Do the garter and bouquet tosses really date back to medieval times?
• From: jmh@anser.pdial.interpath.net (Jeanne Hinds) THe garter toss is one of the oldest surviving wedding traditions. Back in medieval times, it was customary for friends, relatives, guests to accompany the bridal couple to the marriage bed. As time went on, this became rowdier and rowdier to the point that some guests were all too eager to help the bride out of her wedding clothes. To forestall such impropriety, the garters were quickly removed and thrown to the mob as a distraction. As time went on, it has evolved into the tradition we now know. ————————- • From: saturn@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Shawna Rosen) The wedding guests would follow the couple back to their room, and try to grab the bride’s garter for good luck. Brides starting tossing their garter to the crowd as a means of self preservation! As society changed it became inappropriate to throw part of your underwear, and the bouquet was substituted. Sometime this century, the garter toss was added back in as a me