Flower Girls

Hi B.,

I would suggest not talking too much about it...if they think you think they won't do it, they may not. If they see everyone else doing it, they will probably just follow the lead. Children are usually the funnest part of a wedding, no matter what happens...they are so innocent, whatever happens will be a memory. The last wedding I went to the ring bearer and the flower girl walked together...the flower girl was dropping the petals, and the ring bearer was picking them up...so cute!

HAVE FUN!

C.

It depends on how clingy your girls are. For my wedding I had a 3 year old flower girl and 5 year old ring bearer. The 3 year old girl was very clingy to her mom and we knew this in advace. So, one of the bridesmaids picked her up and brought her to the salon for hair styles. Then we all kept an eye on her at church during pictures. Her parents snuck into church during pictures and hid in the cry room so she wouldn't see them> She did GREAT for pics!!! I was super excited. And then I kept her with me while we waited to walk down the aisle. Her parents were towards the front of church so they could video tape and take pics of her walking down the aisle. And I figured if she went and sat by them then, oh well. I didn't care. But she walked up the aisle and then played on the "stage" for the whole wedding. Super cute. She stood for awhile and then sat on the floor and played with her flower basket.....

I would suggest having someone else in the back when it's time to walk up. NOT YOU! I've seen too many little ones refuse to walk up the aisle when Mom is going to be left behind in the back of church...... Be up front so the girls will want to get to you.

I love the idea of having a small treat/ present waiting for them. (Whether they end up doing well or not.) They deserve it.

Just don't sweat it. If they start acting up, have someone else take over. Kids always behave better for others than they do for mom....LOL.

Good luck.

I'm sure your girls will do fine, but just in case...

One thing I know from experience is that there needs to be someone with them the whole time so that if they freak out when it's time to go down the aisle, there is someone to stay with them until Grandma can get to the back and get them.

Also, the bride needs to remember that when working with kids that age, sometimes it's best to just go on without them if they're having issues.

Good luck, enjoy the wedding.

In my wedding i had 5 kids ages 7,5,4,2,2 one of the 2 year olds fell asleep, and the other needed to be with her mom as she went down the aisle. The 4 year old and 5 year old walked together and the 7 year old was with me. I had gift baskets for each of them and they new about it ahead of time but the deal was we had to make it through the entire wedding before they received them. it was kind of a bribe but there were very few peeps out of the children during the ceremony except a well timed "Finally" from the 7 year old as the ceremony ended. Dont put to much pressure on the little ones they can feel it adn it will only make things go less smoothly.

My 2 year old was just in a wedding and my husband (who was in the wedding too) ended up carrying her down the aisle. It worked out well even though it wasn't the "plan".
We did the presents, a treat after the ceremony....etc. I had to take my daughter out during the ceremony but it still worked out pretty well!

My two year old cousin just was in a wedding, she is super shy around large groups BUT her 4ish year old brother helped her all the way down the aisle.

If the girls can go together that will help, unless both are super shy. Have someone they know really well (uncle, aunt, grandpa, you) in the back to reassure the girls and send them down OR to wait with them if they end up not going down the aisle.

For sitting through the wedding have some quiet toys for them to play with like; stickers, etch-a-sketch, Magnadoodle, books, pipe cleaners, magnetic books (just saw them at Wal-mart in toy section) and maybe some snacks that won't create messy faces/clothes.

My daughter is three and will be a flower girl in Sept, I am in the wedding but hubby will be sitting up front (along with grandma and grandpa since it is my brother's wedding). I am going to put the above suggested toys in an open basket where she will be sitting with daddy, I am going to show her where the basket is before the wedding so she knows there is something waiting for her (hopefully that will keep her interest since some the toys will be new and she will go all the way down the aisle to check them out).

I agree with the other mom, let the bride know that if the girls are having a bad day or frightened by all the people to just skip it. Have to be flexible when kids are in the wedding.

Have the girls make friends with one of the bridesmaids. Then if they get nervous she can walk down with her. I would have the girls know where you are sitting so if they would rather sit with you than stand the whole time (even short wedding seem like forever for little girls.) If you think they will be able to stand the whole time, there is no problem with them standing by Daddy when they get down the isle. If you just want them to walk straight to the pew you are in that is fine also. When my 4 yr old was a flower girl I sat in the 2nd row, she came straight to me and I had snacks and a Color Wonders book and markers to keep her occupied. When the wedding was over she hopped out of the pew and walked behind the last attendants and found her daddy who was also a groomsman in the back of the church waiting for her. She was a hit as she strutted down the isle to end the ceremony! Do as much as the girls are willing. Honestly the 2 yr old might not go down. Some kids are so exhausted from the waiting and picture taking; they just fall asleep. A quick note to you – don’t put your heels on until the last minute. You are going to be chasing the girls around all day! As tired and stressed as you will be, try to keep it fun for them. This is a great experience for them and they will remember being the princesses for a long time to come! Good Luck!

My 3 yr old daughter is a "mama's girl" and will be in a wedding next month. Our plan is to have someone else in the back to get her to walk down. I will be in the front so she can come to me if needed! They always seem better when we moms arn't visible! Good luck!