What do guys do with the garter?

Traditionally, the person who catches the wedding garter at the reception is supposed to be the next person to be married. It is typically all of the singles that get together to catch the garter and then whoever catches it is supposed to pass it onto their future partner.

Photographed by Megan Madden. Wedding season is almost here, and if you'll be a guest at multiple summer weddings, you might see one or two instances of the wedding garter toss. In this long-standing tradition, the groom reaches under the bride's dress to remove the garter and throws it to the male wedding guests.

The wedding garter is a piece of bridal lingerie worn under the wedding dress. During the reception, the groom will remove the garter from underneath the bride's gown (with his hands or teeth) and toss it into the crowd. The garter toss is very similar to the bouquet toss.

Many brides want to wear a garter, because because it makes them feel beautiful on their wedding day. Just like the gorgeous dress and their veil, their garter is that final piece that makes them feel like a bride! There is something special about a garter and they want to feel like "a bride"!

"These days, removing the garter is basically the male equivalent to the bride's bouquet toss. The bride sits on a chair so her new husband can take her garter belt off her leg and toss it to a crowd of bachelors. Supposedly, whoever is lucky enough to catch it will be next to get married. "

The garter toss can be even more uncomfortable—for the bride, the groom and everyone watching—in addition to singletons participating. The groom digs around under his bride's dress to remove a lacy piece of lingerie, then flings it into a crowd of cheering single men—all witnessed by their family and friends.

Many brides who wear two garters don't want to loose their main garter and would rather not think about having to get it back after the toss, so they opt to wear a second garter.

At modern weddings, the removing and tossing of the garter is now the privilege of the groom at the reception. He tosses the garter to the unmarried male guests at the wedding. It is thought that catching the garter will bring you good luck and in, some cases, indicate that you will be married next.

With the damp cloth on top of your elastic band and your iron on the highest setting, iron over it. Iron for 10 seconds and then let sit for 10 seconds. Continue doing so for 5-10 minutes. This will help your pants fit because as the elastic heats, it will heightens the breaking weight.

It's easy to loosen an elastic waistband. Being able to let out a waistband on an elasticized waist is a simple sewing project that can save you lots of money on alterations -- and maybe even new clothes. You can usually adjust up to 3 inches in an existing waistband.

You're going to have to cut the waistband a little at the back of the item and then probably cut the elastic and pull it out. Then get new elastic, cut it to one inch bigger than your waist, take one end of the elastic and hook it to a safety pin and rethread the elastic into the waist band.

The only thing you can do to prolong the life of most elastics in a garment that you buy is to be very gentle with the elastic. Don't wash any elastic parts in very hot water and don't use a dryer if you can possibly avoid it. Instead, handwash in cool water and drip dry. Never use bleach.

Braided elastic has lengthwise, parallel ridges. Those ridges make this elastic have more “grip” but they also mean that braided elastic tends to narrow as it is stretched. Braided elastic also rolls more easily than woven or knitted elastics, and tends to lose stretch if it is sewn through.

For many people, elastic waistband is a synonym of comfort. Most commonly seen on skirts, pants and dresses, a garment with elasticized waist is easy to pull on, will stay in place all day and live with your body. Elastic waistbands also allow for small variations in fit and work great for most body types.