Deborah Chan
The tradition of throwing objects during a wedding ceremony or reception has existed for hundreds of years, with the exact origins of the practice being somewhat unclear. Throwing items such as rice, confetti, flower petals, or birdseed is a way to celebrate the newlyweds and wish them luck, love, and fertility. In addition, the bridal bouquet toss is a popular tradition where the bride throws her bouquet to a group of single women, with the belief that whoever catches it will be the next to marry. This tradition has evolved over time, with some brides choosing to incorporate modern twists, such as throwing mini marshmallows or popcorn, or using biodegradable confetti or paper airplanes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Items thrown by the bride | Bouquet, garter |
| Items thrown at the bride | Confetti, streamers, flower petals, rice, birdseed, paper airplanes, bubbles, balloons, flags, bells, biodegradable confetti, pompoms, dried lavender, artificial snow, coins, candy, sugared nuts, popcorn, mini marshmallows, flower seeds, wheat, bicycle bells, sparklers |
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What You'll Learn
The bridal bouquet
The tradition of the bridal bouquet toss usually takes place towards the end of the wedding reception, after the formalities of the ceremony are completed and the celebration is in full swing. The emcee or DJ announces that it's time for the bouquet toss and invites all single women to the dance floor. The bride takes her position, usually with her back to the crowd, while the single women gather behind her. On the count of three, the bride tosses her bouquet over her shoulder into the crowd. The woman who catches the bouquet is celebrated, often with cheers and applause from the guests, and is supposedly "next" to walk down the aisle.
Some modern brides opt for variations of this tradition. For instance, some may choose to toss a smaller, separate bouquet to preserve their original bouquet as a keepsake. Others may include all guests in the fun, regardless of their marital status, to make the event more inclusive.
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Confetti, sweets, coins, or flower petals
Confetti is a colourful and fun option for the bride to throw at the wedding reception. It's perfect for indoor goodbyes, is relatively low maintenance, and can be easily cleaned up. Confetti can be thrown by hand or via party poppers, and is available in gold. For an environmentally friendly option, brides can opt for biodegradable confetti.
Sweets are another option for the bride to throw at the wedding reception. In Italy, wedding guests rain candy and sugared nuts over couples to symbolise sweetness in marriage. For a unique twist, brides can throw mini marshmallows or popcorn.
Coins can be a fun alternative to the traditional rice throwing. They can be placed in decorative envelopes with the bride and groom's names and wedding date printed on them.
Flower petals are a beautiful and fragrant option for the bride to throw at the wedding reception. Real flower petals can be used, or faux florals for a longer-lasting option. Assorted flower petals are a cheap alternative to rice and can fill the air with a wonderful scent. For an eco-friendly option, guests can use paper flowers or paper quilling petals as confetti.
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Rice, birdseed, or popcorn
The tradition of throwing objects at weddings is an old one, dating back to ancient times, and is intended as a celebratory send-off for the newlyweds. Rice is a traditional option, symbolising abundance and fertility, and has been used since ancient Roman times. However, some couples opt for alternatives, such as birdseed, due to concerns that rice can be harmful to birds. This belief has been debunked by ornithologists and bird watchers, but some still prefer to avoid rice for this reason. Birdseed is an inexpensive, traditional choice, but it can cause issues for guests with bird allergies.
Popcorn is another option for a wedding toss. It is clean, white, and matches the colour of most wedding parties. It is also edible, so guests or birds can eat any leftovers. If using popcorn, it is important to ensure it is air-popped to avoid grease stains on the couple's clothing.
Other couples choose to use biodegradable confetti, flower petals, or paper airplanes. These options are environmentally friendly and can add a fragrant, festive touch to the celebration. Some couples also provide guests with flags or bicycle bells to wave or ring as the couple exits, rather than throwing objects.
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Sky lanterns or sparklers
Sky lanterns are a beautiful touch for night-time weddings. They are a great way to involve all your guests in your celebration. Usually, guests are encouraged to write their wishes or nice statements for the newlyweds on the sky lanterns before they are released. It is best to pair people up into groups as sky lanterns are easily lit and released with more than one person involved. This also keeps costs reasonable. Some couples prefer to release a single lantern together as a more intimate option.
There are a few things to consider if you want to incorporate sky lanterns into your wedding. Firstly, safety always comes first. Sky lanterns use an open flame and are often made of flammable paper, so there is a chance they could create a safety hazard. Choose a spot that's open and wide and free of obstructions, and be aware of nearby flammable materials. You'll also want to follow any city by-laws to ensure you're not releasing your lanterns in an illegal area.
Sparklers are another popular option for weddings and can be used both indoors and outdoors, venue permitting. They represent hope and optimism, so they are ideal for a wedding reception sendoff. They can also be used to liven up the mood and kick off the reception in style. Sparklers can be incorporated into your wedding reception table décor, and they make for memorable photos. The most popular use for sparklers at weddings is to gather guests into two lines facing each other, holding their lit sparklers to create a "tunnel of light" for the newlyweds to walk through.
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Flags or bicycle bells
Flags and bicycle bells are both excellent alternatives to throwing rice or confetti at the bride and groom as they exit their wedding ceremony. This tradition of 'throwing' things dates back to ancient times and is a way of celebrating the couple as they depart.
Flags can be offered to attendees to wave as the newlyweds make their grand exit, and they can even make for great wedding photos. Bicycle bells are another fun option, and guests can ring them as the couple dashes into their getaway car. These options are perfect if you are looking for a creative send-off, and they can also be incorporated into wedding decor. For example, you could place flags on guests' tables or give bicycle bells with custom labels in welcome baskets.
If you are looking for other creative ideas, there are plenty of alternatives to the traditional rice or confetti toss. You could provide guests with paper airplanes, flower petals, or biodegradable confetti to toss. Bubbles are another fun option that pays homage to childhood and creates a festive atmosphere. For a fragrant option, guests could toss herbs such as rosemary, which symbolizes love and dates back to the Middle Ages. For a couple who loves biking, bicycle bells can be a unique and memorable way to involve guests in the celebration while also incorporating something special to the couple's interests and hobbies.
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Frequently asked questions
Brides have been throwing their bouquets at weddings for hundreds of years. This tradition evolved from customs in Europe, particularly during the medieval and Renaissance periods, when wedding guests considered parts of the bride's attire and flowers to be symbols of good luck. Other traditional items for the bride to throw include rice, confetti, birdseed, and flower petals.
The bride's toss of the bouquet is a playful tradition that adds excitement to the wedding reception. It is believed that the single woman who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. The bride shares her happiness and good fortune with her friends through this ritual.
Modern brides may choose to incorporate a fun twist into the bouquet toss ritual. Some alternatives to throwing the bouquet include tossing a smaller, separate bouquet, including all guests regardless of marital status, or even forgoing the toss altogether and offering guests flags or noisemakers to wave as the couple makes their exit. Other modern alternatives to the bouquet toss include throwing biodegradable confetti, flower petals, paper airplanes, or even mini marshmallows.
