Ages Five to Ten Kids between five and ten years old are the best candidates for flower and ring duties. They're old enough to walk down the aisle with minimal issues, and you can rely on them to execute just about any task.
Typically the age range most appropriate for a ring bearer or flower girl falls between ages 4 to 10 years old. However, weddings today showcase toddlers and even infants in these distinguished roles.
It's all about her age.
The first and most important criterion that determines a girl's title is how old she is. If she's from four to eight, she's a flower girl, If she's between nine and fifteen, she falls into the junior bridesmaid category; older than that, you can go ahead and call her a bridesmaid.
Traditionally a flower girl is somewhere between the ages of 4 and 9 (any younger and they might find your wedding a challenge, any older and they are promoted to junior Bridesmaid), she is someone that is close to you (i.e. your sister, niece, cousin, a daughter of a close friend).
How old should a little bride be? On average, most little brides in a wedding fall between 4 and 8 years old. They're typically at the same age as flower girls. If your daughter is a bit older, you can consider making her a junior or little bridesmaid.
Junior bridesmaids are between approximately 9 to 15 years old and are typically relatives (sister, niece, cousin) of the couple or the children of very close friends.
Joan of France, Duchess of Berry (age 12), was betrothed in a wedding contract at age 8-days-old, she was officially married at the age of twelve in 1476, to her cousin Louis, Duke of Orléans (aged 14).
Flower girls are between ages 3 - 8.
You can have a flower girl who's 9 or 10 (they're so cute, too!), but at this age, she might prefer to be called a junior bridesmaid.
Who pays for the flower girl's dress? Typically the parents of the flower girl will take on the cost of paying for the dress. If you have a little extra in your wedding budget and you can gift the dress to the flower girl that is lovely but not required.
The flower girl traditionally follows the last bridesmaid or maid of honor in the wedding processional, right before the bride makes her entrance. She often scatters flower petals, herbs, or confetti as she walks—centuries ago, this symbolized good fertility for the bride.
Choosing a Flower Girl
But not to worry, there is no hard and fast rule that says a wedding party can't have more than one flower girl. In fact, having two or three flower girls often makes it easier for the children involved.
A junior bridesmaid is a younger member of the wedding party who falls between the ages of a flower girl and bridesmaid (usually about eight to 16, or whatever ages you feel are appropriate). She might be a younger sister or sister-in-law, a niece, a cousin, a daughter, or a close family friend.
The main duty of the flower girl in modern weddings is to scatter flower petals in front of the bride as she walks down the aisle.
Throwing rose petals
Rose petals, which are traditionally red, represent fertility, and because they're thrown by the flower girl, they are also a symbol of the transition the bride is making from an innocent girl to a woman and, soon, mother.
What color dress should a flower girl wear? Traditionally, most flower girls wear white to match the bride. However, it's your day and you can choose whatever color fits your theme, color palette, and personal aesthetic.
"Usually a simple hairstyle is all that is needed (a few minutes to curl or put her hair up) depending on age," says Candice Coppola, owner and creative director at A Jubilee Event. The pro adds that it's a thoughtful gesture to offer to pay for this as your gift to the young attendant.
Usually, flower girls and ring bearers range from ages three to eight years old. But don't let that stop you from giving those roles to someone younger or older, or even to adults, especially if you're not too keen on the idea of including children in your wedding.
Usually, the to-be-weds choose the flower girl's attire, so she can match the wedding theme and sometimes the wedding party. Some couples are more flexible and don't mind if the flower girl's parents choose the dress as long as the dress connects in some way to the wedding theme.
If you have a few candidates for ring bearers and flower girls, it's okay to have multiples! Or if you're set on just having one child per role, think of other ways to include other special kids you know in your wedding.
Brides and grooms should ask the parents of their desired flower girl and ring bearer to be a part of the wedding along with the rest of the party to give them as much notice as possible–never just assume they know or will joyously accept the honor!
There's no rule stating how many flower girls you can have, but we recommend sticking to three or four flower girls at the most to prevent your wedding party from becoming too big. Does the flower girl get ready with the bride?
The Mughal king Shah Jahan , who built the Taj Mahal, married his own daughter Jahanara after Mumtaz's death because she looked like Mumtaz to Shah Jahan. Mumtaz died on 17 June 1631 while giving birth to Shah Jahan's 14th child.
Studies show that the 4-5 year age gap provides the most stable relationship. Gaps more than 8 to 10 years show higher disillusionment, quarrels and disturbed interpersonal relationships, leading to separation and divorce Bigger age gaps might have worked well for some, but cannot generalise.
Similarly, in Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Principe, children can marry at the age of 14 with their parents' consent but have to wait until they are 18 otherwise.