Bride's Garter: a lucky chance for the groom's unmarried friends!

What is an accessory and why is it needed?

It is an elegant hoop made of delicate fabric, tightened with elastic bands, often decorated with embroidery, lace or rhinestones.
Put it on the right leg, above the knee. The history of the tradition of wearing a bride's garter is interesting and, to some extent, educational. Initially, the accessory was only an element of a woman’s wardrobe, the function of which was to support stockings. The period of the “invention” of the garter is considered to be the middle of the 17th century, its homeland being France.

Savvy women have noticed that garters on their stockings have a mesmerizing effect on men and make their hearts flutter. None of the ladies refused to take advantage of the new opportunity to conquer the stronger sex. A tradition began to emerge - the bride’s garter began to be decorated.

Over time, statistics have accumulated on situations directly or indirectly related to this element of the wardrobe. This is how signs began to take shape - the bride’s garter has proven its effectiveness in practice. The most important thing for any woman is the complex of traditions and signs associated specifically with wedding garters.

Interesting! Also learn how to properly put on a garter and how to make it yourself.

Choosing a wedding accessory

As mentioned above, the original garters were created from specially shaped lace, which pulled the leg, preventing the stockings from falling down. In addition, in some countries special ribbons were used, tied like bows - in this case they often peeked out from under a short dress.

A modern option is a small, neat bridal garter, which is purely decorative. Several decorations can be placed on it, which will make the tradition even more beautiful. Among them are:

rhinestones;
artificial and natural pearls;
embroidery;
transparent and silk elements.

Don’t be shy about using floral motifs, which are always relevant at any wedding. An example would be a garter designed in the style of a rose - it is relevant for any age of the bride and suits almost any style of dress.

A very good option is to use real jewelry or a good imitation of it. They are suitable for a wedding in a classic style, which involves observing all modern traditions, including original dresses with a tight cut.

You can use not only white color - if the dress is long enough and the garter will not be visible during the dance, then it can have a red, blue or green tint.

In general, the choice is yours - and only you can decide what style of this accessory to use at the wedding.

You can make the bride's garter yourself or purchase a ready-made item of clothing in a specialized store. In addition, unique designer products created to order are also very popular.

A wedding garter is one of the components of a bride's outfit. The word "garter" (la jarretire, la jaretelle French) comes from the word "jarret", which means the hollow of the popliteal cavity, and is an elastic strip of fabric or tape that supports stockings on the thigh. In the Middle Ages, the garter was used to hold up the lower part of trousers, and subsequently it became an essential accessory of elegance for both men and women. Women's garters were most often decorated with embroidery, lace and precious stones. In essence, when talking about a wedding garter, we mean an ordinary elastic band or ribbon. It can be wide or narrow, but it must be beautifully decorated.

Today, wedding garters are beautiful, tastefully decorated delicate garters, made of the finest materials, wide and narrow, but always decorated with lace, bows, flowers or even rhinestones.

And although in the modern world garters have lost their relevance, since with the advent of tights they were no longer needed, many wedding traditions and customs associated with garters for the bride have been preserved today. Let's try to understand some of the most common questions about this wedding accessory:

Which leg
is the wedding garter worn
?

There are no strict rules on how to wear wedding garters.
But usually the bride wears a garter just above the knee of her right leg. In some regions of North America, it is customary to wear two wedding garters. The first garter is called “lucky”. According to tradition, the groom throws this garter to his unmarried friends. The second garter is called “sweet” or “honey”; it is usually worn 10 centimeters higher than the first. The second garter remains as a keepsake. And it is called that because its removal marks the beginning of the honeymoon for the newlyweds. Who
takes off the garter
and ?

If you decide that you will wear two garters, then there are no questions about the first one - the so-called “sweet” or “honey” garter is removed by the husband on the wedding night in the bedroom.
According to tradition, the groom throws the second garter to his unmarried friends. Its owner gains hope for a quick marriage and prosperity in life. This tradition arose around the 14th century. According to one version, in those days there was a superstition according to which a piece of clothing from the bride or groom brought love and good luck to the house. According to another version, a wedding garter is associated with a virginity belt and, by removing it, the groom demonstratively shows that he is now a full and legal husband. It is customary to throw the garter at the end of the wedding reception, after the wedding cake has been cut, but before the bride throws the wedding bouquet. As a rule, special musical accompaniment is selected for this special moment. In the West, this moment of the wedding is no less important than the first dance of the newlyweds. If for some reason it is not acceptable for you to throw the garter, then the groom can replace the bride’s garter with some other wedding accessory - a boutonniere, or one flower from the bride’s bouquet.

