We all know there’s nothing cuter than adorable flower girls and ring bearers walking down the aisle, or a cute-as-a-button ring bearer strolling to the altar. But if you want to avoid meltdowns, here are a few guidelines to keep your ceremony sweet rather than stressful, and what you need to know about flower girls and ring bearers.
AGE GUIDELINES
The general consensus is that ring bearers are between 4 and 8 years old, and flower girls are usually between three and eight years old. These are just general guidelines, as we’ve seen kids in weddings that are too young to walk, in which case they can be pulled down the aisle in a wagon. (And we find that option usually makes for incredibly adorable photo ops!)
Flower Girls and Ring Bearers: DUTIES
Ring bearers do just as their title suggests, they bring the rings down the aisle. Given their age, the rings are usually tied to a pillow that the ring bearer carries, and they are actually often fakes (Wedding Guys Wisdom: Have the responsible Best Man or groomsman hold on to the real ones to make sure they don’t get lost).
Flower girls can scatter flowers or petals down the aisle, but couples have gotten creative on this front, opting for everything from bubbles to confetti as alternatives to blooms.
Photo Courtesy of Studio KH
PREP TIME IS KEY
A lot of people tend to say to include the flower girl and ring bearer in the rehearsal dinner, so they get familiar with the bridal party and the gist of the ceremony. Since these dinners tend to go late into the night, we suggest you inform your little attendant of their responsibilities, but they don’t have to attend the rehearsal dinner. Make sure they know they’ll be walking down the aisle, in some cases, alone, and that the “audience” or guests will be watching them. (Best not to catch them off guard). If you have a child that would feel better with a cohort, perhaps consider getting them a partner, which will put nerves at ease. (and up the cute factor).
Attire
Whole articles are written on the subject, but here are some general guidelines:
- Flower girls can wear miniature versions of the bridal gown, or a simpler white dress. Alternatively, they can wear something in the same shade as the bridesmaids. It’s really up to the bride!
- Ring bearers can wear anything from mini tuxes to suits. Depending on the season and formality of the wedding, suits can be dark colors or in the summer, seersucker is an adorable option.
When it comes to who pays for the outfit, it really depends on the situation. Sometimes the bride and/or bride’s family purchases the children’s attire, but more often it is the parents of the flower girl and ring bearer that are responsible for paying for their child’s outfit.
