So. Flower girls. I always thought I’d have one in my wedding, but now my sisters are all too old to fill that role without sticking little attitudinal fingers down their throats and saying, “OHMIGAWD, BARF!” or whatever it is the kids say these days. The Beard’s neice could always fulfill that role, provided we get hitched in the next few years, and I could dress her up in a cute Us Angels sleaveless organza dress. Anyway.
Flower girls are a nice way to include your dreamy-eyed little sister, neice, daughter, or whatever in your wedding. They are usually between four and eight years old, which is fine, because their only job is to walk down the aisle scattering flowers or flower petals in their wake. They are by no means mandatory and the choice to have one is entirely up to the future bride and groom.
But as much as we grownup types love ooh’ing and ah’ing over teeny tots in frilly dresses, the future flower girl may need a little instruction and a lot of encouragement to help her become confident in her role. If she is adament about not being a flower girl, don’t force her. But if she’s reluctant yet curious, there are some books and videos that can help her understand her duties.
10 Neat Things About Being a Flower Girl shows little girls their role and the significance of weddings in general with lots of beautiful photos of people of various cultures tying the knot.
Wedding Kids, on the other hand, is suitable for both flower girls and ring bearers. It tells little ladies and gentlemen what to expect and how to conduct themselves using fun-to-watch cartoons.
Why do little girls get all the fun? I’ve volunteered to be a “flower nymph” for several different weddings. I had something floaty chiffony in mind, a wreath of flowers in my hair, strewing rose petals and tapping out a rythm on my beribboned tambourine. Barefoot, of course.
(What’s not to love about THAT picture? And why has no one taken me up on this offer?)
See? All the fun AND old enough to drink like a fish during the reception…
I’d accept your offer, Omnibus. And not just because it would totally freak out the more fundie members of my family, who would immediately be convinced I had become a Satan-worshiping pagan!
I am sort of the same boat as Omnibus. We are having an adults only wedding which means no kids in the wedding party either. So my almost sister in law of 20 will be the flower girl and my almost brother in law of 28 is the ring bearer. Both have asked to do the traditional petal throwing and carrying a pillow and are pretty excited about it. And we have no fears of trantrums or someone forgetting which way to walk down the aisle.
Oh, TAG, that sounds absolutely adorable! What a wonderful way to include your future sibling-in-laws in the ceremony!
I’m in flower girl denial. Between all of my fiance’s nieces and all of mine, we made an early executive decision to not have a flower girl, because otherwise there would be a Thunderdome-esque frenzy over who would get to be the flower girl. The only other option would be having six flower girls, and who wants to buy that many freakin’ flower petals?
My daughters have been almost-flower-girls (“we don’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt…”) in several weddings, and have managed to competely destroy their dresses about an hour and a half into the celebration each and every time. They usually step on the gauzy overskirt and pull the entire layer out of the seam. So beware! I’ve just about decided to make their next “wedding” dresses out of denim, or even boating canvas…
Ha, jenny! I can sympathize with your girls. I remember stepping on the gauzy inner lining of my prom dress and feeling it rip. I love long skirts but am such a boar about stepping on them!