Flower Girls
EtiquetteFlower Girls

How Old Should a Flower Girl Be?

white flower girl dresses with satin bows

Photo: Melissa Musgrove Photography

Choosing and managing your wedding party—flower girl, ring bearer, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and more—can be a stressful and time-consuming part of planning your wedding. That's why our etiquette experts are here to answer your toughest questions.

How old should a flower girl be?

Generally, child attendants should be between the ages of four and seven. Children younger than four, unless extremely grown-up for their age, don't take direction (or deal with 150 strangers staring at them) very well. You stand a good chance of getting a shy flower girl who refuses to walk down the aisle or a ring bearer who ditches the pillow at the first pew. Kids older than seven feel a little too grown up to be taking on these roles; give them the more adult jobs of junior bridesmaids and groomsmen.

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BridesmaidsEtiquetteFlower Girls

18 Tips for Dealing With Bridal Party Dilemmas

As a bride, you want to please everyone, especially the friends and family you've asked to be in your bridal party. But sometimes, doing that is no slice of wedding cake. What if one of your bridesmaids is being negative? How do you pick just one maid of honor? Where should your bridal party sit at the reception? We gathered common bridal party concerns and asked our wedding etiquette experts for some creative solutions. Read on and rest easy!

See the most common bridal party etiquette questions in the complete slideshow.

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EtiquetteFlower Girls

How Young Is Too Young for a
Flower Girl or Ring Bearer?

flower girl

Photo: KT Merry

Does your sister have to be your maid of honor? Can you ask your bridesmaids to change their appearance? We know choosing and managing a wedding party can be a confusing process. That's why we're here to answer all of your wedding-party etiquette questions!

Are there any age limitations for ring bearers and flower girls?

The age range for flower girls and ring bearers is four to eight years old. Children younger than four are generally much too unpredictable to walk unescorted; those older than eight frequently feel the role is too babyish.

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10 Ways to Keep the Kids at Your Wedding Entertained

Wedding Favors for the Kids Table

Photo: Puzzles Courtesy of Melissa & Doug; Others Courtesy of Hasbro

Whether or not you choose to invite kids to your wedding is totally up to you, but if you do include the little ones, it's your responsibility to make sure there is plenty of age-appropriate entertainment available. And while creating a goodie bag of kid-friendly wedding favors may not be on the top of your bridal to-do list, making sure the children's table is well-stocked with toys and activities is the only way to prevent a total toddler meltdown. (It's easier for a three year-old to take down a wedding cake than you think!) What's more, you'll earn the gratitude of the youngsters' parents, who, thanks to your carefully curated kiddie setup, might actually get to enjoy the wedding—and eat their entrée while it's still warm.

See all of the kids' table essentials in the full slideshow.

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EtiquetteFlower Girls

Do I Have to Invite Children
to My Wedding?

casual flower girl dress and ring bearer suit

Photo: Anna Palma

Whether they're pilfering petits fours off the dessert table or twirling themselves silly on the dance floor, these photo ops in party shoes can bring joy and spontaneity to a wedding. Here's our guide to the pros and the cons of inviting the pre-cocktail set.

How to decide. Pros: Kids bring major spunk to your wedding album and swagger to the dance floor. Cons: Their need for constant supervision can make it tough for parents to let loose. Be honest with yourself about your vision for your wedding before saying yea or nay to tiny guests. And once you make a decision, stick with it.

Compromise is possible. There are ways to include kids in the wedding without giving them an all-access pass. One is to invite only your child attendants or close family members. Another is to set across-the-board age restrictions—say 10 and up. But the most diplomatic strategy, says wedding planner Tara Guérard of Soirée, in Charlston, South Carolina, is to include kids in the ceremony and cocktail hour, then ask that they depart before dinner and dancing.

Spread the word. To make your preferences clear, mark your invites with the full name of each guest. If you're not inviting kids, include babysitting information on your save-the-date, and ask close friends and family to pass the word along. Another way to make it explicit: Plainly state on your wedding website that the event is grown-ups only.

Browse adorable flower girl dresses here.

—Sarah Bernard

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Flower Girls

Sweet Flower Girl Dresses

Photo: Courtesy of The Merriment Blog

We can hardly stand these flower girl dresses we pinned over at A Lowcountry Wedding. They're just so darn adorable! A simple color, a fun style and the girls look like they're having a ball. Not a bad combination. The DIY wands are a cute touch too!

Like it? Pin it! Be sure to scour our Pinterest boards for stunning inspiration on everything from your wedding hair and bouquet to easy DIY details and cool guest favors.

—Gray MacDonald

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Flower Girl Looks Inspired by the Jolie-Pitt Kids

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Photo: Getty

There's no doubt Brad and Angelina's ever-expanding brood will play a large part in their wedding day. The kids' collective wish for their parents to officially tie the knot was a huge motivator for the engagement, as the couple had originally vowed not to marry in protest of unequal marriage rights for gays and lesbians.

