The Garter and Bouquet Toss are infamous and time-honored traditions at weddings. Unfortunately, the reaction to this tradition from guests can be an unpredictable mixed bag.
We got our experts together to cook up some fresh twists to help rejuvenate this wedding ritual, so old customs can be tailor-fit to you as a couple on your big day!
15 Bouquet and Garter Toss Ideas to Make the Tradition Your Own
Bouquet Toss Prize Ideas: Cash, Gift Cards & More
- Kids prizes: Weddings with lots of children might want a separate kids’ toss with fun prizes so the adult toss can stay traditional. This way, everyone feels included, and nobody accidentally gets stepped on during the excitement.
- Cash incentive (AKA singles for the singles): Placing a bit of money on the bouquet or garter before the toss can add motivation for your guests to claim the prize. Gift cards are a fun alternative and could encourage future romantic dates for the lucky winner.
- Bottle of booze: Winning a bottle of something nice to accompany the bouquet or garter can also promote a little more interest from guests.
Creative Ways to Do the Bouquet and Garter Toss
- Hot Potato: (Similar to musical chairs, but with fewer chances for accidental injuries.) While a song plays in the background, guests can pass the garter or bouquet around in a circle until the music stops. The one left holding the prize is the lucky winner!
- Box of Treasure: Have guests pick a key out of a mixed pile to unlock a box or birdcage with the award.
- Ribbon Pull: An old European version of this tradition. Many false ribbons are held in the Bride’s hands above her head, with one secret winner tied around the bouquet. Everyone pulls at the same time, and the winning ribbon pulls the prize!
- Toss the Boutonniere: If you still want to throw something to the single men, but you don’t want the scandal of the garter toss, then toss the boutonniere – but take the pins out first!
- Football/Three Flies Up: Easier to throw and catch, especially concerning the garter, a football can be an easy alternative. This saves the integrity of the bouquet and modesty of the Bride.
Funny Bouquet Toss Pranks and Surprise Ideas
- Blindfolded “Quick Switch”: Groomsmen dress up as the Bride.
- Magic Trick: Pull random items from beneath the dress stashed out of sight behind the Bride.
- Breakaway Bouquet: Throw a “Breakaway Bouquet” made of separated flowers, so everyone in the crowd gets one!
- Gender-Bend: Surprise unsuspecting guests by swapping outfits, and reverse the garter retrieval! See who “wears the pants” in the relationship. *wink wink*
Bouquet Toss Alternatives: What to Do Instead
- Anniversary Dance: Honor the longest-married couple by giving them the bouquet.
- Cake Pull: Many variations of this technique exist, but it is popular in Southern traditions and similar to a “King Cake” from Mardi Gras celebrations. Small charms placed in a cake or cupcakes for participants indicate different types of prizes, such as good fortune in money or love. By either pulling a ribbon to extract the charm or eating the cake, guests can see what they’ve won. Be sure to warn guests before they take a bite!
- Pass The Torch: Give the Bouquet to the next Bride-to-Be with a wedding coming up. The ribbon or other decoration from that bouquet can be for “something borrowed” on her wedding day.
Bouquet and Garter Toss FAQ
What is the bouquet toss at a wedding?
The bouquet toss is a wedding reception tradition where the bride throws her bouquet over her shoulder to a group of unmarried guests. According to folklore, whoever catches it is said to be the next person to get married. The tradition dates back centuries and was originally a way for guests to take a piece of the bride’s “good luck” without grabbing at her dress.
What is the garter toss and how does it work?
The garter toss is the male counterpart to the bouquet toss. The groom removes a garter from the bride’s leg (traditionally with his hands or teeth) and tosses it to a group of unmarried male guests. The catcher is said to be the next to marry, and at some receptions the man who catches the garter places it on the leg of the woman who caught the bouquet. Many modern couples have moved away from the more theatrical version in favor of a simple toss or a different tradition altogether.
Do you have to do a bouquet and garter toss at your wedding?
Not at all — the bouquet and garter toss are entirely optional traditions. Many modern couples skip one or both, often because they have few single guests, the tradition feels dated to them, or they prefer to avoid singling out unmarried friends. Popular alternatives include the anniversary dance (honoring the longest-married couple), the cake pull, or simply gifting the bouquet to a meaningful guest like a grandmother or maid of honor.
What can you throw at a wedding instead of a bouquet?
Couples who want to keep the toss tradition but swap out the bouquet have plenty of options. A breakaway bouquet (designed to come apart so multiple guests catch a flower) is a popular choice, as are tossing a boutonniere instead of a garter, throwing a small bouquet of dried flowers, or using a ribbon pull where one hidden ribbon connects to the prize. For a less competitive feel, some couples toss small gift bags or charms instead.
When in the wedding reception does the bouquet toss happen?
The bouquet toss typically happens later in the reception, after dinner and the parent dances but before the dance floor opens up — usually around 90 minutes to two hours into the reception. The garter toss, if you’re doing one, generally follows immediately after. Coordinating with your DJ or band to announce both at the same energy point keeps the momentum up and avoids breaking the dance floor mid-song.
Plan a Wedding Reception Your Guests Will Remember
Whether you go traditional with a classic bouquet and garter toss, swap in a creative twist like the ribbon pull or breakaway bouquet, or skip the tradition entirely in favor of an anniversary dance or cake pull, the best receptions are the ones that feel like the couple. There’s no right or wrong way to handle these moments — only what fits your personalities, your guest list, and the tone you want for the night.
If you’re planning a wedding in the San Diego area, the right venue and coordination team make all of these moments easier. Tour Harbor View Loft or contact our wedding team to start planning a reception built around the moments that matter to you.
Photos thanks to True Photography