How to properly
remove a bride's garter
?
There are no special rules on how to remove a wedding pendant.
Usually it happens like this: the groom picks up the bride and sits or puts her on a chair. Unmarried men gather in front of the newlyweds. The groom should carefully and delicately feel the garter with his hands, then loosen the elastic band (if it doesn’t work right away, it’s better to ask the bride for help so that there is no awkward moment; moreover, if the bride is too modest, she can remove the garter herself and give it to the groom) . Next, the groom, slightly lifting and supporting the bride's leg, removes the garter, using his hands, or if you want to add a little piquancy, you can remove the garter with your teeth - this method is much more effective and fun, but it can shock older guests. If the bride decides to wear two garters at once, do not get confused: the lower one must be removed. When removing the garter, take your time - let the photographer capture this moment.

After the bride's garter was in the groom's hands, it was time to throw it away. The groom stands with his back to the unmarried men and throws the garter.

The lucky person who catches the garter is rewarded with general applause and, according to established tradition, invites the girl who caught the bride's bouquet to dance.

How
to choose the right wedding garter ?
When purchasing garters for a wedding, be guided by the fact that it is desirable that the color of the garter harmonizes with shoes and stockings, and you can decorate it yourself using lace, beads, beads and rhinestones.

Are you planning to have a wedding, but don’t know why the bride needs a garter? We suggest you read the article, which will tell you in detail about this item and the role it plays in the celebration.

The most important rules

In order for a wedding garter to fully fulfill its role, you need to know how to put it on and wear it.

First

There should be two garters! Both of them are worn on the right leg. The first is 7-15 cm above the knee, the second is above it, about a palm higher. Being in this part of the leg, they will not interfere with walking or fall off. The undergarter, in accordance with the ritual, is untied by the groom during the wedding and thrown to the men nearby.

The young husband removes the second garter from the bride in private, on the most unforgettable moment: the first wedding night. This wedding accessory has its own name: “honey garter”. Which speaks not about the color, but about the sensations and feelings that the husband will experience when taking it off.

Second

Garters must be untied! In order to make the task easier for the groom, the bottom one should not be tied too tightly. But it makes sense to fasten the second one, since it should be on the leg throughout the wedding, until the wedding night.

Third

The style should be consistent with the outfit! Every bride wants this detail of her image to be as gentle, feminine, and at the same time sexy as possible. Garters made of thin lace, decorated with flowers, ribbons, and embroidery have all these characteristics.

On what occasion can you wear a garter?

A garter is an elegant product that is worn on the leg slightly above the knee. It is a piece of lace fabric, which is decorated with a satin ribbon. Beads or satin flowers can also be sewn onto it. An exquisite diamond brooch or bow will look great on a garter. To ensure that the accessory stays tightly on the body, a special silicone elastic band is sewn into it.

Ladies who understand the nuances of creating a sexy image know perfectly well why a garter is needed. This decoration is worn by brides at their wedding. While the future wife throws the wedding bouquet to the girls, the groom must throw the garter to the guys. It is believed that the young man who catches it will definitely meet his soul mate. A soft blue, pink, or virgin white garter will go well with a wedding dress.

Also, the product will look harmonious in tandem with an elegant evening dress. After all, there are accessories: blue, decorated with diamonds or bright red, which symbolize passion and undying emotions. A black garter is ideal for a classic outfit. In any case, every girl can choose a sophisticated and sexy option.

Signs

Signs and customs of wearing a bride's garter are largely related to the color of the accessory. Let's look at what the different shades symbolize.

White – purity and innocence; whoever catches the garter will be happy in marriage and will find a faithful, devoted wife.
Light blue or dark blue – realization of hopes and desires, good luck.
Green – long marriage, prosperity, healthy children.
Red – passion and sexuality, debauchery; the one who catches it marries an ardent and hot woman.
Black – luck in career and public service.
Golden - the life partner of the one who caught it will certainly be rich.

One sign led to the birth of a new ritual: throwing a garter, which the young husband himself untied. This prevented access to the bride’s legs. And at the same time, signs associated with the color of the garter appeared.

One of the oldest wedding signs is that whoever snatches a piece of the bride’s outfit will certainly be happy in family life. And if he is lonely, he will soon meet his fate. Since practice confirmed this sign, tipsy guests often lost control and even tried to untie the garter on the bride’s leg.

