February 8, 2008

Fantastic Little Flower Girls

There are two things that cause wedding guests to sigh and smile in admiration as the opening strains of the wedding march fills the air. The first is the sight of the bride coming down the aisle resplendent in her gown. The second is the sight of the flower girl slowly and shyly tottering down the aisle in her fancy little dress.

While age can certainly be a factor in choosing who will be the flower girl at your wedding, more often than not, the decision is based on a family or friend connection. Whether it is a young cousin, niece, family friend, or indeed your own daughter, if having a very young child be a part of your wedding is important, then there is always a way to make it work.

First of all, be sure to keep your expectations for the child realistic. If the child is under three years of age, walking down the aisle may not be a possibility, due to nerves or lack of ability. When working with a child this age, always have a Plan B in place to get them down the aisle. Some brides choose to decorate a wagon that one of the attendants pulls up the aisle with her, or assigns an attendant with the task of carrying the child up the aisle.

While it may be a pretty picture to imagine your flower girl, daintily spreading flower petals left and right from her basket, chances are a very young flower girl will simply, at best, walk up the aisle clutching her basket, or at worse, refuse to go up at all. This is where strategy comes into play.

Instead of a basket full of flowers, give the child a cozy soft teddy bear adorned with a matching ribbon or other accessory. This strategy gives your young attendant something to cling to and something to distract her from the many eyes that are upon her as she makes her way down the aisle. It can also be a promised treat of keeping the bear, if she performs her duties admirably.

When assigning a particular attendant with the task of looking after the child for the ceremony, photos and reception, make sure they have a chanceto get to know each other before the ceremony. Having the opportunity to get to know one another and to forge the bond of trust the child will need, will go a long way to ensuring a smoother day for all concerned.

If your attendant is older, while getting them up the aisle physically may not be a dilemma, mentally you may still have to offer the child some incentive.

Above all else, remember as the day wears on, so too will the child's ability to handle all the stress and excitement. As much as you may want them to sit through dinner and make it to the first dance, only proper planning will ensure that the child is rested enough to dance the night away.

©2008 Weddingstar Inc.