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Etiquette for Flower Girls
Flower girls are such an important part of a wedding
ceremony. Wedding guests find it amusing and fun to see a sweet little girl
coming down the aisle all dolled up and looking pretty. The tradition of a
flower girl started in Rome and Greece many
years ago when flower girls spread herbs and grains, which symbolized fertility
for the bride. While not many people are aware of this fact, the tradition of
flower girls has been part of matrimonial ceremonies all over the world since. There
are some fine lines about what is expected of flower girls, who pays for her
dress, and other such details. Let's learn the etiquette for flower girls.
How Old Should a Flower Girl Be
There is no set guideline for this decision. Much of
choosing a flower girl is based on personal feelings and relationship with the
little girl. A four- to five-year-old girl would probably handle the situation
a bit better than a smaller girl. If the girl you want to choose does not want
to be in the wedding party, you should not force her to do so. Just choose
someone different.
Buying the Dress
How excited a little girl gets when she is asked to be the
flower girl in a wedding. She will be dressed in a frilly, elegant dress, with
her hair made up like a princess. So, who pays for this dress? It is generally
expected that the parents of the flower girl will spring for the dress. There
are some cases where the bride and groom will purchase the dress as a gift for
the little girl, but if this is not offered, than you can assume that it is
your responsibility. The same holds true for bridesmaids and ushers. When they
agree to be in a wedding party, they are expected to pay for their outfits as
well.
Attending the Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner is a fun time for the couple and the
family and friends who are part of the wedding party to relax and talk about
the big day. Of course, the flower girl is just as much a part of the wedding
party as the bridesmaids, ushers, and parents of the bride and groom. To this
end, she should be invited to the rehearsal dinner. It is tradition that the
groom's parents pay for the dinner, and if they have different feelings about
the child being there, the bride and groom should do their best to change their
minds. Perhaps arrangements could be made to have the flower girl picked up
early from the dinner, instead of staying out too late with all of the adults.
If the flower girl is adamant about not going to the dinner, then you should
not force her to do so.
Standing in the Receiving Line?
Generally speaking, the flower girl is not part of the
receiving line. It is a lot to expect a little girl to stand still and greet so
many people that she does and doesn't know. Some flower girls are shy by
nature, and this would be hard for them to do as well. One exception to this
rule is when the flower girl is the daughter of one of the newlyweds. Then by
all means she can certainly be part of the receiving line.
Additional Information
While there are accepted rules of etiquette for flower
girls, most couples will arrange their wedding how they see fit. Because it is
the couple's big day, friends and family should do their best to accommodate
their wishes for this occasion. This may mean that the couple has different
ideas about what they want the flower girl to do during and after the ceremony.
As long as you know your daughter's role and responsibilities, you should do
your best to make sure the couple has the best day ever.
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