We explore the surprising and sometimes violent origins of common wedding traditions, revealing how they evolved from practical defense mechanisms to the cherished customs we know today.

• The garter toss began in medieval Europe when guests would try to rip pieces of the bride's clothing for good luck
• Brides started voluntarily removing and tossing garters to prevent guests from manhandling them
• The bouquet toss originated in 14th century England as a defensive move to distract grabby guests
• Brides would throw their bouquets so they could escape while guests scrambled for the lucky flowers
• Cake cutting evolved from ancient Romans breaking bread over the bride's head for fertility
• Medieval couples were challenged to kiss over stacked buns without knocking them over
• The tradition developed into tiered cakes by the Victorian era when cutting became a ceremonial highlight
• Modern wedding trends show about half of couples maintaining traditions while others create new ones
• Head tables featuring the entire wedding party are making a comeback after the post-COVID trend of sweetheart tables

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