History of the Wedding garter toss

Why do we toss the garter at weddings? 

a tradition that many brides like to have at their weddings.  They are fun and sometimes crazy (depending on your crowd)  Today's bride is looking for something that will show their personality and will match with their theme.  Garters are a small way to make a fun and exciting impact on your special day.   Ladies feel sexy when they put on a garter.  For some reason it just makes us feel special in anticipation for time to be spent with our spouse.  Many women like to wear matching garters with various intimate outfits, or to make holidays and aniversaries special times to remember.  But Garters are used most on one of the most special days of a girls life, her Wedding!  This day she may put on her most lovely under garments for her special man.  The garter many times is the last & final touch to the underwear attire, and it is one of the first things the Brides new husband will remove.  This is why so many brides want them to be something to be remembered!

A Brief History of the Wedding Garter.

Tossing the wedding garter is an old tradition.  It is said that in the days of old the bride and groom had to consummate their marriage.  But in order for it to be proven it was common tradition to have people like family and friends come into the room with the couple to witness it.  The "witnesses" would obtain the garter as "proof" of the consummation.   Also having any article of the under garments was considered to be good luck so sometimes things would get out of hand in the newly wed's bedroom as crazed onlookers snatched at clothing to get for good luck.  This was not appreciated much by the bride nor many grooms, hence the groom started tossing the garter out so that no one would need to obtain it themselves.

Because of modesty, this tradition has been modified and moved from the bedroom to the reception.   Now today we have the traditional garter toss, which is meant to bring good luck to the man who catches it.  He is said to be the next one to marry.  In some cultures the men stand and wait for the garter to be tossed.  Other cultures they actually compete for it.  The men may compete for the garter in a foot race or by horse (this is a medieval practice).  At least it is better than having the men chase the bride and put her upside down to get the garter off... This is what used to happen!  In yet other places, they even auction the garter off.  As strange as these twists on the wedding garter tradition may sound they are all just traditions.  Take' em or leave' em.