Even though it is a popular tradition recognized at many weddings, tossing the bouquet is a tradition that you can choose to either have or skip at your ceremony. It’s symbolic tradition hints that whomever catches the bouquet will be the next to get married and, even though there are no guarantees, tossing the bouquet is a fun way for one lucky guest to take home a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

The tradition of tossing the bouquet began with the ancient belief that good luck herbs were contained inside the arrangement. In an effort to pass her good fortune on to the guests, the bride would present her bouquet to one lucky guest at the end of the ceremony. Today, that belief remains and, for this reason, it is recommended that brides who plan on tossing the bouquet should have a smaller bouquet created especially for this tradition so that they can keep the original.

There are several options to consider when tossing the bouquet. Among them, an option that does not involve a toss at all. If there is someone special that you wish to present the bouquet to, simply pull her aside and offer her this special keepsake. Another option of tossing the bouquet is the fake-out. In this scenario, you would select one woman who you wish to catch the bouquet and aim your throw directly to her. Of course, the other option is the fair toss. In this situation, you would simply ask all of your single female friends to gather around you and you blindly toss it into the crowd.

Tossing the bouquet is a tradition that can be included in your wedding, but don’t feel as though you have to include it. The beauty of your wedding is that it is YOUR wedding and you can decide which traditions to include and which others you would prefer to skip. If you are planning to have a bouquet designed especially for tossing, you may want to consider using silk flowers so that the woman who catches it will be able to preserve this precious keepsake forever. While fresh flowers are beautiful, sadly they will not last forever. Quality silk flowers, on the other hand, can and will last forever if cared for properly. In addition, they can be arranged to look just as beautiful as the real thing. And best of all, silk flowers are a real blessing for allergy sufferers.