A wedding garter on the leg is an attribute without which it is impossible to imagine a modern bride. In this article you will find out where the tradition of wearing this element came from, what function it served before and what it does now; signs associated with a garter, as well as how to wear and remove it correctly.
The garter is a thin elastic fabric strip decorated with lace, ribbons and rhinestones. Most often done in light colors.
In past centuries, this detail of a woman's wardrobe performed an important function - it held the stockings, thereby preventing them from sliding down. Today, this accessory is purely decorative, and brides wear it only to maintain traditions.
Why do you need a garter today?
Modern brides use this accessory for at least three purposes:
- Creating an image. This element will be the final touch to the bride’s ideal look. A garter will make a girl feel feminine and sexy.
- Surprise for your loved one. This piquant detail will not leave your groom indifferent and will pleasantly surprise him.
- Good memories. You can keep the bride's headband as a pleasant memory of a wonderful day. In addition, you can make this thing traditional in your family, passing it on from generation to generation of brides.
In addition to these decorative items, the garter can become part of a funny custom when the groom removes the accessory from the bride’s leg and, standing with his back to the single guests, throws the garter. The bride has the same ritual - throwing a bouquet to her unmarried bridesmaids. Whoever catches it is destined to get married within a year (as tradition says).
History of the wedding garter
The elegant garter for a wedding has an ancient history . The word “garter” came into Russian from France, where the accessory had an exclusively practical function. It served to support pantaloons, and not only women, but also men used this comfortable item of clothing.
Photo of a wedding garter on the leg
But wedding traditions associated with the garter arose in England, and historians have differing opinions on this matter:
- According to the first legend, the custom of throwing a garter at a wedding was introduced by the English monarch, who later even created the Order of the Garter . At one of the balls, his lady love dropped an intimate item of clothing, and the king picked it up, wanting to please the girl. Initially, the king was going to return the accessory, but he saw the grins of those around him. He decided to publicly declare that the garter of the woman he loved was bound to bring him good luck, and he tied it on his own leg.
- Another tradition has a less romantic context . In some counties of Great Britain there was a custom according to which guests themselves tried to tear the garter from the bride’s leg right at the altar. Many were not happy with this state of affairs, and the girls began to throw the accessory into the crowd.
In the modern world, an interesting tradition originated in the 90s of the last century in the USA. Focusing on the West, Russian newlyweds also began to use a garter.
How to wear a garter
The bride should spend at least half of the day wearing this element. Therefore, the garter should be comfortable and not interfere with the girl. Usually the garter is put on the right leg, however, this does not carry any superstitions. Most likely it's just a tradition. Therefore, wear this item on the leg that is more comfortable for you.
It is best to wear it 10 cm above the knee. This way you will kill several birds with one stone:
- There will be no discomfort when moving, because... this is the thinnest part of the leg. Accordingly, the leg is not pinched, due to which blood circulation is not disrupted.
- Convenient location for a photo shoot. Nowadays, many brides take pictures so that the garter is visible. When the accessory is located just above the knee, you will not have to lift your dress high.
- If you decide to follow the tradition and throw a garter to the guests, then the groom will not have to look for it for long (especially if the dress is long and fluffy. This way you can avoid various incidents and save time.
IMPORTANT! In the West, the bride wears two garters. The lower one, “happy”, serves for the groom to throw it to the guests, and the second, “honey” or “sweet”, remains for the newlyweds as a good memory. Our newlyweds can take note of this interesting tradition.
How to replace the bride's garter toss at a wedding: top 4 alternatives
Let's imagine that the groom does not want to throw away the garter in principle, and then a logical question arises: “What can we come up with instead of this tradition, if it is impossible to abandon it completely?” It often happens that the celebration scenario involves throwing a garter and a bouquet in order to “make” a new couple, to which the attention of all guests will shift. We offer several interesting options for holding a ceremony for the quick marriage of single friends.
Play a notebook
Before the wedding, the groom collects the phone numbers of all unmarried girls who will be invited to the celebration and writes them down in a small notebook. Then, using a lottery or forfeits, he draws a prize between free young people.
Close up of a garter in a cage
The bride's garter can still appear in the celebration program, but you won't have to throw it away. An element of the bride's underwear is locked in a cage, the key for it is mixed with others that do not fit the lock. Then all single male guests choose one key at random. Whoever opens the cage will become the owner of the garter.
Send messages
The groom's friends write an SMS to his number with the words: “I want to get married.” Then, on command, messages are sent simultaneously. Whoever reaches the groom first is given the garter.
Play the “bachelor package”
You can make a quiz for young people, and offer a “bachelor package” as a prize. It will contain cans of beer, chips, socks and other attributes of a free man, as well as a “bonus” - a garter.
Types of garters
When choosing this wedding detail, the bride’s eyes will run wild from the variety of types and colors. The garter should be neat and attractive. If you decide to wear two accessories, then the garter that the groom will have to remove from your leg during the celebration should be wider and more magnificent than the “honey” one. You can choose a beautifully decorated garter, but not too fussy. This detail should remind you of the image of a gentle bride, so give preference to a snow-white or blue shade (traditionally they mean purity and innocence).
