The Debate on Whether to Throw Rice
Throwing rice as the couple departs the wedding scene is as wonderfully traditional as tossing a bouquet—and fun for guests. The custom, which dates back at least as far as Roman times, symbols fertility and a good harvest (food and children beget cheap labor and prosperity!). Other cultures have thrown nuts, or to symbolize “fruitful” unions, figs and raisins. Somewhere along the line, rice got a bad name, as word got out it was dangerous for birds, which started the new tradition of tossing birdseed.
Of rice and men.
While concern for our four-feathered friends is highly admirable, it’s an urban myth, as birds eat rice in the wild. (According to the Kalamzoo Nature Center, Bobolink birds eat so much rice they’re nicknamed “rice birds.”) Since the only real advantage of throwing birdseed is nutritional value for the ones who digest it, either route is fine. However, many couples don’t like to throw rice or seed; both are messy, hard to get out of clothes and hair, and a pain to clean up. Ask an official at your site too: Some establishments frown upon the practice, or even forbid it, as both rice and birdseed can cause guests to slip and bring on a lawsuit.
Tossing out ideas.
If you’d rather throw something else, you can go with past ideas—some European countries throw eggs, which might give the couple the wrong idea of what you think of them, not to mention a little damage to that white dress; and there’s an old Irish tradition of throwing pots and pans: great way to get gifts, but be sure to duck!—or you can go your own way. Confetti’s popular, as is tossing candy or blowing bubbles, and one of the most popular new ideas is to light sparklers and wave them as the couple leaves (especially appealing idea for nighttime weddings). Flowers make for a sweet and lovely gesture (think rose petals), and you can arrange ahead of time for the guests to use buds that bedecked the reception site.
Of course, like most wedding traditions—the exception being the all-important “I Do”—throwing anything at the end of the reception isn’t necessary, and you should feel free to nix it altogether. If you’d rather leave quietly, with your clothes and hair and site intact, inform guests ahead of time and simply walk on air.