Skip to main content

What is Proper for My Flower Girl?

 bride; flower girl; wedding

As an etiquette consultant, I’ve answered wedding etiquette questions for over 20 years.  Interestingly, very few brides know what to do about their flower girls.  They don’t know how to dress them, how to include them in pre-wedding events, and what gift to give them.  Luckily, I have all the answers.  More than that, I have also included a wedding challenge quiz question buried somewhere in this article.  See if you can answer it correctly.

How should I dress my flower girl?

Dress your flower girl in age-appropriate attire similarly in style with other bridesmaids.  Since the proper age for a flower girl is between the ages of four and eight, safety and maneuverability are important as well.  Little ones could trip over a long skirt. 

Consider that she may hit a growth spurt so it’s best to choose a dress that can be ordered near to the wedding date. 

Her shoes should be flats and look like those worn by the bridesmaids.  Be sure and scuff them a bit before the wedding so she won’t slip.  (good tip for the entire party)

Additionally, please choose a reasonably priced dress since the mother of this little one is responsible for all her costs. 

What type of flowers should the flower girl carry?

During Roman times, the females in the bridal party – flower girl included – carried wheat, later replaced with herbs and flowers to ward off evil spirits.  Today, the flower girl carries a variety of flowers to spread across the aisle.  Evil spirits are excluded from the guest list. 

Should the flower girl be invited to my pre-wedding parties?

The flower girl doesn’t have to be invited to all parties.  In fact, can you imagine an eight-year-old attending a bachelorette party?  Nevertheless, she could be invited to a bridal shower and should be invited to the rehearsal dinner. 

Please note that her mother always needs to accompany her. 

Wedding Challenge Quiz Question

Question: Traditionally, why did the women in the wedding – flower girl included – carry flowers? 

Answer: To ward off evil spirits

Share your thoughts and answers to the short quiz. 

More by The Polite One

Just the Facts: Wedding Etiquette Tips

Money-Saving Tips for Your Decorations and Flowers

The Polite One’s Wedding Money-Saving Tips 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

4 of the Most Asked Wedding Etiquette Questions Answered

After decades of answering etiquette questions, especially about weddings, I’d like to share a few of those questions that represent the majority of concerns.   Q: Is an invited coworker obligated to spend a certain amount? I'm going to both the wedding shower and the wedding. Should I buy both gifts off the registry? A: Unfortunately, yes. This is one of the biggest reasons I feel that the gift-less wedding shower is the smartest route for us to follow today.  Why should the couple receive more than one gift per guest?  It just doesn't make any sense and isn't fair to guests. Q : Registries feel so impersonal.   Is there any way to make it more personal? A: I honestly can't think of any way to make a registry more personal.  If a couple decides to register, they should choose items from the low end of the price range as well as the bigger ticket items, so the list doesn't appear to be a greed-fest.  Unfortunately, it can have th...
Post a Comment
Read more

When and Where to Seat and Sit

Playing Musical Chairs With Parents Dear Polite One,   On the day of the wedding when it becomes time to seat the parents of the bride and groom, who sits first and last especially when dealing with stepparents? Me First Dear Me First , We have more parental issues to deal with these days than we did in the past.    In fact, more weddings are encore wedding than first, which reflects this trend.  So, to keep everyone happy and separate, we seat parents in this order:  Groom’s father and stepmother (third row); Bride’s father and stepmother (third row); Groom’s mother and stepfather (first row); Bride’s mother and stepfather (first row).   If everyone is on friendly terms, all parents may sit in the front row in the given order.  The stepparents follow the person escorting parents to their seats.   Sincerely, The Polite One Seating Chart Dilemma Dear Polite One,   I'm working ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do I wear nylons with strappy sandals for a fall evening wedding?

  Dear Polite One, From what I have read on your site, I should wear a cocktail (little black dress or equivalent) to a fall evening wedding at a golf country club.  Do, I need to wear nylons with my strappy sandals? Wedding Newbie in Wisconsin Dear Wedding Newbie in Wisconsin, Bravo on doing your attire homework!  You are absolutely correct about your attire choice.  Nylons aren't nearly as popular or expected due to our love of sandals. Strappy sandals look splendid with nice dresses, even in the winter.  FYI: It is a faux pas to wear nylons with open-toed shoes. Sincerely, The Polite One More by The Polite One How to dress for a wedding as "the second wife"? How to Dress for Formal Wedding in New York ? What to wear to a formal evening wedding in Napa?
Post a Comment
Read more