Bouquet & Garter Toss are Dead: 10 Non-Lame Ways to Entertain Your Guests

Let’s be real—if you’ve ever been to a wedding in the last decade, you’ve seen it. The DJ calls all the single ladies to the floor. Beyoncé blasts over the speakers. A sad bouquet makes its slow-motion arc through the air, only to land at the feet of your cousin’s friend who didn’t even want to get up. Cue the awkward laughs, the forced smiles, and a collective sense of “can we get back to the bar now?”

But wait—just when you thought the cringe was over, it’s time for the garter toss. If you’ve never seen it, you’re lucky. Here’s how it goes: the groom sticks his head up his new bride’s dress in front of grandma and the church choir, pulls off her lingerie (because that’s what a garter actually is) with his teeth, and then flings it at his best man or, worse, some 13-year-old cousin. Nothing says romance like mild public humiliation and forced audience participation!

Here’s the real talk: Both of these traditions are dying a deserved death, and most couples are thrilled to let them go. According to The Knot’s 2024 Real Weddings Study, more than 60% of couples now skip BOTH the bouquet and garter toss entirely. Why? Because, frankly, they’re outdated, forced, and—especially the garter toss—just fucking weird. Who actually wants to see their new in-laws, their pastor, and their best friend’s kids watch the groom get frisky under the dress? No one. The only thing getting tossed these days are those traditions… right into the trash.

So what do you do instead? How do you actually make your wedding memorable (for the right reasons) and keep your guests from sneaking out before dessert?

Here’s some ideas, straight from the trenches of 450+ real weddings—and not a single one of these ideas involves flinging flowers or undergarments at an unwilling victim.

1. The “Let’s Get Weird” Dance Off

Every generation has its thing, and Gen Z is ALL about TikTok dances and viral moments. Pick a hype song, let the DJ call out guests for an impromptu dance battle, and offer a real prize (like a bottle of tequila or an Amazon gift card). I’ve seen a grandma win one of these—and trust me, everyone was talking about it for weeks.

Pro tip: This is also a killer way to introduce the wedding party into the reception. Just make sure the bride and groom enter FIRST so they get the best view of the dance-off and can actually enjoy the show. It gets everyone hyped and turns a boring “here comes the bridal party” moment into a highlight your guests will actually remember. Hire a DJ who knows how to read the crowd. Hire a DJ who knows how to read the crowd.

2. Late-Night Food Trucks or Ice Cream Bus

Want your guests to stick around? Feed them. I’ve seen more packed dance floors at weddings with a surprise late-night taco truck or an ice cream bus rolling up at 10PM than any with fancy dessert bars. Bonus: it’s Instagram gold.

Case in point: We had an epic wedding where the Josh and John’s Ice Cream Bus rolled up at the reception. You’ve never seen grown adults move so fast towards a dessert in your life. Suddenly, everyone was outside, laughing, licking ice cream cones, and taking selfies with the bus. That dance floor? PACKED until the very end. Late-night snacks for the win! Find vendors who offer late-night snacks in the Engaged AF Directory.

3. Photo Booths That Don’t Suck

Skip the cheesy props and go for an open-air booth with killer lighting, instant prints, and maybe even a 360-degree setup. Your guests will post those pics everywhere (and you get bonus content for your wedding album).

4. The “Table Games” Takeover

Ever seen wedding bingo or trivia? You will. It gets people talking, laughing, and breaking the ice without the cringe factor. Pro tip: Make it about YOU—questions about your love story, weird habits, or who’s most likely to… (you know where this is going).

5. Cigar or Whiskey Bar

Classy, a little bit extra, and always a crowd-pleaser. Set up a tasting station or rolling bar outside—think cigars, whiskey flights, or even a mobile craft cocktail bar with a bartender who actually knows what a Negroni Sbagliato is. Guests love lingering with a drink in hand, swapping stories, and pretending they’re in a James Bond movie. I’ve watched grandparents teach twenty-somethings how to properly hold a rocks glass and seen entire friend groups form over a shared love of single malt. This isn’t just about booze, either: it’s about creating a lounge vibe where strangers become instant friends, the party never dies down, and everyone leaves feeling like they were part of something a little bit exclusive (but not at all pretentious).

6. “Roast the Couple” Toasts

Only for the brave, but holy hell, is it funny. Have a trusted MC or friend gather anonymous, slightly savage stories or inside jokes from your wedding party to read out loud after dinner. It’s like a Comedy Central roast, minus the celebrity meltdowns.

7. Tarot Card or Palm Readers

A little bit mystical, a lot of fun. I’ve seen lines for psychic readers at weddings longer than at the bar. (Especially after a few drinks.)

8. Giant Jenga, Cornhole, or Lawn Games

Classic, easy, and everyone knows how to play. Scatter a few giant games outside and watch guests of all ages bond over the chaos. Most venues will let you bring your own lawn games for free, so you don’t have to waste money renting cornhole, Jenga, or Connect Four—just hit up your friends or family and make a game pile! (Just don’t let the groomsmen near the Jenga after too many shots.)

9. Silent Disco

This one is for the venues with noise ordinances or neighbors who suck. Rent wireless headphones, let guests pick their playlist, and watch grandma rock out to ABBA while your college friends lose their shit to Lizzo.

10. Guest-Generated Content Booth

Set up a “confessional” video booth or a station where guests can leave you messages, marriage advice, or roasts on camera. Trust me, these clips will be legendary. Ask Epoch Moment about video booths.

The best weddings I’ve ever shot weren’t the ones with the fanciest linens or the most expensive flowers—they were the ones where everyone let loose, laughed their asses off, and felt like they were actually part of the story. So skip the awkward traditions, and do something that actually feels like YOU.

And if you need help finding the right pros to pull this off, check out Engaged AF Magazine’s Vendor Directory or book a consult with Epoch Moment. Your party deserves to be legendary.