Garter—what's the story behind this bridal accessory?

The bride's garter may be her least visible accessory, but it is also one of the most important. After all, just like the bridal bouquet, it determines who will be the next to get married.

The Bride's Garter—Then and Now

The garter has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. At that time, women wore long skirts and stockings that were secured to their thighs with garters. These served not only as a practical way to hold up the stockings but were also worn as jewelry.

Over time, the ribbons came to take on more and more symbolic meanings. They served as symbols of virginity, innocence, fertility, and eventually as good-luck charms as well.

These days, the garter is mainly a sexy accessory designed to seduce the groom. It’s more elaborately decorated than ever and really stands out, especially when paired with high heels and short wedding dresses or dresses with a high leg slit. In addition to the classic lace garter, colored garters are becoming increasingly popular; they add a wonderful pop of color—especially with white wedding dresses (something blue).

The Tradition of Throwing the Garter

Originally, it was the bride who, toward the end of the wedding reception, removed her garter and tossed it into a group of bachelors. The one who caught the garter was said to be the next to get married. Today, the groom usually takes on this role. The reason for this is the even older custom of tossing the bridal bouquet. Since brides had two items to toss, they increasingly handed the garter over to the groom until it eventually became a tradition. 

The Garter as a Keepsake

However, even today, there are still several different garter traditions. While it is usually thrown by the groom into the crowd of bachelors, there is also a custom in which the groom keeps the garter as a keepsake. There is also a variation in which the garter is returned to the groom after it has been thrown. 

Just like with the bridal bouquet, there are different ways to handle the timing of the toss. Sometimes it’s thrown right after the wedding ceremony; other times, the toss becomes a midnight showstopper. Our tip: Do whatever you like. But keep in mind: The later it gets, the worse the hand-eye coordination of the waiting bachelors becomes—and the funnier the photos will be.

The Garter as a Wedding Gift

The garter is often given as a gift by a bridesmaid or maid of honor. In most cases, however, it is chosen by the bride herself. This choice is usually made at the same time as the decision on a wedding dress. Traditionally, the garter is worn on the right thigh.

Conclusion on the Bride's Garter

The garter has a long tradition. Whether and how you choose to participate in this custom is, of course, up to you. Decide for yourselves when the garter will be thrown, who will throw it, and who gets to keep it as a memento.