Do couples still throw the bouquet and remove the garter?

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Traditionally towards the end of the reception the bride will throw a bouquet to all the single ladies and the one who catches it is expected to be the next to marry.  This is usually a second bouquet provided by the florist (often for free), it can be your main bouquet if you do not want to keep it.      

The equivalent for the guys is when the groom throws the bride’s garter to all the single men.

These are great fun activities which can help draw the reception to a climax just before the married couple leave.  However, they are not compulsory, and there are other options.

For example, throwing the garter is usually preceded by the groom removing it from his bride’s leg as she sits on a chair in the middle of the dance floor – sometimes with his teeth.  This can be entertaining, but risks becoming crass if not done with style.  A safe option is for the bride to simply hand it to her husband.

There are also some examples of alternatives to throwing the bouquet.  For instance:

• You can simply hand your bouquet to a specific person – maybe a best friend or someone who has helped a lot. 

• Anniversary Dance - all couples can be asked to stand and someone counts up from one. When the number of years each couple have been married is reached, they sit down.  This means the longest married couple will be left standing, and they can receive the bouquet.  It is important that you know the number of years the longest has been married to ensure the MC doesn’t skip a few years and everyone sits down at once.
• All the single ladies can form a circle around the bride in the middle of the dance floor and each attaches a ribbon to the bouquet while the bride holds it above her head. With a blindfold on, the bride can then use scissors to cut the ribbons as the women walk around her in a circle.  The lady holding the last ribbon gets the bouquet.

Nowadays these types of traditions still exist, but there is no obligation to follow them.  You should feel free to do whatever you want.