IN case you missed last week’s article here is a quick recap, planning a stress-free wedding is every bride and groom’s cup of tea but how to avoid or get rid of the stress is what has been a challenge to many couples, the article was about some of the tips you can use.
This week we will talk about the throwing of a bridal bouquet. At most weddings, all the single ladies look forward to the bouquet throwing; you will agree with me that almost at every wedding this segment is very popular. This is a tradition to which guests at a wedding look forward to.
It is a tradition throughout the world for the bride to throw her bouquet at the end of the ceremony and for all single women present to compete in catching it. The woman who catches the bouquet is said to be the next to marry. But the question one may ask is how did this custom originate?
In the 14th century, medieval Europe, a bride typically did not expect to wear her wedding dress again and the dress was considered good luck for other women, a type of fertility charm. After the wedding, single women chased the bride and ripped pieces off her dress, leaving her with the inner garment.
Over the years, wedding dresses became more expensive and it became traditional for women to keep them either as a memento or  to pass on a daughter for her wedding day, this is still happening in some parts of the world, you can do your grandmother or mother proud by wearing their dress or have it as an inspiration.
Back to the tradition, they came up with a way of preventing guests from ripping the wedding dress so brides were on top of the game and began throwing other objects such as a distraction. One of which was the garter then later the bouquet become the most traditionally thrown object.
The wedding bouquet is particularly suited to this use as flowers symbolise fertility, people hoped the flowers would make the marriage a fertile one as producing children was the ultimate aim of early marriages and as perishable items, they are not something the bride would wish to keep.
Flowers have been a part of wedding for a long time they were worn by brides in their hair and later carried in bundles. Some traditions hold that flowers were carried to help prevent evil spirits or bad luck from befalling the wedding.
The bridal bouquet is known in many cultures around the world as a symbol of fortune due to dried herbs and flowers that are present in the bouquet. As a result, some cultures particularly those in Europe, believe that she who catches the bouquet will be blessed with riches and that her family will never have to worry about money again.
The bouquet is also a safer item to toss than the garter, as unruly and impatient, scavenging wedding guests mainly men were sometimes known to try and take the garter from the bride while she was still wearing it.
Brides choose to have a different bouquet designed, especially for throwing. This is a very good idea; this way, the woman who catches it will be able to preserve this precious keepsake forever. If you decide to have a different bouquet designed, you might want to consider usingsilk artificial flowers.  Although fresh flowers are beautiful they sadly do not last forever, on the other hand quality silk artificial flowers do last if cared for properly.
Some modern bride and groom do not like the tradition of throwing the bouquet and either modifies it to do away with it altogether. Tossing the bouquet can be uncomfortable for unmarried female guests who do not wish to marry or who feel put on the spot by the custom. Also competition to catch the bouquet can become a violent stampede. Some brides stage the event so that their chief bridesmaid or a friend who is engaged catches the bouquet.
Others choose to give a small bouquet to each of their bridesmaids or give each woman at the reception a flower from the bride’s bouquet.
Completely turn your back to the crowd when throwing a bouquet so that you don’t know where those close to you are standing. If you decide not to throw your bouquet the red rose wedding bouquet put on the high table can be used to give the single ladies, that way they can take a stem each either as a symbol of being the next to marry or simply as a
symbol of coming romance, since roses are associated with love and devotion in general.
The main reason that modern brides throw the bouquet at wedding celebration is the simple honoring of tradition and the generations of brides that have come before them.
Throwing the bridal bouquet is a time-honored tradition that is considered customary in many cultures throughout the world.
Throwing of a bouquet is not a must, no one should force you to do it and there is no need to feel as though you have to include it. The beauty of your wedding is that it is unique and your own style.
It is up to you the bride and groom to decide what traditions to include and those you would prefer to skip. There are so many great wedding tradition out there, it is up to you to decide which traditions you feel will create you memorable wedding.
I’m gathering information on the Zambian weddings from 1964 to 2014, from the stories told the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s wedding sound as if they were stress free. We look forward to such write ups. For comments and contributions:
Cell: 0966665468 Email: sunittasyabeene@yahoo.com