Confetti
Small paper or petal pieces thrown at the couple as they leave the ceremony.
Also: paper confetti, petal throwing
Confetti, in English, is the tiny pieces of paper, or dried petals, thrown over a couple as they leave the church or register office. It replaced the throwing of rice and grain in many places, and many venues now ask for biodegradable confetti or petals only. The word comes from Italian, where confetti means sugared almonds, which were once thrown at carnivals and weddings. The idea is to wish the couple luck and good fortune, and the pieces are often handed out by guests in small cones.