Your questions answered about the history of the garter toss…
Did you know, it all started with wedding guests wanting something for luck from the wedding… But this led to guests tearing small pieces from the brides wedding dress!
Even in the wealthiest households, brides wore their wedding dress after the wedding as their best dress. So, they needed to make a compromise…
In the 1800s, women used garters to hold up their stockings. They wore them either just above or below the knees, at the narrowest part of the leg. To protect her dress, she chose to toss one of her garters instead. When a bride gave one garter away, she could keep the other as a keepsake.
The race for the garter
I found this piece in an old book and found it fascinating…I had thought that the garter was randomly tossed to the single men, but they had to race from the church to the bride’s house to claim it!
A garter race is documented in Yorkshire in 1820, when thirty young men had raced four miles for the prize.
The Lady, who wasn’t named, loved to follow old customs, stepped from her bridal coach and asked who had won the race?
It had been one of the stable lads, Tom… Walking up the steps to cross the threshold, she called to Tom as she raised her silk gown to one knee. The bride told him to claim his prize, as she intended to be properly married and have the luck she was entitled to!
She added “Take it off Tom, and give it to your sweetheart and may it bring luck to both of you”. I’m sure he would have gently remove it with his hands. Not with his teeth, as you see in some brides photos now!
I found this really interesting, I’d always though the luck was for the recipient, but in this piece, she clearly thinks the luck will bless her own marriage.
The piece went on to say that the race could be quite dangerous, with no thought of safety when the lucky garter was the prize.
Often strangers would get caught up with the furore. The male guests were like men ‘bereft of reason’ galloping over ground that in more sensible moments, they would have hesitated to walk a horse across.
Can you imagine what it would have been like?
The Last Garter Race
I read the last garter race, was in the Times 9th April 1910. The wedding was held outdoors on the England – Scotland border.
The bride lived in Cumbernauld, just 50 yards from the stream that defined the border. English law prevented marriage ceremonies in private houses. Her groom was from Roxburgh in Scotland, so they chose a Scottish minister to perform the ceremony on Scottish soil.
The Times reported that after the customary young men’s race for the garter, the wedding party crossed back over the stream. Then held the wedding breakfast at the bride’s house.
I wondered if the race for the garter became less popular, because it was so dangerous? Or is it because the men then sat down to the wedding breakfast, disheveled and hot!
It’s certainly much easier to just toss the garter, to the unmarried male guests at the wedding!
The garter toss
A lovely Silk Garters bride sent me this photo, which one of her guests captured, on her phone at the garter toss.
Who will catch it???
I post many of my gorgeous garter sets to the USA where the garter toss is still really popular. In the USA, various versions take place and the garter toss is gaining popularity again in the UK, although the bride generally removes it discreetly herself!
I’d love to see your garter toss photos!
I just love making this ‘Ivory Silk Ruffle’ Set…It’s one of my most popular wedding garter sets and shared by the ‘Love My Dress’ Wedding Blog on their Pinterest. I have the lace exclusively made for ‘Silk Garters’ in Nottingham, on a cotton tulle. My lace maker made lace for Princess Diana’s wedding! Did you know, Nottingham used to be the lace making hub of the world, so it’s fitting it’s on this garter toss history post!
The toss garter, a gift for your MOH…
This is Callie, giving her toss garter to her maid of honour, a lovely surprise! I love the look on her face 🥰
With my sets, the toss garter is often given to the MOH as a special keepsake, rather than used in the garter toss. But whatever you decide, I hope it brings you wonderful luck.
You can find gorgeous garter sets here or create your own set, by adding a toss garter in the added extras section.
Catherine x
Coming soon, Throwing the Bouquet, Garter and Favours… History