2 Surprising Reasons to Wear a Wedding Garter You Probably Haven’t Thought Of!
I’ve tried my best to hammer home the message that traditions are optional when it comes to weddings… and I realised I’ve missed something really big. I saw a post by Catherine from Silk Garters and it turned so many of my preconceptions on their heads. Because wedding traditions aren’t simply “doing things a certain way because that’s the way they’ve always been done”. And they’re not “following tradition because everyone else is”. Sometimes, they’re all about following in the footsteps of your parents, experiencing a shared, fond memory, or sharing something special. So this blog shares surprising reasons to wear a wedding garter, but the specialness it conveys can be applied to so many other wedding traditions. Over to Catherine…
When I wrote my original ‘6 reasons to wear a wedding garter’ article, it had all the obvious reasons, ‘tradition and Something Blue’… But two more unusual ones, stood out for Claire.
1. A magical moment for mothers and daughters
Many of my garters are bought by the mother of the bride—and you might think, ‘that’s not unusual’. But there’s often a beautiful story behind it. She’s not just picking out a pretty accessory; she’s remembering her own wedding day, and the moment her mother gave her a garter as a special gift.
When she passes that tradition on, she’s reliving her own cherished memory—bringing a sense of continuity, love, and nostalgia to her daughter’s big day. It becomes more than just a gift; it’s a quiet, powerful moment between mother and daughter.
Often, she’ll ask me to embroider something personal inside the garter — words filled with love, the wedding date, or even a private message meant only for her daughter. Another touching detail I’m sometimes asked to include is a tiny button or a delicate piece of lace from her own wedding dress. (Some of the most meaningful pieces I’ve ever created have been crafted from the mother’s gown—turned into a beautiful heirloom for the next generation.)
Keeping the garter tradition alive is something truly special—especially when it’s about creating a deeply personal, magical moment between mother and daughter. It’s these emotional connections that make the tradition more than just custom—it makes it timeless.
Preserving the garter tradition is a very special thing, when it’s creating a magical moment with your daughter.
2. Your Partner will love it!
I had a call from a bride-to-be in a total panic… She needed a beautiful wedding garter—and fast. The source of her panic? She and her partner had been sitting on the couch, casually watching TV, when she asked him what he was most looking forward to about their wedding next week.
Without skipping a beat, he said, “Your wedding garter.”
She didn’t have one! And the panic set in. She’d never planned on wearing one or even thought it was necessary. She hadn’t thought it was something he’d even know about. So now, knowing how much it mattered to him, she was frantically searching for a solution, and that’s when I got her call.
This moment really highlighted something: the wedding garter is often seen as an old tradition, almost an afterthought, rather than something fun and romantic.
But when you think about it, wearing a wedding garter, secretly tucked beneath your dress, adds that cheeky, playful touch that brings an extra layer of excitement and intimacy to your big day. Your partner will love the surprise, and it becomes a fun and memorable part of the celebration.
Why wouldn’t you want to wear a wedding garter on the most romantic day of your life? It’s a small detail that can create a lot of magic—and it’s a tradition worth keeping.
And yes, I did make a lovely garter for the bride!
I do try to keep a few emergency sewing slots for phone calls just like this!
About Silk Garters
I’m Catherine, a designer/ maker of personalised wedding garter and bespoke accessories. Over the years, I’ve created over 23,000 garters for brides and send these beautifully packaged garter gifts, all around the world. I’m grateful to be in such a wonderful industry!
I carry some beautiful garters in stock on my website, can personalise these designs and make bespoke garters too.
My work has been bought by influencers (Rosie Londoner shared 3 times to her stories on insta!) and seen on TV shows… Coronation St, gifted live on the ‘Loose Women’ show and most recently on Dancing on Ice. It’s so exciting to see my work on TV, although it’s often needed yesterday!
I’m fortunate to have lace specially made for ‘Silk Garters’ in Nottingham on a cotton tulle, my lacemaker made lace for Princess Dianas wedding—how amazing is that?
But the best part of my job? Hearing the stories behind each garter I’m asked to create. Every bride has her own unique story, and it’s such an honour to help bring her vision to life. Whether it’s a special embroidery, a piece of lace from her mother’s wedding dress, or something quirky and personal, I love crafting something that will mean so much to her on her big day.
It’s wonderful when brides share their photos — there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing these little creations become part of someone’s beautiful love story!
Huge thanks to Claire for asking me to write this piece.
Catherine x
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