How the Groom Removes the Garter

The long standing tradition of removing the bride's garter during the wedding reception is an expected and often comical ritual. Worn for luck, and often representing the "something blue" of wedding lore, the garter is usually removed by the groom during a public display. How to remove the garter is completely up to the wedding couple and usually includes a few suggestive moves and laughs all around.

Lead the bride to the dance floor of the wedding reception. Ask the disc jockey to announce the official garter removal, so a crowd will gather. Have the disc jockey play upbeat instrumental music in the background as he gives a play by play account of the garter retrieval.

Ask the bride to have a seat. Use a folding chair or a stool, so the groom has access to the front of her dress.

Using his hands or his teeth, the groom will retrieve the garter from the upper thigh of the bride's leg in front of the audience. Choose which method the groom will use to retrieve the garter. Use a handkerchief to comfortably tie his hands behind his back The best man or father of the groom gets the honor of tying the grooms hands together.

Let the groom go for the garter. Using his hands or his teeth, lift the front edge of the bride's dress just enough to get his head underneath. Pause for a moment for audience laughter and hollers. Use teeth or hands to retrieve the garter.

Slide the garter down the bride's leg, and over her shoe. Waving the garter in the air, the groom now participates in the garter toss. Ask the disc jockey to call all single men to the dance floor. Turn the groom so his back faces the crowd of single men. Throw the garter back over the shoulder towards the crowd, or shoot it like a rubber band for a further reach. Allow the garter toss winner to keep the garter as a souvenir from the wedding.

Additional tips:
If the bride wears two garters, be sure she removes the keepsake garter before the reception. Have the maid of honor store the garter in a safe place, so it is not accidentally given away at the reception.

Talk about the garter removal well before the reception. Brides and grooms may choose to omit this tradition to reduce embarrassment.

Sources:
Wedding Garter History and Traditions
http://www.eyecatchingcreations.com/garterhistory.htm

Wedding Traditions
http://www.wedding-garter.com/traditions.htm

The History of Wedding Traditions
http://www.russprice.com/moreinfo/russ_price_the_history_of_wedding_traditions.pdf

Bridal Garter History
http://www.glitzysecrets.com/tradition-of-bridal-garters.html