 2015 at 2:01 PM
  • AlexisM082
    Master February 2016
    AlexisM082 ·
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    No. I'm not having a garter. I don't want my family, especially young children, watching my husband going up my skirt. I don't even know the history of it. We're not doing the bouquet toss either.

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  • Jenn B
    Master September 2015
    Jenn B ·
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    I'm not doing one. First, because I'm not super into traditions- and second because I just think it'd be uncomfortable.

    We don't have enough single friends to make a garter/bouquet toss fun.

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  • jenna_
    Master March 2015
    jenna_ ·
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    Lol. i had a garter. two. one keepsake and one toss. i honestly thought it was going to be so embarrassing but you don't have to get all... naughty dirty with it. lol. it was actually a lot of fun. DH did an improptu floor slide into me and just reached up, pulled it off and it was done. it wasn't bad.

    @JSARGE: it annoyed me at first but after a while i forgot it was even there.

    we did both the traditional garter toss and bouquet toss. nothing wrong with it. whatevs. i understand how some people are dropping it but it was fun and i'm glad we did it.

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  • Elyse
    Master September 2015
    Elyse ·
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    I told FH the other night that I wouldn't wear one and he seemed kind of disappointed. My thighs already touch. I don't need anything there agitating that situation.

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  • Noël
    Devoted May 2015
    Noël ·
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    I'm totally wearing a garter, but saving it for the hubs later. We're in the same boat and prefer to skip that whole awkward situation all around. We're also opting for an anniversary dance instead of the whole bouquet toss. We're in our early 30's and don't want to mortify the small number of single friends we have left.

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  • JCB
    Master September 2015
    JCB ·
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    We are doing the garter toss because we are so super traditional ha!

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  • Amanda
    VIP September 2015
    Amanda ·
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    I have no clue what the history is. Would be interesting to find out! My fh is psyched about the garter. He picked mine out. And is planning on not using his hands to get it off!! He's a true 80's child in every sense lol he really wants it because it's one of his few perks. We get our fancy gowns, our bouquets and tosses, etc. so he surely wants to do the garter toss. I'm indifferent. Not thrilled but not opposed. I'll let him have his fun!

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  • M
    Master July 2015
    m ·
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    Nope.

    The history of the garter is the best man and MOH generally went into the room after the ceremony to ensure that they actually consummated the marriage, and the best man came out holding the garter as proof.

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  • S
    Master June 2015
    Sara ·
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    Nope. no toss, no garter.

    I've also heard it was considered good luck to snag a piece of the bride's attire. So the garter toss became popular as a way to keep guests from attacking the bride and taking it for themselves.

    So yeah. not doing that.

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  • Theresa Beale
    Master November 2014
    Theresa Beale ·
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    The history behind the garter (and the bouquet toss) is that it used to be considered lucky to have a piece of clothing from the bride and/or groom so as the couple was leaving people would be grabbing at their clothes. The tradition changed to the garter and bouquet instead to stop the clothes tearing (I took the classes to be a wedding planner but haven't used the "skills" professional but one course covered traditions). I didn't do it at my wedding because IMO there weren't enough single people to merit the process (which is why we also didn't "do" the bouquet either).

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  • Julia T
    Master August 2015
    Julia T ·
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    I'm not having one.

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  • MrsPope
    Master September 2015
    MrsPope ·
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    I don't think I am. I am not comfortable with H going under my dress in front of my parents and pastor.

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  • KatieKat
    Expert September 2015
    KatieKat ·
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    Nope. Definitely not doing a garter toss.

    I'm not very conservative but watching a guy take a piece of underwear (because that is what it is considered) off of his wife is something I'll pass on watching. No thanks. Save that for your honeymoon, not in the middle of the reception.

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  • FutureMrsCrane
    Master October 2015
    FutureMrsCrane ·
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    FH and I are doing it. I bought a Packers one from Etsy, but he doesn't know! It's going to be a surprise for him. They definitely are not necessary, but I personally think it's funny because the men invited to weddings in my family have a tendency to put it on the incorrect leg after they catch the garter. The man becomes blindfolded and has to start again, and we replace the woman with my grandmother or another older lady if the guy that caught it is part of the family. It's absolutely priceless!

    As far as history, this is all I found: "It started in the 14th century in England, when wedding guests considered it lucky to get a piece of the bride's clothing. In order to preserve her dress, the bride started throwing her garter at the male guests. As the male guests became rowdier, they tried to tear the garter off of the bride's leg themselves. In an attempt to preserve his new wife's dignity, the groom started to remove the garter himself and toss it to the single men."

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  • A&G
    Master August 2014
    A&G ·
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    Yes I wore a garter, but we did not toss it. My husband didn't even see the garter until we were back in the hotel room after the wedding.

    It was my something blue so I wanted a garter. It wore it for myself.

    You can wear one and noone will know. or you could not wear one if it will bother you. Either way the garter or the garter toss are not needed.

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  • Ally
    Master October 2016
    Ally ·
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    YEP. keepsake n throwin' one Smiley smile it will be zelda themed

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  • A
    Dedicated April 2015
    Ashley ·
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    I am mainly because I think it will make me feel more "bridal." It is just for my FH to see though.

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  • Ostrich
    Master April 2016
    Ostrich ·
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    We're doing garter/garter toss

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  • M
    Master August 2015
    Mrs Cheapskate ·
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    Im 51 and Im having one, because this is fhs first marriage and I want him toexperience all of the traditional things in a wedding, only on a smaller scale. So, I bought one, and will wear it, and have him remove it to his upper arm while we are going form the church to the reception.

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  • Ally
    Master October 2016
    Ally ·
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    Here's some advice I feel is important. If you want to wear a garter for the day, go for it! But you should have a second garter for the toss, one that's fresh and put on secretly before the event...

    I've had the unfortunate instance where SO caught the garter... and it was sweaty....

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