Wedding Garter Toss Tradition History Is Pretty Dark - Refinery29

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from RelationshipsADVERTISEMENTThe History Of The Garter Toss Is Surprisingly DisturbingErika W. SmithJune 3, 2019, 7:22 PM Photographed by Megan Madden.Wedding season is almost here, and if you’ll be a guest at multiple summer weddings, you might see one or two instances of the wedding garter toss. In this long-standing tradition, the groom reaches under the bride’s dress to remove the garter and throws it to the male wedding guests. Often, this is a special-made, decorative "toss garter" used (sometimes doubling as a bride's "something blue"). In some instances, the man who catches the garter then puts it on the woman who catches the bride’s bouquet.While this tradition can occur at a same-sex weddings and be adjusted to include wedding guests of all genders, both studies and anecdotes indicate that the garter toss is much less common at weddings with two brides, or two grooms, or a non-binary spouse-to-be. That might be because of its history.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT"Back in olden times, newly-married couples were expected to consummate their union pretty much immediately after the wedding. And family members and friends would wait outside of their room to make sure that this happened,” explains Kim Forrest, Senior Editor, WeddingWire. “After the marriage was consummated, the groom would give the bride’s garter to the waiting crowd to prove that the deed was done.”Forrest adds, “I've also read that in medieval times, people would try to rip pieces off a bride's dress for good luck. The bride would wear an easily-accessible garter to toss to the crowd so they would stop grabbing her!"This all sounds very Game of Thrones, but the more recent history is a little less disturbing. According to wedding garter company Bleu Garters, by the late Renaissance period, the garter toss was simply done to spread good luck and fertility vibes — no clothing-tearing or proof of consummation involved. And the garter toss has remained a lucky tradition for the past400 years or so, with tweaks for each era — for example, some flapper brides used their garters to hold a flask, and some ‘80s garter-catchers displayed their prize on their car’s rear view mirror.Today, it looks like the garter toss may be going out of style. The Knot 2018 Real Weddings Study found that only 33% of to-be-weds were planning on incorporating the garter toss into their wedding, down from 41% in 2016. As with all wedding traditions, the garter toss is an option, not a requirement — so do it if you want to, and skip it if you don’t.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT RelationshipsI Use Romantasy Books As “Masturbation Material” — Is That Healthy?It’s 2 a.m. and the enemies in my new romantasy book have just turned into lovers — and it’s turning me on more than I expected. This is part of a faby Rebecca FearnOnline DatingReddit’s Dirtiest Pick-Up Lines Will Make You BlushWe’re all familiar with “Hey baby, what’s your sign?” and “If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put U and I together.” But what about… diby Erika W. SmithWellness6 Signs You Just Had An OrgasmYou might have heard an orgasm described as a vaginal sneeze or called “la petite mort” — French for “the little death.” Others might describe orby Erika W. SmithAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTRelationshipsDating Is So Bleak, Even The Anxious Girlies Are Becoming AvoidantAre you anxious, avoidant or secure? What’s rarely discussed is whether people can switch from one camp to another. People wear their “anxious” labelby Tanyel MustafaSexThe Sexual Hygiene Habit You Should Never SkipThere are two rules that anyone having anal sex has hopefully heard before: First, always use lube; second, don’t go straight from anal sex to vaginaby Cory StiegBodyIf Your Vulva Is Tingling, This Might Be WhyDepending on the situation, your vulva can sometimes feel wet, itchy, burning, or swollen. Sometimes a new feeling in your vagina is the result of a healthby Erika W. SmithSex17 Steamy & Free Erotic Literature Sitesby Kasandra BrabawSexThe Kama Sutra Sex Positions You Didn’t Know Existedby Lux AlptraumSexWhat To Do When Doggy Style Sex Gets UncomfortableDoggy style is one of the most universally popular sex positions, at least according to both online surveys and Google search data. It requires no flexibilby Cory StiegRelationshipsWhat To Say If You Get Tongue-Tied During Phone Sexby Cory StiegSexOut Of Sexting Ideas? Try Theseby Kimberly TruongSex21 Steamy Erotic Stories Written By Women — & Why They’re Importantby Rachel Kramer BusselAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT