Gaga for Garters!

Sweet Nothings Lace Garter by Blush

If there’s one element of every bride’s wardrobe that is guaranteed to cause as much of a fuss as her dress, it’s her garter. Everyone is familiar with the hilarious, albeit scandalous, wedding tradition during which the groom has the privilege to remove his bride’s garter (sometimes with his teeth!) in the centre of a room surrounded by friends and family! When the groom tosses the garter to the single men in attendance, tradition states that the one to catch it will be the next to be married – similar to when the bride throws the bouquet to all her single ladies.

Did you know, however, that this tradition has been around for literally hundreds of years? Back in the Middle Ages, it was popular belief among European peasant populations that a bride’s clothing became infused with good fortune when she was married in them. As you can well imagine, this often resulted in quite the ruckus. By the end of the day, most of the wedding guests left satisfied, with a piece of the bride’s dress in hand, while the poor bride was left in a tattered, ruined dress!

Over the years, as weddings have grown more public and increasingly extravagant, few brides were willing to sacrifice their beautiful wedding gowns. So, to satisfy guests and continue to spread the good luck, brides began to willingly toss an element of their outfit to those in attendance, like her bouquet and her garter. Over time, grooms got in on the fun, and thus began the tradition of the groom’s garter toss!

Garters originated as practical tools for securing women’s stockings, but with so much attention on them, women began to invest in pretty, decorative garter belts for their big day. With the invention of stretch fabrics and elastic, pantyhose have eliminated the necessity of garters, but many women still like the fancy, feminine appearance of a garter belt for special occasions – and the wedding is no exception!

Many women take the garter tradition as an opportunity to have some fun and invest in themed garters for the occasion. Feathers, rhinestones, ribbons, flowers, charms, embroidery… the options are endless! Personally, I am a big fan of the classic, white lace bridal garter, like this Sweet Nothings Lace Garter by Blush Lingerie.

So there you have it! I encourage all of you to check out the selection of garters and garter belts on www.nowthatslingerie.com and have some fun on your special day!

Have a lovely week, dear readers!

Rachel
rachel@nowthatslingerie.com