Where does the tradition of catching the bouquet at a wedding come from?

Also, what does it really mean for the person who catches it?

Where does the tradition of catching the bouquet at a wedding come from?
The tradition of the bride throwing the bouquet is said to have started in 14th century England. The guests, thinking a piece of the bride's clothing would bring good luck, would grab at her fight for pieces of the bride's clothing, flowers, or headpiece to share in the good fortune.





Another version is in France in the 1300's the bride tossed her bouquet before she left on her honeymoon. The tradition began with the bride tossing a garter or stocking. The bouquet symbolised a bride's good fortune being passed to the maiden who caught it.





The bouquet toss has come to symbolize a wish for good luck from the bride to the single women guests at the wedding, and is believed to be the next to marry.





The garter toss is one of the oldest surviving wedding traditions. There are many versions of the story. The most popular is that it dates back to the medieval times. It was customary for friends, relatives and guests to accompany the bridal couple to the marriage bed. The guest would get e rowdier and rowdier, and some of them would try to help the bride out of her wedding clothes. To try to stop such embarrassments to the bride, the garters were quickly removed and thrown to the mob as a distraction. As time went on, it has evolved into the tradition we now know.
Reply:This says it all. . .