Does anyone do the garter thing anymore?

Rej

I am just wondering if anyone does the garter thing anymore?
I have heard loads of different version of what happens.. what is the origin of the garter?

DJ_Spider

According to one site this is the origin:

THROWING THE BOUQUET AND GARTER
All in all, the bride and groom have been considered pretty lucky by envious guests throughout the centuries. Overzealous guests used to scramble for bits and pieces of the bride's clothing, including her garter, as tokens of luck. This probably evolved into the modern-day tradition of throwing the garter and bouquet to determine the next lucky bride and groom.
In the 14th century, Europeans would gather around the bride and try to remove her garter for good luck. The bride would also throw her stocking for good luck. This eventually evolved into the bride throwing a bouquet to unmarried guests at the wedding. If luck was tight, the girl who caught the bouquet would be the next to marry. Today, the groom has the honor of removing the bride's garter and tossing it to single men. The man who catches the garter has the privilege of putting it on the girl who caught the bouquet.

Das Kitty

In answer to your first question, unfortunately yes.

I had the misfortune of being at a wedding where an 8 year old caught the garter. The band egged him on to put it on the flower catcher. Most uncomfortable moment ever for all involved.

I just think it's seedy for a wedding, now for a hen night I have no problem!

Rej

Oh that sounds awful!
Wont be doing that at my wedding..

fozzle

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's not enamoured with the tradition. I really really don't want to do it - I think it's horrible.

r3nu4l

I used to think it was tacky, the same as you lot, until it came to my wedding. At the end of the day, it's a bit of fun, it's traditional and I enjoyed it as just that.

There is of course a bit more to it than the obvious. Back in the day, most brides and their respective partners would have been more innocent. During courting, the couple would have been chaperoned and the randy pair would most likely not have had the opportunity to get up to much. For many a groom, this moment was probably his first view of his ladies undergarments and the removal of the garter was a symbol of sexuality and what was to occur later that night, namely the consummation of the marriage, or, sex, to be blunt.

Das Kitty, what kind of parents of an 8 year old would allow him to be out there to catch the garter? Also, who were the band "Johnny and the Paedophiles"? :rolleyes: Sickening!

Toots

r3nu4l wrote: »

Also, who were the band "Johnny and the Paedophiles"? :rolleyes: Sickening!

Just nearly choked on a cup of tea reading that!!

I've been to about six weddings in my life, and I've never seen that thing with the garter. I always thought that was something they did in the states or something. Funnily enough the bouquet was only thrown at one of the weddings, and it was the bride's gran who caught it, so I bet the lads were glad the garter wasn't thrown!! If you're happy to do it, go ahead, if not don't! When I get married (eventually) I definitely won't be doing that! The guests could do without seeing my celulite thanks!!

Das Kitty

r3nu4l wrote: »

Also, who were the band "Johnny and the Paedophiles"?

The Ian Huntley Experience

It was a weird wedding all round. The groom's parents came to the church but stood outside in a kind of protest. Then the best man slagged off the bride in his speech and told his brother he was making a mistake.

Apparently they're all friends now. :eek:

Not as controversial as the wedding where the best man kept telling the groom that he had "always loved" him in his speech. The poor bride!