It is not necessary to choose a garter to match the style of your dress. But if the shades match, it will create a more harmonious image.
Where did the garter ritual come from and how does it all happen?
The tradition of throwing a garter among grooms is as popular as the bride tossing a wedding bouquet . This custom originated from Europe and became an integral part of the celebration in many countries, spreading even to the distant West.
However, at first, taking the bride’s garter and any other item of the newly-made spouses with them from the wedding was not such a romantic tradition. After the celebration, the guests took away everything they could, including not only household items, but also elements of the wedding wardrobe. Everyone wanted to find happiness in this way, because it was believed that on the wedding day, the things of the newlyweds carry a lot of positive energy .
Over time, this wedding tradition became more civilized and special rituals with throwing a bouquet and a garter came into fashion. However, the attitude towards each thing became more serious , people began to notice that things taken from a wedding not only bring happiness to the new owners of the items, but seem to take it away from the newly made husband and wife. It gave new meaning to everything.
To limit the number of lucky ones and reduce the amount of love and joy that a married couple will have to share with others in later years of life, only two things are thrown at the wedding - a bouquet and a garter .
They throw the bride's garter at a wedding in the same way as a bouquet : the groom stands with his back to the guests, and all the men and guys who are not yet married become closer to him in order to compete for this detail of the outfit and catch it. The new spouse throws the accessory over his head when everyone is ready.
By the way, the wedding garter is usually removed from the girl’s right leg, usually by hand. Some don't hesitate to get creative and pull it off with their lips.
Unlike their already married friend, single friends try to catch the wedding accessory with their hands .
Signs about throwing
The tradition of taking a small piece of fabric from the bride’s wedding dress originated in the Middle Ages. The guests believed that this would bring happiness. But such customs threatened the bride to be left without a dress at all, because everyone wanted to snatch a piece of happiness. That's why a special garter was invented, which the groom threw to the guests. Today this tradition is widespread in Western countries. Our newlyweds also adopted this interesting fun.
It is not customary to give a garter into the hands of any of the guests (the sign says that the person who acquires the accessory in this way will have power over the bride).
Another superstition: if the groom throws a “honey” garter to the guests instead of a “lucky” one, the marriage will not last long. The loss of this garter promises loss of fidelity to the spouse.
To throw or not to throw
Of course, almost all newlyweds now perform this ritual. Everything will depend on the style of the wedding, on the wishes of the newlyweds and guests. If everyone invited is married, married or just in a relationship, then there is no point in throwing a garter. It will look awkward and may offend guests. In addition, if you yourself do not want to perform this ritual at your own wedding, you do not need to force yourself for the sake of tradition. This is your holiday!
How to remove and throw a garter
This ritual should be performed only after the bride has thrown her bouquet to her bridesmaids.
It is better for the newlyweds to agree on which leg and at what height the garter will be worn in advance. Rehearse several times at home so that everything goes smoothly at the most crucial moment.
Take care of the musical accompaniment of this process. Romantic music will create an intimate atmosphere, while more playful music will add fun to the event.
The groom must carry the bride in his arms to the center of the hall, then carefully lift the hem of the dress and easily remove the garter with his hands (some do this with their teeth, but there is no tradition behind this action. It’s just a fun element). To make it easier to remove the garter, the bride can place her foot on a chair or sit on it. The groom then turns his back to the guests and throws the garter at random towards the crowd. The one who caught it, according to legend, should find his soul mate in the next 12 months.
The newlyweds remove the “sweet” garter when they are alone with their beloved. This is an intimate moment that should happen on your wedding night.
Why you need to throw the bride's garter at a wedding: the history of tradition
Contrary to popular belief, throwing a garter at a wedding is not a native Russian, but a European tradition that came to us from the Middle Ages. Europe of those times gave us other interesting wedding rituals, including throwing a bouquet, storing bottles of champagne for the newlyweds, etc.
What does throwing various objects at a celebration today symbolize? It's simple: whichever of the guests catches the flowers and garter will be the first to marry among all those present. Usually the couple who have become the happy owners of these attributes performs a joint dance. After which all their friends begin to actively match them.
Initially, throwing a garter had a completely different meaning. In medieval Europe, items belonging to newlyweds were believed to bring good luck. Everyone believed in this sign so much that during the celebration they tried to tear off a piece of clothing from the bride or groom, and at the end of the celebration the newlyweds often found themselves half-naked. To avoid this fate, the future spouses eventually came up with a more cultural option: throwing a small bride’s accessory into the crowd of guests, which became a symbol of happiness for the one who was able to catch it.
Initially, the bride wore two garters on her stockings. She filmed the first one herself and gave it to the groom so that he could “play” it among his unmarried friends. And this good wedding omen did not mean a quick marriage, but constant luck and success in life. The second garter remained on the bride until the wedding night, when the young husband took it off.
