Ceremony Toss

Did you know? The tossing of rice at newlyweds is an ancient tradition symbolizing abundance and fertility. But it has been said that raw rice grains are harmful to birds that ingest them or it may be slippery underfoot and difficult to clean up. So here are some alternatives:

1)Spring Ceremony Toss
Try tossing fragrant seasonal blooms instead of rice. Have bridesmaids or ushers carry baskets of them. Guests can reach in and grab handfuls to toss.

2)Sparklers
If you have an evening wedding, a festive way to close a wedding ceremony is to light sparklers as the bride and groom leave the site. These can also be used as favors for the guests at an evening wedding, where they can be given out along with printed matchboxes or matchbooks. Tape a sparkler to the back of each matchbox to keep them from sliding about, and tie with a ribbon.

3) Winter Ceremony Toss
Send a winter-wed couple off in a flurry of paper snowflakes. Use white and light-blue paper and a snowflake punch . Place handfuls of snowflakes in small glassine bags.

4)Fall Ceremony

TossFall leaves make a lovely seasonal ceremony toss, especially when hung on the back of guests' chairs. Fold a rectangular piece of grass paper (available at art-supply stores) in half crosswise, and insert leaves.

5)Hydrangea-Fill sheer fabric pouches with tiny hydrangea blooms or petals from other seasonal flowers.

6)Petal Cones-These cones are easy to make and are usually filled with roses or other petals of your choice.

7)Bubbles
These small bubble bottles are made specifically for weddings. The bubbles look beautiful floating around the bride and groom, both in person and in photographs.

Source:MarthaStewart.com