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No ring bearer? Your flower girl will be just as sweet with a ring pillow of her own.
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Children can add charm, innocence and fun to a wedding. They are special members of our families and we honour them by including them in our special moments. We've compiled some helpful information and adorable pictures we found on flickr to make your day go smoothly and answer some of your questions about the smallest attendants in your wedding party.
A flower girl is usually between the ages of 2 and 9 and her role has traditionally been to spread rose petals down the isle before the bride. Many churches and institutions aren't keen on removing hundreds or petals from their premises and so many girls carry a flower basket or bouquet instead. There may be more than one flower girl, especially at formal weddings, or if the bride or groom have several young children to honour. The flower girl may stand with the other attendants during the wedding, or sit with her parents. The flower girl does not need to stand in the receiving line.
A ring bearer usually carries the wedding bands on a ring pillow and walks down the isle beside the flower girl. The two children are traditionally dressed to look like a couple, similar to the best man and maid of honour. Many Bride's find this to be too restrictive since there are many children they w0uld like to have in the wedding party. There is often more than one little boy in a wedding party, in which case two pillows are often used. The ring bearer does not need to stand in the receiving line.
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Beautiful bows and wreaths are timeless and elegant.
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The children's parents are responsible for their attire. The bride and groom, however, should supply the flower petals, bouquet or ring pillow.
Dressing the children:
Comfort should be number one priority. Avoid dresses with scratchy inside seams and crinolines without slip linings. Tights should be worn only in the cooler months to avoid discomfort. Irritable children can make your wedding day less than enjoyable - so avoid poorly made garments that will cause more whines than smiles.
Flower girls can be dressed to match the bride or the bridesmaids. Her dress can be may different lengths - as a general rule: the more formal the wedding, the longer the dress. Choose a shorter length for very little girls to avoid tripping. Crinolines are very sweet under a knee length dress. Older girls enjoy ball gown lengths, with or without a crinoline. On her feet, the flower girl commonly wears ballet slippers or other flat, comfortable shoes.
The ring bearer has many choices. He can wear a full suit, a vest and bow tie alone, or dress up a plain shirt with suspenders and a tie to match the flower girl's sash. The ring bearer's main job is to be cute - he doesn't have to be a cookie cutter of the groomsmen! Try adding a vest and tie in your wedding colours to any pair of standard dress pants - the results are fantastic and you won't break the bank.
Depending on the time of year, fabrics and colour choices may vary. While silk is an excellent fabric for all types of weather, try introducing velvet in the fall and winter for added texture.
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Remind your little ones to go slowly!
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Tips for a smooth wedding day:
- It is a good idea to have the children wear their shoes often before the wedding. Their feet will get very sore after a long day in brand new shoes!
- Make sure the children get lots of practice and encouragement at the rehearsal. They will be at ease on the wedding day if they see familiar and friendly faces.
- Decorate a wagon for the smallest of attendants and pull them down the aisle!
- Wait until the very last minute to dress the children: juice stains before the "big event" can cause a frenzy!
- Pack "secret fun bags" for the children and open them at the reception. Include new crayons, a doodle book, stickers etc. to keep them busy during Uncle Harry's speech.
- During the wedding ceremony seat the child(ren)'s parents strategically so they can encourage their little one to walk down the aisle.
We all want to honor the special children in our lives. But is walking a prerequisite for accepting the honor of ring bearer or flower girl? No.
Wagon's, trikes, a ride in the best man's arms...these are all totally sweet ways to get those little darlings down the isle.
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Children's gift ideas:
The bride generally honours the flower girl and ring bearer with a gift to say "thank you".
Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
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