Every detail is important in a bride's image: from the wedding dress and shoes to the veil and garter. The latter, by the way, performs not only an aesthetic role, but also takes part in a beautiful action that helps determine which of the groom’s friends will marry next.
The garter often appears in the wedding frame, both during the shooting of the newlyweds and the bride's morning, and at the banquet itself. Therefore, if you want everything in your wedding look to be perfect down to the smallest detail, the Svadebka.ws portal advises you to pay sufficient attention to the choice of this important accessory.
Bridal garter: what is it and why is it needed?
The concept of “garter” comes from the French word “jarret”, which means the popliteal cavity, i.e. The garter was previously an elastic strip of fabric that held women's pantaloons in place. It was first used at weddings in the USA, and in the 90s of the last century such a sexual accessory appeared at Russian weddings.
Why was a garter worn on the bride’s leg needed at all? The history of the wedding garter is quite interesting and funny: it was believed that those guests who could take away some item from the wedding, preferably if it was part of the newlyweds’ clothing, would be happy. Therefore, all the guests tried to tear at least some piece from the bride’s dress. The brides felt sorry for their outfit, so they came up with garters, which they sewed from leftover fabric and threw to the guests. And the dress remained intact, and the guests were happy! Now, fortunately, there are no such barbaric traditions, and the groom carefully removes the garter from the bride’s leg and throws it to the unmarried guys at the end of the celebration. According to the sign, the one who catches this accessory will soon get married and be happy in his marriage.
As you know, one of these wedding signs for newlyweds is associated with the dress and accessories, including the garter: the bride should not see herself in full wedding attire before the ceremony. When trying on, you should not wear any of the elements, and it could just be a garter.
Story
18th century
La Toilette
, (detail) François Boucher, 1742
Garters in the 18th century could be elaborately decorated and were sometimes embroidered with names, dates, mottos or humorous phrases. Before the invention of elastic, they were fastened with buckles or equipped with coil springs to grip the wearer's leg.[4]
19th century
Garter
, Chippewa (Native American), early 19th century, Brooklyn Museum
Some women wore stockings with a simple elastic garter or narrow material tied tightly rather than with suspenders, or simply rolled up the top of the stockings because it seemed more practical or they could not afford a classic corset, creating a sort of precursor to the modern delays. This was especially common among servants and maids, especially until the mid-1920s when more modern suspenders became available.
During the world's first long-distance road trip by car in 1888, Bertha Benz, wife of the automobile inventor Dr. Karl Benz, used a garter to insulate a broken wire. Benz-Motorwagen Patent No. 3. In memory of this historic road trip, Today's Official German Scenic Byway The Bertha Benz Memorial Route follows in the footsteps of Bertha Benz from Mannheim through Heidelberg to Pforzheim (Deep Forest) and back. Stockings have also been used as an emergency replacement for car seat belts.
20th century
Garter belt, 1955 to 1965, ModeMuseum Provincie Antwerpen
During World War II, the WAAF issued inexpensive suspenders.[5]
From the 1940s to the 60s, suspenders became a common and popular alternative to girdles, especially among teenagers and young women. Amid concerns that girdles could cause belly flab, garter belts offered a simpler, more practical and comfortable choice if used simply to hold them up. stockings.
Since the early 1960s, many men's magazines have featured images of women in lingerie, with models wearing suspenders and stockings, often wearing slips, skirts, corsets or brassiere and panties or panties in an erotic pose. These images may have an erotic element and are sometimes presented as fetish fashion as well as in pornography.
Modern practices
Garter belts are still used for their original purpose of holding up stockings. Suspenders today are available in a variety of styles, most often in white, beige-pink "nude" or black with a satin finish. These days they are often made from a nylon and spandex/lycra blend, more readily available in retail stores. Options for stockings or garters include panties with suspenders reminiscent of 1960s looks and corsets or belts with loops inside the bottom edge to attach suspenders. Panties are usually worn over a garter belt as this makes them easier to remove when using the toilet/bathroom. When worn under a belt, undressing can be quite difficult in public places.
Which leg should a bride wear a garter on?
