Mothers, Daughters and Flower Girls
The wedding is all about the bride on her special day. But sometimes a bride is more than happy to share the spotlight – especially when it’s with her daughter! This inspirational photo shoot shows the beauty of the mother and daughter relationship and how much fun it can be to dress like princesses together.
A Birmingham wedding venue is a dream come true, isn’t it? With ceremony and reception locales such as castles, splendid gardens, and the Birmingham canals area, a mother and daughter occasion will be not only beautiful but fun as well!
Flower Girls in Weddings
The special bond shared between mothers and daughters makes it even more special when they have the opportunity to create more beautiful memories at a wedding. Beyond being guests, every mother would love to have their daughters share the spotlight during the wedding. Little girls make adorably cute flower girls, and it's even more sentimental when the bride "proposes to them."
Much like the process of asking your friends and relatives to be your bridesmaids' in a grand way; your daughter will love the formal invitation to stand in procession as one of your flower girls. That brings us to the whole subject of flower girls, in general, and the basic etiquettes of having them play a role in the big day.
Most brides were once bridesmaids and it serves as a point of reference in terms of how to approach that aspect. When it comes to flower girls, few can vividly recall the experience, and that's where we should pick up. Let's take a deep dive into the role of flower girls in modern weddings and figure out what's expected of you when recruiting the little tots for your big day.
The History of Flower Girls In Weddings
Flower girls are the youngest members of the wedding party, and they usually pave the way for the bride to take the all-important walk down the aisle. The tradition of having flower girls at weddings dates to ancient Rome when they were tasked with laying the ground with selections of herbs and wheat. In the present day, this has been replaced with tossing flower petals down the wedding aisle.
It's often thought that the little girls represent a woman's life coming full circle; from her younger and innocent years into adulthood to being someone’s wife. In earlier times, the little tots represented hope and innocence in the sense that the bride was on a path to create little humans of her own.
The Role of Flower Girls In Weddings
There are several roles that flower girls are tasked with performing during the wedding. For starters, they ceremoniously toss the wedding flower petals down the aisle in readiness for the bride's walk to the ceremony site. As the bride's helpers, they assist with carrying her train and simply escort her down the aisle.
Flower girls are also meant to melt guests' hearts by just being authentically adorable, cute, and childishly hilarious. Overall, they signal that the bride is about to grace the guests with her presence.
It's also worth noting that it's not cast in stone that flower girls should toss petals down the aisle. They can equally toss colourful balloons, blow bubbles, carry signs, or carry small bouquets as they make their way down the aisle.
Several other aspects about flower girls and their roles in weddings can be answered with these questions.
Who should be flower girls? Cousins, nieces, friends' children, and your own daughters are the perfect candidates. It helps if they fall between the ages of three to eight but exceptions are allowed as long as they make it down the aisle.
How many flower girls should you have? The simplest way to answer this question is that you can have as many flower girls as you want. However, the number should also be within reason to avoid overwhelming the adult chaperones.
Do they need help walking down the aisle? Depending on their age, some flower girls will need help for the walk down the aisle. For instance, those younger than three years old can be pulled down the aisle in little wagons or toy cars. Even the older ones might need some assistance because regardless of age, that walk always proves nerve-wracking for everyone. The buddy system always works, and they’ll help each other shake off the shyness when walking down the aisle in pairs.
What is their order of procession? Flower girls might walk down the aisle with the maid of honor or accompany the ring bearer to the ceremony site. They may also walk alongside the bride performing their duties as helpers or proceed down the aisle in a single file. It entirely depends on the format you feel works for your nuptials.
What pre-wedding events should they attend? The wedding rehearsal is an important pre-wedding event for the flower girls and their parents to attend. It's an occasion when everyone involved in the big day gets a rundown on what's expected of them. However, their involvement is often brief and they don't have to stay for the entire duration of the day.
Are they involved in the reception? It's up to you, and their parents, to decide whether or not flower girls are invited to the reception. If they are involved in that part of the day, they typically perform several fun tasks like taking part in the married couple's grand entrance. They might also perform the bridal party dance and stand in line for the bouquet toss.
Should the bride get them thank you favours? While it's not mandatory, it's a lovely gesture to present your little helpers with thank-you gifts. Much like wedding favours, it doesn't have to be anything costly, but rather thoughtful and personalised gifts. Items like music boxes, jewellry, bridal dolls, and fun games are wonderful flower girl appreciation gifts.
Flower Girl Wedding Dresses & Accessories
Traditionally, flower girls wear outfits that match the bride's ensemble. Alternatively, their outfit can mirror the bridesmaids' look. Their parents usually pick up the tab for their wedding outfits, and the more reason to involve the parents throughout the entire process. You can equally cover the cost if you are very specific about the look or want something that might prove costly to the parents.
Usually, a flower girl's ensemble includes white tights, ballerina flats, age-appropriate jewellry, and tulle dresses. Maintain a simple hairstyle for the flower girls crowned with a tiara, flowers, or barrettes.
A Mother/Daughter Inspiration Shoot
This darling mother/daughter bridal shoot from Kristina Curtis Photography takes the cake for the best idea ever.
Whether you’re about to be married, nowhere near getting married, or already married, having an inspiration shoot with your tiny sidekick is the new must. The memories of dressing up together like princesses would be absolutely priceless!
The floral design from Calie Rose is simply exquisite. Peach amaryllis, English garden roses, blush peonies, berries, peach gloriosa lilies, spray roses, hydrangea blooms, and tulips were used throughout the bouquet, flower crowns, and centrepieces.
The ruffle tablecloth adds texture and the gold accents, glitter, and peach and blush colour palette add a touch of warmth to the setting. It’s complete perfection. And the moments you create with your daughter are the ones that she’ll treasure forever!
Credits: Photography & Dress (yes! She DIYed that gorgeous gown) Kristina Curtis Photography // Floral Design: Calie Rose // Videography: Haizel Creations // Flower Girl Dress: Peaches ‘n Cream Boutique // Invitation Suite: Polka Dots & Daisies // Necklace: Stamped Frosting // Hair: Amara Day Spa // Makeup: About Face // Table Banner: Quilted Polka Dot // Location: Utah Lake.