Why can't I throw rice at a wedding?

Question

My sister is getting married this Spring in an outdoor, garden wedding. Being a very traditional family, we wanted the guests to throw rice as the newly wedded couple exit the garden. We were told that we could not throw rice but had to use rose petals or bird seed.

What in the world is wrong with throwing rice? It has been done for hundreds of years.

Answer 1

assalam o alikum

y dont u spread a carpet on the exit portion or plastic or similar kinda thing so that later rice can b picked up without hassle.



if u throw rice on grass then obviously the cleaning will not b easy.



congrates on ur sis wedding. may Allah bless the couple, ameen

Answer 2

Throwing rice is becoming less and less of a tradition because no one will allow it. In the past 5 years I have yet to find a facility that will allow rice. The rice is harder to pick up (if there is any wetness on the ground the rice sticks to the pavement and never comes off) even if it's a garden, there is probably some pavement or stepping stones. I do NOT recommend bird seed-- it looks awful in photos! Rose petals are much less expensive than you would think and are my favorite for a day-time wedding. If your facility allows, sparklers create a dramatic photo for evening weddings. Bubbles are great for either time. (By the way, rice really hurts when it's thrown on you... I know that from a high school play!) :)

Answer 3

Throwing rice and the birds eating would later cause the birds to hang out around the church then crap on everything. NOT pretty. But since they are allowing bird seed then the bird doodie issue isn't what they are trying to avoid. Rice does have slip issue....but so does bird seed. I personally like bubbles.



Rice and exploding birds is a MYTH. It always has been a myth, and it always will be a myth.



"You may have heard that, when birds eat rice thrown at a wedding, the rice swells so much inside their bellies that they pop. Sounds awful, doesn't it? But have you ever seen any exploding birds after a wedding? It never happens. In fact, birds are often big pests in rice fields. Some rice farmers may wish the pesky birds would explode, but they never do!" The National Wildlife Federation

Answer 4

Who exactly told you that you can't? Bird seed would be as hard to clean up as rice, neither is particularly bad or good for the environment. Now you know why rice is thrown don't you? It represents fertility, the ancient Romans used to throw wheat. I would think birdseed has the same meaning. So I can't see where the couple has requested one over the other (as in avoiding the fertility blessing).



Now there is an urban legend that says if you throw rice at an outdoor wedding it will harm birds that eat it....completely false...see the link below to the most reputable Snope Urban Legend site which debunks this myth.



I'd throw rice anyway myself...



and for the ninnies above who say it draws rodents--rodents are just as likely to eat birdseed--ever watch a squirrel chow down at a birdfeeder or a rat?

Answer 5

Birds will not die from eating rice. That is a urban myth.

And its not exactly because its hard to clean up.



The reason why the ban on throwing rice began is because it can cause people to slip on the rice. Like little marbles. When they are rushing down the steps. Hard rice, hard steps, hard shoes, hard landing.



But another part of the original problem is that the rice attracted pigeons. Now its all twisted and they say throw bird seed.

Nonsense...... Make them tell you the "real reason" why they don't want you throwing rice.



Its a funny thing how these myths get going and next thing you know the people who are making the rules don't even know why they are saying what they are saying.



Purple monkey dishwasher if you know what I mean.

Answer 6

Most places don't like rice because they have to clean it up. With bridseed, it's cleaned up by animals. I've never heard of throwing rose petals, sounds a bit expensive to me. Also heard of rice being dangerous for birds, altough I'm not sure if that's exactly true. Last I heard the old wives tale about birds not being able to digest it is untrue for the most part, but I believe I saw on TV that it can make some birds sick.

Answer 7

I am not throwing rice at my wedding because of making the birds sick. But I found this wedding rice on the internet that sounds really neat to use instead. Designer Wedding Rice is made into heart-shapes that is water soluble and won't roll when stepped on and is bird, animal and enviornmentally safe.

Answer 8

there is the myth that if birds eat the rice it will swell in their stomcahs and make them explode. This is not true, but many people still think it is.



The other issue with rice is that it can be a slip hazard. It is small and round, so it has the same effect as a cartoon banana. It also does not decompose easily, so it will be around tripping people for a while.



I also recommend blowing bubbles. It still has the traditonal feel, no clean-up, no one has to pick things out of their hair and kids love it!

Answer 9

You can use rice, it is a myth. Although after weddings I've been to and been in, I think things like bird seed, rice, or other things like that are somewhat of a hassle. They tend to get stuck in your hair, and go down your dress. My sister in law experienced this at hers. She used some sort of heart shaped thing she got at Michaels. They dissolve with water.



