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AT A LOSS FOR
WHAT TO TOSS?

By Paul R. Huard

Ouch! That's what Traci Peugh thought when she and her husband Carl were showered with birdseed during their wedding send-off.

She knows that her friends and family were only showing their love for them. "But it hurt," says Peugh, 22, of Medford, Oregon. "At least it does if you have some vicious throwers."

And more than three years after the wedding, the bird seed keeps turning up.

"It got everywhere," she says. "A bunch of it even was thrown through the open windows of the truck. Some of the locks still don't work."

What professional planners call "the wedding toss" is just another way to celebrate the festive mood and good cheer of your marriage. When choosing what your guests will toss, keep in mind many of the questions you already have about the rest of the wedding preparations. Will what guests throw match the mood or theme of the wedding? Will it be easy to clean up? Will it comb out of your hair?

There is no stopping the power of creativity if the bride tosses convention to the winds. In recent years, couples have used nearly anything that can be thrown, blown, or shown.

-- Couples have had their guests release live butterflies.

-- A favorite when weddings occur near the July 4 holiday or New Year's Day is sparklers in multiple colors.

Flower petals, either fresh or freeze-dried, have blossomed as a colorful way to shower the departing couple.

-- Soap bubbles blown by guests won't leave a mess and are popular with both children and adults.

If you are a traditionalist, take note: Throwing rice is safe for birds.

Despite what happened on an episode of " The Simpsons," rice does not swell and explode in the gullet of a bird. According to the USA Rice Federation, the rice ordinarily thrown at weddings is harmless feed for song birds.

If that's not enough to dispel an urban legend, the organization says many migrating ducks and geese depend on winter-fl ooded rice fi elds each year to fatten up and build strength for their return trek to northern nesting grounds. And the birds do so without exploding in midair, according to the organization.

The rice-throwing ritual is an ancient custom that originally symbolized fertility and the blessing of many children. Today it symbolizes prosperity and abundance. If you are at a loss concerning what to toss, here are some suggestions found at www.weddingchannel.com:

-- Lavender: In the language of fl owers, lavender speaks of devotion. A 16-ounce bag of exquisite French lavender buds that are the size of rice will fill about 100 glassine envelopes, 60 tulle bags, or two to three dozen cones. The cost is $35.95.

-- Designer Wedding Rice: When the Uncle Ben's just won't do, celebrate by tossing this bird- and animal-safe rice. Romantic heart-shaped Designer Wedding Rice is environmentally safe, easy to clean up, won't roll when stepped on and it's beautifully packaged. Each package comes with a white scoop for measuring favors and makes approximately 100 favors. The cost is $15.95 per bag.

-- Bride & Groom Wedding Bubbles: Tiny "pearlescent" bottles contain bubble solution and a wand that looks like a cake topper. The solution is nontoxic and will not stain and bottles can be decorated with a selection of tulle or ribbons. It is an ideal alternative to rice and messy confetti. The cost is $9.95 for a pack of 24 bottles.

OTHER OPTIONS
-- Magical Beginnings Rose Petal Weddings supplies both fresh and freeze-dried rose petals in bulk. They come in multiple colors, and freeze-dried petals can be purchased and stored up to three months in advance. Prices vary, with a bag of white, pink, peach, purple or burgundy rose petals starting at $39.95, plus shipping and handling. The company estimates that one bag will fill enough paper cones for 20 to 30 guests. For more information, call (888) 639-9995, or visit www.rosepetalweddings.com.

The butterflies aren't free, but they're available from Rose Petal Weddings' sister company, Magical Beginnings Butterfl y Farms. The Los Gatos, California, company provides what it promises are "strong, healthy" monarch butterflies for release as an alternative to traditional tosses. Costs range from $160 for 16 butterflies to $775 for at least 100 butterflies for a truly spectacular sight. There are additional shipping and handling costs. For more information, call (888) 639-9995 or visit www.butterflyevents.com.

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