The Bouquet Toss: Why a Second Bouquet Is the Smart Move
Keep your real bridal bouquet, have a sturdy one made for throwing — how to honour the tradition without your favourite bouquet falling apart mid-air.
Almost every bride hits the same question: do I really throw my bridal bouquet into the crowd? The one you planned months ahead, that appears in every photo, that you actually want to keep and dry? The elegant answer is the toss bouquet — a second, smaller bouquet just for throwing. Here's why that's almost always the smarter choice, how big it should be, and which flowers survive a flight through the air.
Where the tradition comes from. The custom is older than most assume. In medieval Europe the bride was seen as a bringer of luck on her wedding day — guests jostled to grab a piece of fabric from her dress. To escape the scramble, brides eventually threw something they were allowed to part with: the bouquet. To this day the toss stands for shared luck, and whoever catches it is said to be the next to marry. The flowers themselves have symbolised fertility, love and a good beginning since antiquity.
Why you shouldn't throw your real bouquet. A bound bridal bouquet is surprisingly heavy — larger designs quickly reach one to two kilograms. It's full of stem wire, binding wire and pins that hold the arrangement together. Thrown through the air, such a bouquet can fly apart, hit someone, or shatter on the floor. Then there's the emotional value: many brides want to dry, press or set their bouquet in resin as a keepsake. All of this argues for keeping the original out of the toss.
How to plan the toss bouquet properly. At your florist appointment, say up front that you'd like two bouquets: a bridal bouquet and a toss bouquet. The second one is clearly smaller, lighter and cheaper — usually around the cost of a bridesmaid's bouquet. Have it bound similar to, but not identical with, your main bouquet so it harmonises in photos. Crucially: it should be tight, compact and free of protruding pins, so nothing shifts during the throw and no one gets hurt.
The right size. A toss bouquet should fit comfortably in one hand and be light enough to throw over the shoulder in a controlled way — as a rule of thumb, palm-sized up to roughly the width of a plate. A diameter of around 15 to 20 centimetres is plenty. Too small looks lost, too large becomes a hazard. The stem is wrapped short and cleanly so the bouquet doesn't open mid-flight and is easy to grab when caught.
Sturdy varieties that survive the flight. Not every flower is suited. Delicate heads with fragile petals — peonies or ranunculus, for example — shed petals on impact and look ruffled afterwards. Choose stable, firm-headed blooms instead: roses have robust flower heads and supportive stems. Lisianthus is remarkably tough and long-lasting. Asters have small, firm heads and handle movement well, and gerberas are long-lasting and bold in colour — just make sure the heads are properly supported, as their stems can be soft. Firm foliage like eucalyptus or ruscus gives the small bouquet extra structure and shape.
Timing and alternatives. The toss classically fits the phase after dinner, once the mood has loosened — announce it so the photographer is ready. To modernise the tradition: instead of throwing only to unmarried guests, the bouquet can be handed as a thank-you to the couple with the longest marriage, or raffled off with numbered tickets. That keeps the lovely moment without anyone feeling singled out. You keep the real bridal bouquet either way — and pass it on for drying after the party.
Frequently asked
- Do I even have to throw a bouquet at all?
- No. The toss is a tradition, not an obligation. Many couples skip it or replace it with a version where no one is pressured to catch — such as handing it to the couple with the longest marriage. If you like the custom, a dedicated small toss bouquet is the most relaxed option, because your real bridal bouquet stays intact.
- How much does a toss bouquet cost on top?
- Considerably less than the bridal bouquet. Because it's smaller and needs fewer flowers, it usually sits at the level of a bridesmaid's bouquet. If you flag it early at your florist appointment, it can often be bound from the same varieties and offcuts as the main bouquet — keeping costs down and the look consistent.
- Which flowers survive a toss best?
- Flowers with a firm, compact head: roses, lisianthus, asters and gerberas. They barely shed petals on impact. Delicate, densely packed heads like peonies or ranunculus are unsuitable — they ruffle easily. Firm greenery such as eucalyptus or ruscus adds extra stability to the small bouquet.
- Can I still keep my bridal bouquet?
- Yes, and that's exactly the point of the toss bouquet. While the small bouquet flies into the crowd, your original stays untouched. After the party you can dry, press or set it in resin as a keepsake. Ask your florist for the gentlest method for your varieties.