Franklin Dean
The band on the bride's leg for a wedding dress is called a garter. It is a piece of bridal lingerie worn under a wedding dress on the upper thigh. There is no rule on which leg to wear the garter on, and it can be worn on whichever leg feels natural to the bride. It is recommended to wear the garter just above the knee on either leg to prevent it from rubbing against the other leg.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To hold up stockings or socks |
| Leg | No traditional leg; can be worn on either leg |
| Position | Just above the knee or higher up the thigh |
| Material | Elastic fabric, lace, silk, tulle |
| Colour | Blue |
| Tradition | Garter toss, where the groom removes the garter from the bride and tosses it into a crowd of male guests |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding garter history
The wedding garter is said to be one of the oldest wedding traditions, dating back to the Dark Ages. After the wedding festivities, guests would accompany the newly married couple to their bedroom to ensure they arrived safely and to wish them well. It was considered good luck for a guest to take home a piece of the bride's clothing. This led to guests tackling the bride and ripping off her clothes in the hope of obtaining a piece of her attire.
The garter, which was used to hold up a woman's stockings, would often get tossed during this melee, and it was considered lucky for whoever caught it. In those days, it was believed that the next person to marry would be the one who caught the garter. To appease the crowd and avoid such chaos, the bride and groom started tossing the bouquet and garter during the wedding reception.
The garter toss tradition has evolved over time, and today, it is a fun and entirely optional activity during wedding receptions. The bride's partner removes the garter from underneath her gown and tosses it into a crowd of male wedding guests. Whoever catches the garter is meant to put it on the woman who catches the bride's bouquet.
While the garter toss ritual remains a part of many modern weddings, some brides choose to skip it and instead save the garter as a special heirloom to be passed down through generations. The garter is typically worn just above the knee on either leg and is made of fabric with an elastic band to hold it in place. It is often selected in white or blue and can be adorned with delicate bows, appliqués, beading, rhinestones, or crystals.
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Garter placement
A wedding garter is a thin band of elastic fabric that is worn under a wedding dress on the upper thigh. It is usually made of lace and holds up a woman's stockings. Wedding garters are available in a variety of colours, but brides typically select one in white or blue.
There is no traditional leg that a garter should be worn on. It can be worn on any leg that feels natural to you. It is recommended that you wear the garter just above your knee on either leg. This is the most comfortable place to wear it as this part of your leg is least likely to rub against your other leg. If you are wearing a mermaid or tighter-fitting wedding dress, the spot around your knee is also ideal as this is where your dress will flare out.
The garter toss tradition has its origins in the Dark Ages when people believed that having a piece of the bride's dress brought good luck. Guests would reportedly rip at the couple's clothes as a form of "encouragement". To appease the crowd, the bride and groom would toss the bouquet and the garter. Today, the groom tosses the garter into a crowd of male wedding guests, and whoever catches it is meant to put it on the woman who catches the bride's bouquet.
Whether or not to participate in this ritual is entirely up to you. You can wear the garter higher on your leg if that feels more comfortable.
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Garter materials
Wedding garters are usually made of thin, elastic fabric, designed to hold up a bride's stockings. They are worn on the upper thigh, just above the knee, to prevent the garter from rubbing against the other leg.
Garters are typically made of lace, satin, or gathered fabric. They can be decorated with bows, appliqués, beading, rhinestones, or crystals. Some garters are also made from silk and feature beautiful embroidery.
If you're feeling creative, you can make your own garter using elastic, lace or ribbon, and any embellishments you wish to add, such as pearls, rhinestones, or charms. First, measure the circumference of your thigh where you want the garter to sit and cut the elastic to this length, leaving a little extra for overlap. Cut the lace or ribbon slightly longer than the elastic, lay it over the elastic, and sew them together using a zigzag stitch for flexibility. Ensure the lace or ribbon gathers slightly to create a ruffled effect. Then, add your chosen embellishments.
The garter is worn on either leg, depending on what feels most natural to the bride. It is recommended that the garter is placed on the narrowest part of the thigh to ensure it doesn't rub against the other leg.
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Garter toss alternatives
A garter is a band worn on the leg by a bride during her wedding. It is traditionally removed by the groom and tossed to a group of his single male friends. This act is symbolic of deflowering the bride.
However, many couples are choosing to forego the garter toss tradition. Here are some alternatives to the garter toss that you can consider for your wedding:
Toss Alternatives
If you want to retain the essence of the tradition but skip the awkwardness, you can buy a garter and simply toss it to your select group of loved ones without wearing it. You can also toss other items like a football, a custom-made bracelet, or wedding favours (provided they are non-fragile).
Game Alternatives
If you want to replace the garter toss with a game, you can try a giant Jenga with dares written on each piece, a frozen T-shirt contest, or the shoe game.
Charity Alternatives
If you and your partner prioritize giving to charity, you can incorporate this into your garter toss alternative. Toss an item representing your chosen charity, such as a stuffed animal for an animal conservation foundation, and put a donation under the name of whoever catches it.
Alcohol Alternatives
For a unique twist, incorporate alcohol into your garter toss alternative. Throw a box, without the alcohol in it, of your preferred alcohol. Anyone, single or not, will want to join this fun twist on the tradition.
T-Shirt Alternatives
You can also consider a t-shirt cannon, a feminist alternative to the garter toss. Make a custom shirt for the event with your wedding date and your names on the front.
Remember, you can personalize your wedding and make it as comfortable as possible for you and your guests.
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Garter removal tactics
A garter, also known as a thigh garter, is a band of fabric worn around the upper thigh. They were originally designed to keep long socks or stockings in place but are now worn for fashion, especially at weddings.
There is no rule about which leg you should wear a garter on—it can be worn on whichever leg feels most natural to you. It is recommended that you wear the garter just above your knee on either leg as this is the most comfortable position and least likely to rub against your other leg.
If you are planning to include a garter toss at your wedding, here are some tips to make the experience more comfortable and classy:
- Discuss it with your partner beforehand and ensure you are both comfortable with the idea.
- Choose an appropriate song for the garter toss that puts you at ease and excites you.
- Speak to your wedding planner or event coordinator about your plans so they can help you prepare.
- When it's time for the garter toss, the bride can sit in a chair with the groom kneeling before her. The bride can lift the skirt of her dress slightly (just below the knees is ideal) and extend her leg a little to make it easier for the groom.
- The groom can then reach under the skirt to remove the garter with their hands or teeth (if both parties consent) and slide it down the bride's leg and over her shoe.
- The groom can then toss the garter into the crowd of guests.
Remember, there is no rule that says you have to throw the actual garter—you can purchase a separate "tossing or throwing" garter or skip the tradition altogether if it makes you uncomfortable.
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Frequently asked questions
A wedding garter is a thin band of elastic fabric worn on the upper thigh to hold up stockings.
There is no traditional leg that a garter should be worn on. It can be worn on any leg that feels natural to you. It is recommended to wear it just above your knee on either leg to prevent it from rubbing against your other leg.
In the past, garters were worn by both men and women. They were used to hold up stockings. Nowadays, garters are primarily seen in women's fashion as a seductive accessory and are a strong wedding tradition.
Wedding garters are typically made of lace, silk, or tulle. They often feature delicate bows, appliqués, beading, rhinestones, or crystals.
During the wedding reception, it is traditional for the bride's partner to remove the garter from underneath her gown and toss it into a crowd of male wedding guests. The man who catches the garter is supposed to be the next to marry. He then places the garter on the female guest who caught the bride's bouquet.