The ceremony of throwing the garter at a wedding.

The ceremony of throwing the bride's garter by the groom is a ritual that, in a playful manner, determines which of the unmarried men present at the festive banquet will marry next. Of course, this ritual is just a game, not a forecast or a prophecy. But this makes the ceremony of throwing the bride's garter even more fun.

The ceremony of the groom throwing the bride's garter is usually carried out towards the end of the festive banquet. It is believed that by the time the groom throws the bride's garter, the newlyweds should already be cutting the wedding cake and treating it to friends and relatives invited to the gala banquet. But the throwing of the bride's bouquet has not yet taken place; the bride will throw her wedding bouquet to the unmarried guests only after the ceremony of the groom throwing the bride's garter. This sequence of actions is the traditional sequence for a holiday banquet. However, you can break it if you see fit; today traditions do not influence us as much as before, so there is nothing wrong with breaking the traditional order of actions. By the way, you and your chosen one should decide whether to perform the ceremony of the groom throwing the bride’s garter at the festive banquet. After all, it is he who will have to take off such an intimate part of your clothing from you and throw it to his friends. Your beloved man may be against such entertainment. When planning to arrange such a wedding ceremony at your festive banquet, remember about your guests. How will most of your guests perceive this rather playful wedding ceremony? Won't they feel insulted in their best feelings? Will this ritual fit well into the style of your wedding? Will it be appropriate? You should not carry out the ceremony of throwing the bride's garter by the groom if it does not fit organically with the style of your wedding as a whole.

It is known that ladies take the issue of choosing each set of underwear seriously. The perfect bra and panties will highlight the advantages of a sexy figure. They can have an original design, embroidery or rhinestones applied on them.

I am glad that fashion designers are constantly offering new opportunities to update the image. They create special accessories that make the look perfect. Ladies are happy to choose:

stockings;
lace garter belt;
belt-skirt;
garters;
gloves.

Fortune Teller

The bride's wedding garter, located on top, can be either white or red. The first speaks of pureness and purity, the second - of ardent love. The red shade is often chosen by brides with a bright temperament. Tamara Solntseva

There are also traditions for the color of the bride's garter for different countries. Thus, in France it is customary to wear blue, symbolizing the purity of the Virgin Mary. In Spain, the color blue is the color of choice. In England they chose pink and red. In Russia it is traditionally white. The situation in Sweden is interesting: there it is permissible to throw not a garter, but the bride’s panties.

All about tying and throwing

The ritual of untying and throwing has slight variations, depending on the country of residence of the newlyweds. The one we know today came from the USA. It was there that the most convenient locations for the garter on the bride’s leg were found. Namely: the first is 7-15 cm above the knee, the second is a palm higher.

Today, Russians and residents of Slavic countries also adhere to this ritual. But still, there is a slight difference. In the United States, it is customary to throw a garter to the groom's friends before the bouquet toss ritual takes place. With us, it’s the other way around: first, according to tradition, they throw a bouquet, and then a garter.

The ritual of untying this accessory is also interesting. Wedding planners try to make it as spectacular as possible, because so much hope and excitement among the guests is associated with this event. Don't disappoint your guests.

Therefore, as a rule, the groom lifts the bride and places her on some elevated platform: a chair, an impromptu throne, a podium. She lifts her dress slightly and feels the garter on her leg. He unties it with his teeth or hands and throws it into the hall, among the guests. Read here in more detail about how to properly remove a garter, and here – who can buy it.

Important! The final stage of this ritual is the dance of the newlyweds. The music should be slow and melodious to emphasize the importance of the moment and maintain the effect of joy in the one who caught the garter, as well as to eliminate slight disappointment in those who did not manage to catch it.

Beliefs

It is believed that if the lucky guy who caught it gives this little thing to the girl he likes, he will certainly be reciprocated. And the matter will end in a happy marriage.

Another wedding ritual: the one who caught the accessory must invite the girl who caught the bouquet to the dance following the dance of the bride and groom. This needs to be done regardless of whether these people have a life partner or not. This is the ritual.

The sign associated with untying the second garter says: the easier it is untied, the easier and more joyful family life will be. You can come across advice that recommends trying your luck: tighten the garter as best as possible and see how easily your husband can remove it on your wedding night. If this process is not difficult for him, it is a sure sign of mutual understanding and a happy marriage.