Five Important Bouquet Toss Tips

Five Important Bouquet Toss Tips

The bouquet toss is a custom that dates back hundreds of years. Traditionally, the bride would throw her bouquet near the end of her reception to a waiting throng of single women and, according to superstition, the woman who captured it would be the next one to walk down the aisle (or at least get a gorgeous bouquet for her trouble). 

Bride hesitates before throwing her bouquet - photo by Rich Howman - UK wedding photographer
Bride hesitates before throwing her bouquet - photo by Rich Howman Photography - UK wedding photographer

Today’s brides often choose to have two bouquets, one for themselves and one for their bouquet toss. And some brides even add guys to the mix, because after all, single men can be just as excited as women about getting some good luck in the marriage department.

Guys go after bouquet and cause a mishap - M & G Wedding Photography - UK wedding photographers -
Guys go after bouquet and cause a mishap - M and G Wedding Photography - UK wedding photographers

Below you will find 5 tips to make your bouquet toss seamless along with a dozen exciting photos from our galleries and one from our Moment Award winner from UK photographer, Rich Howman

 

#1. To get prepared count all the single women and/or guys on your guest list. If there are only a few you may choose to forgo it, however we've found even small groups appreciate the game. Should you find that you have more married couples than singles you can add the "couples dance" where partners are slowly eliminated from the dance floor until the one pair with the most longevity is honored with a centerpiece or champagne. 

Bouquet toss on the beach - photographed by F5 Photography - UK Wedding Photographers
Bouquet toss on the beach - photographed by F5 Photography - UK Wedding Photographers

 

#2. To ensure you don’t break the momentum of your party, we suggest you throw the bouquet after you cut the cake, when the toasts are finished, or just before your grand exit.

Bridesmaids jump for bouquet - photo by Bee Two Sweet - Washington D.C. Photographers
Bridesmaids jump for bouquet - photo by Bee Two Sweet - Washington D.C. Photographers

 

#3. Have your DJ call the participants to the dance floor and choose an upbeat song that will make people smile.

Bride about to toss her bouquet at wedding reception - photographed by Dark Roux - Texas wedding photographers
Bride about to toss her bouquet at wedding reception - photographed by Dark Roux - Houston, Texas wedding photographers

 

#4. To keep friends from getting injured during what can be a wild free for all, assemble them on a dry, flat surface with plenty of room around them, and suggest they take off their high heels.

Colorful bouqet toss in Cancun, Mexico - photographed by Citlalli Rico Photography - Cancun, Mexico photographer
Colorful bouquet toss in Cancun, Mexico - photographed by Citlalli Rico Photography - Cancun, Mexico photographer

 

#5. Practice throwing an object that is the size of your bouquet. If you can get access to your reception area before guests arrive, use a pillow or a squishy ball. Seriously, throwing your bouquet isn’t as easy as it looks and a little practice can go a long way.

Seated guests at courthouse ready to catch the bouquet - photo by Rich Howman - UK wedding photographer
Seated guests at courthouse ready to catch the bouquet - photo by Rich Howman Photography - UK wedding photographer
Bride looks over her shoulder while she throws her bouquet - photo by Julien Laurent Georges - wedding photographer in France
Bride looks over her shoulder while she throws her bouquet - photo by Julien Laurent Georges - France wedding photographer
Little girl jumps in the air to catch bouquet - photographed by Shane P. Watts - Malta wedding photographer
Little girl jumps in the air to catch bouquet - photographed by Shane P. Watts Photography - Malta wedding photographer
Exuberant bouquet toss - photographed by Yves Schepers - Belgium wedding photographer
Exuberant bouquet toss - photographed by Yves Schepers Photography - Belgium wedding photographer
Upbeat wedding reception bouquet toss - photographed by Lisa Stone - San Francisco wedding photographer
Upbeat wedding reception bouquet toss - photographed by Lisa Stone Photography - San Francisco, California wedding photographer
All hands up in the air for bouquet toss - photographed by M and G Wedding Photograpy - UK wedding photographers
All hands up in the air for bouquet toss - photographed by M and G Wedding Photography - UK wedding photographers

Looking for more advice on everything from cutting your cake to how to make a stunning entrance? Check out the blog posts in our Wedding Planning section.

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