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Chapter 12 ✦ Jazzing Up the Reception
Timing is everything with this shot, and since there are only two chances to practice this at each wed-
ding, you would do well to practice by having some friends toss a ball back and forth while you try to
catch the peak action just before the catch. It takes a lot of practice to get a feel for where you need to
start pressing the button to catch an object in the air. Ideally you want to catch the garter or flowers as
they are just about a foot out in front of the catch as in Figure 12-14.
This point is the peak of the action but it’s definitely not the end of the action. As the catch is made you
can quickly move in close just in case anything interesting happens. Occasionally you may see two peo-
ple grab on at the same time and a mini wrestling match breaks out. You may get a pack of guys rolling
around on the ground trying to get control of the garter, or several ladies ripping the bouquet apart amid
a shower of flower petals.
If you can find a few minutes to talk with your bridal couple before these events take place, you might
spare them some of the troubles that are almost standard for this event. The first and most common
mishap is that the bride throws her bouquet up and hits either a light fixture or the ceiling and it falls
down before the bridesmaids can get it. The second most common mishap is that the groom thinks he
can throw the garter ...