If you are getting married, there is a pretty strong chance that you have been in a wedding yourself over the years. Therefore, you have some idea of how your bridesmaids should or should not be treated, because the memories are still fairly fresh in your mind. However, fewer people are ever flower girls than they are bridesmaids, and if you were a flower girl when you were younger, it was probably at least 20 years ago! Thus, understandably, you might be a little fuzzier on the proper flower-girl etiquette when it comes to your littlest members of the wedding party.
That’s where we come in, here to answer all your flower girl questions before you can even ask. Most of these tips will apply to the ring bearer as well, but for ease of read, we will stick to referring to the flower girl. We're sharing wedding etiquette tips and tricks related to dresses for flower girls, how a flower girl's role should be organized on the big day, and so much more.
If you still need to ask your flower girl to be in the wedding, we share that etiquette information on the site as well! Bottom line: Ask their parents' permission first, make them feel special, and include them in the big day! It's very similar to proposing to your bridesmaids, but with more parental involvement of course.
Etiquette & Tips for Flower Girls on the Big Day
Who pays for the flower girl dress?
Traditionally, the flower girl’s parents will pay for the flower girl dress. It is polite to provide a few options for flower girl dresses or let them choose for themselves in a certain color palette if they are paying. If your dress of flower girl dreams is something very specific and you want the child to wear it no matter what, it’s proper for the bride or groom to offer to pay. As always, it’s nice to offer to pay in any circ*mstance if it fits in your wedding budget.
What events does the flower girl attend?
Invite flower girls to the bridal shower so they'll be more familiar with the bridesmaids, and give them a little job to do to hold their attention. For example, if you're following the tradition of the rehearsal bouquet, she can collect the bows and ribbons. As with asking flower girls to be part of the wedding, you'll want her to feel special even before she walks down the aisle.
How should flower girls prepare for the wedding?
The role of a flower girl is typically to walk down the aisle and toss flower petals. If your little one is nervous before the ceremony, a bride can help her prepare to walk down the aisle. Help out her parents by meeting with the little girl to practice her walk down the aisle, which will also allow for some extra bonding time. If it's already been purchased or you're deciding between a few dresses for a flower girl, consider asking her to wear the gown (or even don various flower crowns) during the practice run!
Does the flower girl come to the rehearsal dinner?
It's up to the bride and groom whether to invite the flower girl and her family to the rehearsal dinner, but make sure it doesn't go too late so she can be well-rested! In the case of a destination wedding, it's a nice gesture to always invite flower girls and their families to the rehearsal dinner as they've traveled to not only attend, but also have the girls be part of the ceremony. If the flower girl's parents are also in the bridal party or would otherwise be invited to the rehearsal dinner, the flower girl should definitely be included as one of the rehearsal dinner guests.
Does the flower girl stand with the bridesmaids or stay seated at the ceremony?
This depends on the circ*mstance, the age of the flower girls, and the personal choice of the bride. Particularly with younger flower girls, it's customary to have them sit with family and the rest of the guests instead of standing with the bridal party after their walk down the aisle. It will also be less noticeable if she’s fidgety throughout the ceremony. For older flower girls, they can stand with the bridal party at the end of the aisle.
Who watches the flower girls during portraits?
Once they're dressed and ready go in flower crowns and dresses, flower girls will join the wedding party for formal photos or getting-ready shots. As the bride, it's not your responsibility to watch them, but make sure you know who is accountable for making sure they're safe. If one of the parents isn’t also part of the wedding party, have them around to supervise during photos so everyone feels comfortable.
