Poetry and musings of a zany Mormon girl who is very proud of her Erda roots.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Bouquet Toss

Good Sabbath!

Sunday is an awesome day to reflect on the past week. Or month. Or year. Or anything that needs to be reflected upon.



Last night I attended a wedding for a dear friend and before very long all the single ladies were called up to try their luck at catching the coveted bouquet. I stood there, anxiously waiting for the beautiful bride to hurl her heavy floral arrangement into the crowd, just one of many more or less willing to try for a clean catch. Girls nervously shifted from side to side and looked embarrassed to be numbered among the unmarried. One woman brazenly turned her ring around so as to declare herself un-engaged just to join in the fun. Even the little girls fidgeted in front and wondered if they would be lucky.

As these things usually go, I choose the side opposite of the bride's pitch and don't even put up my useless hands for an attempt. Who needs a wedding bouquet, anyway?

Ah. The moment of truth. With the flowers hurdling through space and some quick estimates in the physics of botanical gravity, I realized that the bouquet was headed right for me! My numb hands sprung up... and grasped the arrangement!

Sweet victory!  It was finally my turn! I didn't have to be single forever!



A moment later it dawned on me that I was not the only one with hold of the coveted blooms. The engaged woman had the flowers by the stems. I had merely grabbed at some petals. As I released, a large section of rose heads fell to the ground. Little girls ran underfoot to collect several of the flowers I had ripped out and seemed quite pleased with themselves.  The engaged woman looked very smug, indeed.

Ah, well. Back to being alone.



On my drive home I was reflecting on the events of this wedding and another where I happened to end up with the bouquet.

In that wedding the bride and lobbed her flowers into a bush I happened to be standing near so I just picked them up. The bride's niece was so upset that she hadn't caught the flowers (it was her one goal for the entire event) and sat crying on the sidelines, beside herself with grief of lost possibility.

So, I gave her the flowers.

Her face beamed and the rest of the festivities were magical for her because of that pile of fragrant blooms.

I began to wonder what why such a tradition has endured. Why brides lob floral arrangements at their guests? And why does the groom remove an intimate article of his bride's wardrobe to slingshot at other men?

So I did some research.

It all comes down to luck. A bride is supposed to be very lucky. After all, she did snag a husband to take care of her and thus avoid the trials and persecution of spinsterhood. The flowers were a way to share this luck with the guests. The garter was a way to avoid greedy guests tearing off chunks of the bride's clothing to take home as lucky souvenirs.

Still, it is a little silly.

I mean, people start fights over these things!

But not me.

I just hand them over and wish the luck on someone else.



Maybe that's why I'm still single.

It's hard to say.

1 comment:

  1. I was so embarrassed to read about my failed bouquet toss. But I am so grateful that you were so thoughtful and nice to my niece. I'm sure she'll remember it forever - at least I will.

    I found your post very symbolic and awesome. You'll get your man someday. And your flowers =)

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