Even in marriage, traditions evolve over time, and some of the most symbolic moments can be reinterpreted according to your tastes. In this article, we offer you 9 alternative ideas to toss the wedding bouquet that you could consider to surprise everyone on your wedding day.
What does the throwing of the bridal bouquet consist of?
Among the longest-standing traditions on the wedding day, the toss of the wedding bouquet is certainly one of the most iconic. At the end of the banquet or during the final party, the bride turns her back towards a group of unmarried guests and blindly throws her precious floral accessory. The lucky one who grabs it will be the next to get married. For some brides and guests, this is an unmissable and fun moment, others would prefer to avoid it, while some are willing to participate, but in a more original way.
In our previous article How to Choose Your Bridal Bouquet: A Guide with Tips, Trends, and Ideas, we talked in depth about what are the fundamental characteristics that every bride should follow to best match this fundamental accessory, however, nowadays today even ancient traditions undergo some changes that often surprise event participants.
A flower for each guest
The bouquet is unique, but the flowers are many, so why please just one person? Our first alternative to tossing the wedding bouquet is to share it with all your guests who are not yet married, giving each of them a flower. If you think that the flowers are not enough for everyone, in that case, you can throw the bouquet loose, thus creating a floral shower that will allow more people to take home a flower of good omen for the future.
The ribbon game
Have you ever heard of the ribbon game as an alternative to tossing the wedding bouquet? If the answer is no, here’s how it works:
Long satin ribbons tied with an elastic band are added to the bouquet. The bride positions herself in the center of a circle formed by her friends and guests, holding her bouquet high.
Each guest takes a ribbon and, if you wish, to a musical background, begins to spin and switch places, making the ribbons indistinguishable from the bride. With a pair of scissors, the bride cuts the ribbons one at a time, and whoever is left with the last ribbon in their hand will win the bouquet.
The treasure hunt
If you love team games and want to surprise your guests with a fun activity, organize a treasure hunt with the bouquet as the final prize. With the help of the staff, identify particular corners of the location where you can hide notes with clues and riddles. The guests will have to solve them to find the precious accessory and win the bouquet!
Organize a charity auction
What if your bouquet could become an even more precious gift? Among the alternatives to toss the bridal bouquet, you can consider organizing a solidarity auction, the proceeds of which will be donated to a cause you care about. In addition to the wedding bouquet, you can also auction secondary prizes such as a centerpiece, the garter (also a symbol of good luck), or small souvenirs of the wedding. One thing is certain, everyone will be thrilled to participate in this charitable gesture, making your bouquet even more precious.
Donate it to whoever you want most
If you want a special person among all the guests to grab the bouquet, perhaps someone who was close to you throughout the wedding preparations, leave nothing to chance and give them your bouquet directly! There is nothing wrong with giving this accessory to someone you think is so special that they deserve it without competition, it will be a special and unexpected gesture, creating an unforgettable moment to cherish forever.
The game of chairs
There are creative alternatives to the wedding bouquet toss that will challenge your guests and ensure fun for everyone. For example, you could use a game of chairs. To play, organize a circle of chairs with one less than the number of guests.
Ask the DJ to play a song while guests walk or dance around the chairs. The music will suddenly stop and everyone will have to try to sit down as quickly as possible. Whoever remains without a chair is eliminated along with a chair. The last person with a seat left wins the prize.
Let men compete
As we explained, the tradition of catching the wedding bouquet is generally reserved for women, but imagine if men were competing to snag this coveted bouquet. The winner could decide to give it as a gift to his sweetheart, taking advantage of the opportunity to make a marriage proposal, or he could choose to give it to a guest of his choice, or simply keep it for himself! After all, men also appreciate flowers and dream of getting married.
Trust chance
The most fascinating alternatives to toss the wedding bouquet are those where success is not determined only by the promptness and agility of the guest, but also by fate, as in the case where the prize is sealed under lock and key. Place your bouquet in a transparent display case or in a padlocked trunk, and distribute several keys among the guests, one of which will open the treasure. Who will be the lucky holder of the right key?
Let luck choose
No throwing and no bride with her back turned; on the contrary, the bride will be blindfolded just like the goddess Fortuna. This variation of the wedding bouquet toss involves the bride, blindfolded, handing her bouquet to the person in front of her. The guests will form a circle around the bride, who will be made to turn around a few times to lose her sense of direction before giving her bouquet.
Toss the bridal bouquet: Give space to your creativity
We have only presented 9 alternatives to toss the wedding bouquet, but the options are endless, in fact, there are many games you can organize to allow your guests to win this accessory, from bingo to a personalized quiz. If you don’t like the idea of parting with your beautiful bouquet, you can always choose not to throw it and give your guests another significant wedding accessory!
In conclusion
The moment of tossing the wedding bouquet can be transformed into a unique experience by considering creative and fun alternatives. From the most established traditions to the most innovative ideas, every bride can personalize this special moment according to her own tastes and desires.
Whether it’s team games, gestures of solidarity, or romantic surprises, the important thing is to create a moment that reflects the love, joy, and sharing that characterize the wedding day. So, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and put into practice original ideas that will make your wedding unique and unforgettable for you and your guests.