A wedding garter is usually placed on the right leg slightly above the knee. But this is not a strict rule, so only you can decide based on your personal preferences and your comfort which leg you should choose for this accessory.
Usually the bride buys one garter for her wedding. However, sometimes you can find this accessory in the form of a set, for example, in America. Their first garter is called the “lucky” one; it is the one that the groom throws to his friends. The second - “honey” - remains as a keepsake for the bride and groom, who takes it off his chosen one during the first wedding night. It is attached above the “happy” one. Such interesting sets can be bought in Russia.
Advice: ask the photographer during your morning preparations to take a couple of beautiful shots of you putting on the garter. You will get tender and sexy photos!
Scheme of how to wear stockings with a belt
Fastening the belt
Putting on stockings
Fastening the suspenders
Adjusting the length of suspenders
Adjusting the belt and stockings
When and how to remove the garter?
In addition to its aesthetic function, the bride's garter also plays an important role at the end of the celebration. What is it for? To find out which guy will get married next. After the bride throws the bouquet to her unmarried friends, she sits on a chair in the center of the hall, the groom kneels in front of her, carefully finds the garter, slightly lifting the hem of the dress, and slowly removes it with his hands so that the photographer has time to take a couple of successful photos.
If the groom hesitates, the bride can help him. And when the garter is in the hands of the groom, you can throw it to your unmarried friends. The one who catches her will soon lead his chosen one down the aisle. After this, the guy who caught the garter and the girl who caught the bouquet perform a dance (if, of course, they came to the wedding alone). It is believed that they can make a great couple.
Want to make the garter tossing experience more fun and spicy? Play out this humorous scene: let the groom take off not your garter, but your huge panties, which he quietly pulls out of his pocket and shows to all the guests. An alternative option is that instead of a garter, the groom discreetly throws a thong to his friends. The deception will be revealed only when the guy catches the deception. Surprise and laughter are guaranteed!
Tip: Don't like the garter toss idea? Replace this intimate accessory with the groom's boutonniere!
Signs about throwing
The tradition of taking a small piece of fabric from the bride’s wedding dress originated in the Middle Ages. The guests believed that this would bring happiness. But such customs threatened the bride to be left without a dress at all, because everyone wanted to snatch a piece of happiness. That's why a special garter was invented, which the groom threw to the guests. Today this tradition is widespread in Western countries. Our newlyweds also adopted this interesting fun.
It is not customary to give a garter into the hands of any of the guests (the sign says that the person who acquires the accessory in this way will have power over the bride).
Another superstition: if the groom throws a “honey” garter to the guests instead of a “lucky” one, the marriage will not last long. The loss of this garter promises loss of fidelity to the spouse.
To throw or not to throw
Of course, almost all newlyweds now perform this ritual. Everything will depend on the style of the wedding, on the wishes of the newlyweds and guests. If everyone invited is married, married or just in a relationship, then there is no point in throwing a garter. It will look awkward and may offend guests. In addition, if you yourself do not want to perform this ritual at your own wedding, you do not need to force yourself for the sake of tradition. This is your holiday!
How to remove and throw a garter
This ritual should be performed only after the bride has thrown her bouquet to her bridesmaids.
It is better for the newlyweds to agree on which leg and at what height the garter will be worn in advance. Rehearse several times at home so that everything goes smoothly at the most crucial moment.
Take care of the musical accompaniment of this process. Romantic music will create an intimate atmosphere, while more playful music will add fun to the event.
The groom must carry the bride in his arms to the center of the hall, then carefully lift the hem of the dress and easily remove the garter with his hands (some do this with their teeth, but there is no tradition behind this action. It’s just a fun element). To make it easier to remove the garter, the bride can place her foot on a chair or sit on it. The groom then turns his back to the guests and throws the garter at random towards the crowd. The one who caught it, according to legend, should find his soul mate in the next 12 months.
The newlyweds remove the “sweet” garter when they are alone with their beloved. This is an intimate moment that should happen on your wedding night.