So now that the youngsters finally convinced dad to get down on one knee—with a 16-carat table-cut diamond no less—it's time to think about what they'll wear! Comfort is key when outfitting little ones for a wedding, but we doubt the Jolie-Pitt six-pack will skimp on style. We asked Sara Morgan, founder of Tailored, to pick a few key pieces that speak to the individual styles of each Jolie-Pitt kiddo, as well as Brad and Angie's wordly wedding style.

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Photo: Olivia Kate Couture

Above, girly Zahara will love the yellow bow on this satin dress.

Satin flower girl tutu dress, $120, available on Etsy

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Photo: Olivia Kate Couture

This shabby chic flower dress is perfect for little Vivienne. We love the simplicity of the dress and the youthfulness of its too-cute tutu.

Natural cotton and tulle flower girl dress, $90, available on Etsy

Flower-Girl-Flower-Crown.jpg

Photo: Gina Oh & Kim Seidel

A flower crown accented with lace and ribbons is the perfect nod to mom's free-spirited ways.

Flower girl halo, $45, available on Etsy

light-brown-boys-suit.jpg

Photo: Fine Handmade Clothing

These oatmeal suits are light—not stuffy—and a wonderful complement to the whimsical flower girl dresses. And the pageboy hat? Precious. It's a sharp look for the boys—and Shiloh if she sticks with her trademark tomboy style for her parents' big day.

Linen pants and vest, $75, available on Etsy

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Photo: Divine Domestication

Paired with the oatmeal suits, this preppy bow tie is just as ready for a trip down the aisle as it is a jaunt down the red carpet.

Yellow elephant bow tie, $13, available on Etsy

personalized-map-cufflinks.jpg

Photo: Dana Klopher

The globe-trotting Jolie-Pitts have been world travelers since their diaper days. (Angelina even has the coordinates of each child's birthplace tattooed on her arm.) These map cufflinks are perfect for personalizing with a favorite travel spot—or a top secret wedding location.

Vintage map sterling silver cufflinks, $50, available on Etsy

moss-ring-bearer-pillow.jpg rustic-flower-girl-basket.jpg

Photo: Bragging Bags

True to their eco-friendly lifestyle, this moss ring bearer pillow ensures careful keeping of Angelina's engagement ring. The girls will look sweet carrying coordinating baskets.

Moss ring bearer pillow and basket set, $60, available on Etsy

save-the-date-necklace.jpg

Photo: Fleur Envy Couture

Brad made it clear that the wedding would be most meaningful for their children. What better way to remember the special day than with this simple and chic save-the-date charm?

Stamped charm necklace, $24, available on Etsy

—Sara Morgan

Check out these looks as well as others on Tailored.

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Favors & GiftsFlower Girls

Fun Flower Girl Idea:
Paper Pearls Placemats

fun-flowergirl-placemat.jpg

Photo: Courtesy of CAKE Vintage

If you're having flower girls or ring bearers at your wedding, these placemats by CAKE Vintage are a fun and easy way to occupy the little ones during dinner. The "Paper Pearls" placemats feature paper jewelry that girls can color, punch out, and wear. CAKE Vintage also makes a "Paper Disguises" version, which is perfect for boys. Both sets, $25, contain 25 sheets with perforated designs (so you don't need to cut anything out). Buy them on CAKE Vintage's website, and browse flower girl dresses in our gallery.

—Rosie Purdy

Keywords:
,
Favors & GiftsFlower Girls

Fun Flower Girl Idea:
Celebration Kit

flower-girl-world.jpg

Photo: Courtesy of Flower Girl World

I was only a flower girl once (my stint ended after excessive aisle dancing at my uncle's wedding), but I probably would have had a more successful petal-throwing career had someone given me this Celebration Kit from Flower Girl World. The kit, $34.99, includes books, a felt basket and practice petals, crayons, stickers, and a memory scrapbook. There is also an interactive website where your flower girl can get practical advice and helpful tips so she'll be excited—not stressed—on your wedding day.

Check out our Flower Girl Dress gallery for more ideas on how to make your flower girl feel special.

—Rosie Purdy

Keywords:
Flower GirlsWedding Style

Trend Alert: Polka Dots

gold-and-white-polka-dots.jpg

Photos: Jon Koch Photography (invitation); courtesy of Carla Caruso Jewelry (ring); Annalie Young (cake); courtesy of Kate Spade (perfume); courtesy of J.Crew (flower girl attire)

Recently, we've noticed festive polka dots popping up everywhere—on the fashion runways, on kids' clothing, and even at weddings. We love the idea of incorporating gold polka dots as a wedding motif—they're sophisticated and festive, but also convey a sense of whimsy and playfulness. We've put together a few of our favorite wedding style details featuring the motif. —Heather Lee and Mallory Toombs

Clockwise from top left:
1) Wedding invitation designed by the bride Kate Allen; calligraphy by Plurabelle Calligraphy
Love the smattering of gold foil polka dots on this letterpress-printed invitation.

