To toss or not to toss; that is the question. At least as far as wedding rice is concerned, I haven’t been able to find a satisfactory answer.

Some say the rice is bad for the birds. You may have heard the awful stories about how birds that eat the leftover rice, um, exploded because the rice expands. According to others, exploding birds are bunk. Otherwise wouldn’t we see tons of dead birds around wedding sites all the time? After all, rice is a grain. Birds have been eating grains for, well, as long as birds and grains have existed. So, why the persistent exploding tale? It is a puzzlement!

This tradition supposedly began as far back in history as the Assyrians and Egyptians. Rice was a symbol of fertility and good wishes. Other items used to shower the bridal couple include corn, wheat, and nuts (although nuts are more often bagged and handed to the bride, not thrown). More modern choices include birdseed (I’m not sure I’d want that possibly smacking me in the eye either) or confetti. Still others forgo the toss entirely and choose to release balloons instead.

If you have your heart set on the traditional rice toss, check out WeddingRice.com. They offer some pretty packaging options. And should you still be worried about the birds, WeddingRice.com says:

“Designer Wedding Rice is heart-shaped rice that is water soluble and won’t roll when stepped on. It is environmentally friendly and is safe for birds and animals.”