Choosing a garter: a couple of tips
When choosing a wedding garter, consider the following points:
- The color of the garter can either match the dress or contrast with it, emphasizing the wedding palette or simply your individuality. The same applies to its material: it can be made from the same fabric as the dress, or from another, for example, under a satin dress you can buy a bride’s garter made of lace, which will be combined with gloves or elements of wedding shoes.
- The decor of the garter should not only be spectacular and beautiful, but also safe for your dress, so as not to tighten or, even worse, tear the hem of the wedding dress.
- Consider the cut of your wedding dress. After all, all brides know that they should select underwear to match the style of their wedding dress. The garter is no exception! You can choose any option for a princess or A-line dress, but in the case of a tight-fitting dress, it is better to give preference to a smooth accessory that will not stand out through the material of the outfit.
- The garter should fit perfectly on the leg, not fall, but also not pinch it, causing discomfort. Try wearing it at home for a couple of hours and make sure it is the right width for you. A little trick: the bride can put on a garter not in the morning, but just before the ceremony.
Potential groom
According to legend, a man who has a garter in his hands should present it as a gift to his beloved girl, his future wife. Ideal if she wears it to her own celebration. Currently, the observance of this tradition has become a big question. After all, not every girl will be delighted with the underwear given to her by another owner. She may also refuse the offer to wear an accessory. But, despite what has been said, the traditional ritual takes place exactly according to the described scenario.
Design options
Previously, the bride's garter was a lace ribbon sewn with her own hands. Now there are a huge number of options for this accessory. Most often, it is sewn from lace, silk or satin, decorated with a variety of decorative details: brooch, cameo, rhinestones, stones, feathers, buttons, embroidery, 3D appliqués, etc.
You can embroider or put rhinestones on the garter with the initials of the newlyweds or the wedding monogram, making it personalized.
The bride's garter can be either narrow or wide. It’s up to you to decide which accessory to buy for your wedding! Just keep in mind that a narrow garter will look better on a miniature leg, and vice versa.
A garter can both reflect the personality of the bride and emphasize the style of the celebration, for example, for a nautical wedding, the garter can be sewn from blue fabric and complemented with a brooch in the form of an anchor or a steering wheel; for a celebration in the style of Marie Antoinette, it can be decorated with a cameo and feathers; for a vintage wedding, it can be sewn made of fabric with a floral print and decorated with pearls.
The final decision of the newlyweds
The decision to carry out the garter throwing ceremony is made by both newlyweds. It is also worth thinking about the opinions of guests. How will most of them react to this playful ritual? Will they perceive it as an insult to their feelings? Does the ceremony match the overall wedding style? Having answered these questions and familiarized yourself with all the arguments why a bride needs a garter, you will definitely make a decision that will suit both of you.
Part Description
This elegant wedding accessory, which is an elastic strip of fabric, usually white, is decorated with lace, embroidery, bows or rhinestones. It can be satin, silk, satin.
Brides wear it on their right leg, above the knee. There may be one bandage, or there may be a pair. The first of them is called “lucky”; it is the one that goes to one of the groom’s unmarried friends. “Sweet” or “honey” - this is the name of the second garter. Why does a bride need a garter? It is left as a keepsake. If the part is worn higher than the first one, it is enough to retreat half a palm.
This part of the leg is the thinnest, so you can avoid unpleasant friction against the other leg. Blood circulation will also not be impaired. And the groom will not spend much time searching. For beautiful photographs, you don’t need to raise the hem of your outfit too high.
Today, stores offer so many options for this detail that brides are lost in choice. It is important to take care of its neatness and beauty, because at the end of the holiday it will appear in all its glory before the guests. And one of them will get the garter for safekeeping. In addition, the overall image of the bride is also taken into account. It is better if the color of the part is blue (after all, this particular shade symbolizes purity and purity).
Where to buy
For a garter, you can go to a bridal salon or a women's underwear store. The range of prices for a given part is influenced by several factors: the material used to make it, the manufacturer’s brand and the prestige of the salon.
For those who do not want to spend money on this accessory, and also if you want to make it individual and not like others, you can resort to an alternative option - making your own garter. This is a great opportunity for girls to show their hard work and creativity.
