Why does a Bride throw her bouquet?

Matt Elliott • Jan 01, 2020

Where does this wedding tradition come from?

It's one of the highlights of a wedding, but not many people know why it happens. Ever been curious as to why the bride throws her bouquet? I've done some research, and the answer might just surprise you!

There are some key wedding moments you can tick off a list. The best man's speech Cutting the cake And of course, throwing the bouquet. But where does this wedding tradition come from? Why would a bride want to throw her lovely (and expensive!) bouquet, and why do the other guests go crazy for it? It makes a great wedding photography moment of course, but the story behind it is truly fascinating, helping us understand a bit more about these lasting traditions that everyone can enjoy at a wedding.

Picture the moment

Throwing the bouquet is a classic wedding moment often depicted in films or on TV. A crowd of screaming, hysterical women gather around the dancefloor and wait while the bride throws the bouquet over her shoulder. There's a scuffle, and even some punches pulled as the gang of women fight for whatever's left of the bouquet. And the story in real life isn't much different. The victor in the hunger games is said to be the next one to get married, but is that the full truth behind it?

Not all brides decide to throw their bouquet. Wedding bouquets don't come cheap, and not only that, but many brides like to keep them - there are some wonderful arty things you can do with your bouquet these days.Â

In all seriousness, the bouquet toss makes a great wedding moment. It often signifies the end of the wedding, but it's also a good excuse to get all of the ladies in the room on the dancefloor and a nice moment for the bride with the women in her life.

the bouquet toss, Lindenderry at Red Hill

The origins of the bouquet toss

So where does the bouquet toss come from? Let's go all the way back to Medieval Europe. A bride's wedding dress was considered good luck, and as it wouldn't be worn again, other women would chase the bride and tear pieces from her wedding dress to share this good luck. By the time the bride got away to leave with her groom, there would barely be anything left of the dress!

But as we know, wedding dresses today tend to be on the expensive side. Having other women completely destroy your wedding dress is not something you'd enjoy. A bride tends to keep her wedding dress as a keepsake, or even pass it on to others such as a daughter. So as the years went on, brides started throwing other objects as she tried to get away, including her garter. A bouquet soon emerged as the throwable item of choice, and served as something of a romantic good luck charm for the lucky recipient. For many people, flowers represent fertility, another key reason why someone might want to inherit a bride's good fortune.

The modern bouquet toss

While the bouquet toss used to happen as the bride tried to escape her wedding, today it's considered a fun and memorable part of the wedding ceremony. The bride will usually gather around all of the single ladies in the room and watch as they all try to snatch the bouquet for themselves. It makes a wonderful wedding photo, and gives the bride the chance to have some fun with her friends. In modern weddings, it's not just the single ladies who are involved in the shenanigans, it's the men too!

There are also some variations that modern brides will adopt for their big day. Some will throw a bridesmaids bouquet to preserve her own, while others might also have a fake bouquet - a less expensive version of her own.

Throwing the bouquet on your big day

If throwing the bouquet is a wedding tradition you want to keep, then make sure you factor it into your day. You might want to have your DJ or the best man to announce the bouquet toss, so make sure you give them a time in advance. You'll also want to keep your wedding photographer briefed and make sure they stay on for that part of the day.

As a fun part of your wedding day, throwing the bouquet is something that is sure to provide some laughs and memories. We've come a long way since those dress-ripping days, so why not enjoy this special wedding tradition and perhaps choose the next bride who will follow in your footsteps.