Alternatives to a Bouquet Toss
The bouquet toss is a classic wedding reception activity. The tradition invites all of the eligible ladies in the room to the center and the bride throws her bouquet into the crowd. Whoever catches the bouquet is destined to get married next! While this can be a fun activity to add to your reception timeline, it is NOT required. If you do not want to do a bouquet toss of any kind, you simply don't have to. We are seeing more and more couples shake things up and create reception traditions of their own. However, if you love the idea of a bouquet toss, but want to make it your own (aka less traditional), we have some ideas for you.
If the idea of tossing a big bundle of flowers into a scrappy crowd sounds a little too rough for your reception style, you could hand a flower to each lady. I love this idea for smaller groups with lots of young girls or older women. You could either take your actual wedding bouquet apart and give out the flowers, or have a separate bouquet made specifically for this activity. This way, nobody feels left out or like they "lost." Little girls, in particular, will feel very special if they are given a flower by the bride and are able to take it home with them.
Some couples don’t love the idea of putting pressure on someone to get married next. Of course, it is just a lighthearted game, but you could end up in an awkward situation depending on who catches the bouquet. If you are looking for a less intense version of this tradition, you could throw a plush toy animal, like a dog or cat, into the crowd, and whoever catches it will be the first to adopt a new furry friend. It is the same idea, but the stakes are a little less high. This is another game that kids will love, and both boys and girls can get in on it!
Another idea is to simply give the bouquet to the couple at the reception that has been married the longest. I think that this is a beautiful twist on the original activity that can involve the whole room. The bride or groom could stand up front with the microphone and start with one year, five years, ten years, twenty years, etc., and have couples put down their hands as their anniversaries are called until there is only one couple left. Odds are, this couple will be one of the grandparents, making this a special moment for the newlyweds and their families.
If you are looking for a way to pump up the party, you could invite everyone out onto the dance floor for your bouquet toss and give a gift or gift card to whoever catches it! A fun way to personalize this game would be to buy a gift card to somewhere that is special to you, like your favorite restaurant or favorite date spot. Not only does everybody get to be involved in the game, but they will also get to know a little more about you and the things that you love.
This is your sign that you are allowed to be creative and break tradition. Your wedding reception should be whatever you want it to be, whether that involves a bouquet toss or not!
♥ The Everson Events Team