I personally used bubbles at that looked awesome in pictures. If you want to use rice it is fine- although I think that petals would look good and you wouldn't have to worry about clean up if you're outside in a garden.

Answer 10

Rice is difficult to clean up afterwards. It doesn't bio-degrade like rose petals or bird seed. Rice is slippery and someone could fall on a ricey surface. Rice isn't good for birds to eat and rice will draw rodents to the area. Enough reasons? Go with the bird seed or rose petals. It's environmentally better, and just as much fun.

Answer 11

Rice is bad for birds, if they eat it then drink water the rice expands and the bird will die, that's why they don't do it anymore, (rose petals are so much nicer anyway),and my own personal opinion is that if you had rice whipped at you and it hit you in the eye, well that would hurt like a mother .............Have fun at the wedding!

Answer 12

Perhaps it is just a matter of it being cleaned up. The birds would pick the bird seed up in no time, and the petals are kinda natural on the ground and wouldn't take long to biodegrade. But rice would simply make too much of a mess.

Answer 13

Something about birds eating the rice and dieing or getting sick or something. But now they make Wedding Rice that you can throw. It looks almost the same but wont make the birds sick. You can buy it just about anywhere you can buy other wedding stuff.

Answer 14

throwing rice is always a good idea. but the things about that is that its messie and not very easly to pick up. Throwing rice at a outdoor wedding is a good idea but I think once you guys do it your not going to like it. It hurts a little and gets in your eyes if people dont throw it right.

I think if you guys are a traditional family. Make it a little cutter.

Blow some bubbles. or throw some gliter and some cute flower pedals.

Answer 15

Because a bunch of Hippies started a rumor that birds stomachs explode when they eat rice. Birds have eaten rice since the dawn of time..Throw rice and don't be put down by the man. ( it is funny how hippies are now the man...)

Answer 16

Rice gets eaten by birds but they can't digest it. It swells up in their stomachs and can kill them. If you don't like birdseed or rose petals ( boy does that sound expensive ) how about bubbles?

Answer 17

If birds eat it it will blow up their stomachs. What you could do is get all white bird seed and throw that. Or we did bubbles. Not a big deal, don't stress over rice.

Answer 18

This is too funny. I am picturing a bunch of birds exploding over wedding parties for the last 50 years.

Answer 19

The reason for not being able to throw rice is because of the birds. they eat the rice when they drink water, the rice expans, it can kill the birds. Thus the reason to throw birdseed.

Answer 20

We've workd out over the hundreds of years that when the wedding is finished and the birds come in to eat the rice - it actually kills them - they eat so much it expands in their little tummies and they die.



That's why we don't throw rice.



PS It also hurts when it's thrown!!!

Answer 21

i heard it makes birds sick if they eat it or some problem with bird health by the rice being on the ground. throwing rice would be sort of like littering, too. it doesn't decompose too fast. most everyone has migrated to birdseed or something. bubble blowing.

Answer 22

A few years ago a group through rice near a bunch of rare doves the doves ate the rice and drank water, the rice absorbed the water and killed the birds.

Answer 23

Many places have banned it because supposidly birds cannot digest it. However birds have gizzards and can eat hard seeds etc. Bird seed is cool, too, but I dont see the harm of a little handful of rice.

Answer 24

Perhaps the owners of the outdoor garden do not want their nice garden to become a rice field.

Answer 25

one reason not to throw rice is because i read about somebody who was throwing rice at a wedding and so much of it got in her ear she actually became deaf in her right ear and i don't think u want your bride getting rice in her ear then going deaf good like finding something else!!!

Answer 26

Rice causes the birds to swell up and die.

Answer 27

The place most likely is a home to geese etc. The rice will expand in their stomack and kill them if they eat it. The birdseed is obviously edible and unharmful to the birds.

Answer 28

yeah i wondered the same thing then i asked and they said that it was because birds would eat it and they would blow up...i don't know i just settled with aliens came and in planted things into peoples heads saying rice is to good to through...lol i don't know people are getting weirder and weirder

Answer 29

It is said that when birds eat the rice (processed), that it swells in their stomach and can kill them. Now, it is the environmentally correct thing to throw birdseed.

Answer 30

Because the birds will come and feed on the rice and it can make them sick.

Answer 31

its against the law now...the birds eat it and their intestines litterally explode. Animal in dangerment

Answer 32

it's because it kills the birds they eat it and it expands and kills them, try birdseed or blow bubbles, that's very pretty the bubbles sparkling in the sunlight.

Answer 33

birds choke on rice, it's also not so bio-degradable. the church/venue doesn't want to clean it up

Answer 34

After it's thrown, birds come and eat it. It expands in their stomachs and kills them. That's what I was told, anyway.

Answer 35

it kills the birds.