Flower girl dresses are worn by little girls between the ages of three and eight, mainly at weddings. The flower girls walk down the aisle ahead of the maid of honor, sprinkle flowers and confetti in the path of the bride.
How many flower girls? Decide how many flower girls you will have. Some brides have just one, while others invite several little girls to take part in their wedding party. If you have more than one flower girl, take into account their various ages so you can find a dress style that will be available to accommodate their different sizes.
Age. Keep the age of flower girls in mind. Flower girls are typically young girls under age 8. Junior bridesmaids are older. There is no “cut off” age or real distinction other than some girls will really balk at the idea of being a “flower girl” somewhere around the age of 8-10.
Season. The weather and time of year will play a big part in the style of the flower girl dress you pick out. If you are getting married in the summer or spring, then you want to make sure you do not get something that has long sleeves as she will be very hot and may tend to complain more. If your wedding is going to be in the winter or fall, you don’t want to pick a dress that has short sleeves as she will get cold.
Style. The style of the flower girl’s dress shouldn’t come out of left field. Tie it in to some other aspect of the wedding: It can echo the styling of the bridesmaids in color, style, or length. Or, it can be a mini version of the bride’s dress or have similar elements such as lace or beading. Certain styles work better in a big hotel ballroom, others on a beach, so keep that in mind as you shop.
Color. Pick complementing colors. A flower girl dress is an easy way to tie all your wedding colors together. It can be the same colors as your bride’s maids’ dresses, or it can be white or ivory. If you go with white or ivory, consider choosing a dress that has accents of your colors on a sash, beading, embroidery, or headpiece.
Formality. The formality of her dress will depend on the formality of the wedding. If you are having your wedding on the beach, then your flower girl’s dress should be something in light and airy colors, such as pastels and simple designs. If you are having your wedding in a ballroom setting, then you want to pick a fancy dress for your flower girl.
Comfort. No matter how precious the flower girl looks, if her dress and shoes are uncomfortable, it will be reflected in her face and behavior. Scratchy dresses and tight shoes have been responsible for everything from fidgeting to temper tantrums over the years, so take this issue seriously.
Theme. Choose a dress for the setting. Just as you have chosen your gown to reflect the backdrop of your wedding (whether it is a ballroom or the beach), you should do the same with the flower girl dress.
Length. There are two different lengths that you should consider when picking your flower girl dress, floor-length and tea-length. If you choose tea-length, make sure the socks or tights that you choose to go with it are appropriate for the style of the dress you choose. If you decide to go with floor-length, make sure that your flower girl will not trip over it.
Quality and Fabric. As you know, little girls do not sit still either at the reception nor will they stand still while you say your vows. Always pick fabrics that are not easily wrinkled and possibly ripped. Stay away from fabrics such as silk and velvet to avoid wrinkle and tear, though they can often be very comfortable.
Tags: dress, flower girl, wedding planning
