What is the garter belt tradition?

The garter belt tradition is a long-standing wedding custom with origins dating back to the Middle Ages. Historically, after the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom would go to an adjacent room to consummate the marriage while guests would witness to ensure it was official. Guests would then try to obtain a piece of the bride's dress as a good luck charm. This evolved into the groom removing an item of the bride's underwear, such as the garter belt, and tossing it to male guests to signify the deed was done.

Jordan Harbinger notes that the tradition is considered creepy by many today, including himself. He finds the practice outdated and cringeworthy, often reflecting on its uncomfortable and overbearing nature at modern weddings 1 2 3.