2) Carla Caruso ring
A simple-yet-mod take on a wedding band.

3) Luisa Galuppo wedding cake
The middle tier of this elegant, shimmery cake is studded with tiny edible pearls.

4) Kate Spade "Twirl" perfume
Gift your bridesmaids with a bottle of this pretty perfume (the fragrance is inspired by French macaron cookies!).

5) Flower girl attire by J.Crew
Instead of a basic beribboned white dress, outfit your flower girl in this dotted-top-and-skirt-combo (which she can easily re-wear).

Celebrity Weddings & StyleFlower Girls

Kate Moss's John Galliano Wedding Dress

kate-moss-wedding-dress-john-galliano.jpg Photo: FilmMagic

This morning, supermodel Kate Moss and rocker Jamie Hince married at St. Peter's Church in Southrop, England. As we reported, Kate wore a gown by former Dior designer John Galliano. We're fans of Galliano's work and know that he and Kate are longtime friends, but given his recent troubles, we're surprised that Kate still chose to ask him to design her wedding dress (Dior spokeswoman Natalie Portman announced in March that she's refusing to associate herself with the designer in any way).

But, anti-Semitic outbursts aside, we have to admit that Kate's bias-cut dress is stunning—the cream-colored gown featured a sheer skirt adorned with gold-embroidered leaves. Meanwhile, Jamie and his best woman, bandmate Alison Mosshart, both wore blue ensembles designed by Stefano Pilati for YSL. And how adorable is the couple's team of flower girls dressed in white organza? —Lauren Matthews

Keywords:
Flower GirlsWedding Style

Kids Style Ideas for a
Fourth of July Wedding

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As you already know with wrapping paper, pool toys, and Halloween decorations, the best (read: cheapest) time to buy any seasonal item is the days leading up to its yearly peak. So if you're planning a Fourth of July wedding for next year, now's the time to load up on all your red, white, and blue accoutrements—including outfits for the flower girls and ring bearers in your party. Gap Kids is running a 70%-off sale through Monday on selected styles, many of which are festive options for casual ceremonies. Boys can pair any of the brand's classic patterned shirts with neutral pants or shorts, while girls have a range of printed sundresses to choose from. Comfort is crucial, and Gap's cotton basics give kids enough wiggle room to avoid being fussy without sacrificing on style. Just be sure to keep the kiddies away from the sparklers; singe marks are never a good look. —Phillip B. Crook

BridesmaidsFlower GirlsRoyal Wedding

The Royal Flower Girl Dresses

royal-wedding-flower-girl-dresses-nicki-macfarlane.jpg

Photo: Getty Images

Kate Middleton's little flower girls (bridesmaids, as they're known across the pond), looked just adorable this morning in their Nicki Macfarlane dresses (above)—crisp white tea-length styles with regal gold sashes, accessorized with floral wreaths in their hair. While their dresses were certainly custom creations, here are some sweet flower girl dresses (in stores now!) that we think would have looked just as lovely walking down the Westminster Abbey aisle. Visit our flower girl dress gallery for more dress ideas for your littlest attendant.—Kim Forrest

Flower GirlsRoyal WeddingWedding Style

More Royal Wedding-Worthy Flower Girl Dresses

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Photos: Courtesy of Ann Frances

If you enjoyed perusing our flower girl dress ideas for the royal wedding, here are some more lovely options that we think Kate might like for her little attendants. These dresses are designed by Nashville-based Ann Frances, who also creates a lovely collection of wedding gowns. I love the ultratraditional feel of these styles, which feature classic details like smocking, silk ribbons, pearls, and ruffled collars; they would certainly be a keepsake that Kate could pass down for generations to come. Visit Ann Frances' website for more flower girl dress options, and check out our flower girl dress gallery for even more ideas.—Kim Forrest

Flower Girls

Yellow Flower Girl Dresses

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Photos (from left): Courtesy of Fox'n Lily, courtesy of Watters, courtesy of David's Bridal

With all this cold weather, I'm in the mood for a little sunshine—in the form of these adorable yellow flower girl dresses. At far left is a whimsical ruffled yellow shift by Fox'n Lily—I wish they made it in my size! I love the Watters dress (center)—the English net and ribbon detailing give it a total garden fairy vibe, and the David's Bridal style (far right) would be just adorable at a spring outdoor wedding. Which is your favorite? Browse more yellow flower girl dresses here or browse all flower girl dresses in our gallery. —Kim Forrest

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