Quick Answer
What is the vente de la jarretière?
The vente de la jarretière ("garter sale") is a French wedding reception custom in which the bride's garter — often cut into small pieces — is auctioned off to guests, typically male guests, with proceeds going toward the couple's honeymoon. It's a lighthearted, participatory moment usually run by the master of ceremonies or the témoins.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is the vente de la jarretière?
Also called: garter auction, jarretière.
Where some Western weddings treat the garter toss as a quick, single moment, the French version turns it into an extended bit of reception entertainment: an auctioneer (often a witness or a hired MC) works the room, guests bid with real or novelty money, and the garter — sometimes literally snipped into pieces so more than one bidder can "win" a fragment — funds part of the couple's trip away.
How the vente de la jarretière plays out
- •Usually staged mid-to-late reception, often by the témoins or a hired master of ceremonies acting as auctioneer.
- •The bride's garter is auctioned to the highest bidder — sometimes cut into several pieces so multiple guests can each buy a fragment.
- •Money raised is typically presented to the couple as a contribution toward their honeymoon (voyage de noces).
- •Often paired with playful theatrics — competing bids, teasing, and audience participation — making it as much a piece of entertainment as a fundraiser.
Planning notes
- •Decide in advance whether this is a tradition you want to include — some couples opt out entirely as tastes around it have shifted.
- •If including it, brief whoever runs the auction (a témoin or MC) on timing so it doesn't compete with other planned reception moments like speeches or dancing.
- •Have a system ready for handling and counting the money raised, especially if run informally with cash bids.
- •Check with the venue or DJ on timing — this tradition works best with a natural lull in the reception rather than interrupting dinner service.
Plan reception moments without the guesswork
Weddingkart's wedding checklist helps couples map out reception traditions like this one alongside speeches, cake-cutting, and dancing, so nothing gets rushed on the day.
Try the wedding checklist →Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to the money raised at a vente de la jarretière?
It's traditionally handed to the couple as a contribution toward their honeymoon, though some couples direct it toward a different shared purpose instead.
Who usually runs the garter auction?
A témoin (witness) or a hired master of ceremonies typically acts as the auctioneer, keeping the bidding lively and moving the moment along as reception entertainment.
Is the garter auction tradition common at every French wedding?
No — it's a well-known tradition but far from universal; many modern French couples skip it, and whether to include it is very much a personal choice rather than an expected ritual.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated