Brides originally carried bouquets of strong smelling herbs, garlic and chives to ward off evil spirits. The custom of tossing the bouquet stems from another tradition that has happily died out. The bride was thought to be very lucky on her wedding day, so guests would try to steal bits of her gown and wedding attire. In order to distract them, the bride would throw her bouquet so she could get away. Eventually, the tradition took on the significance of offering impending wedded bliss to the single woman who caught the tossed flowers.
