How to Choose a Flower Girl

You may find it difficult to choose a flower girl for your wedding. Keep in mind that it's your wedding, and weddings aren't always traditional. Even adults or pets could serve as a flower girl. Choose who you feel comfortable with. Don't worry about pleasing a relative; chances are there are so many children in your family you'd have to have several flower girls to please them all.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Child, Pet or Adult?

1. Determine whether you want a traditional wedding with a little girl serving as flower girl, or one more suited to your life. Possibilities for the latter include an adult flower girl, a pet with a cute bow and a basket or no flower girl at all.
2. Remember that there is always the possibility that your wedding could be ruined by a pet or child. Adults are less of a risk.
3. Think about whether you want to add the expense of a dress for a flower girl or a dress for an adult to your budget, or if a ribbon and a basket on a pet would be more in your price range.
4. Contemplate what type of photos you want of your wedding. This could change your mind about who you want as a flower girl. Dogs are cute, but you might regret it once you see your official wedding photos.

What's Their Age Again?

5. Take into account the ages of the children of family and friends. Unless all your friends and family are around the same ages, you should have a variety of ages to choose from.
6. If this is your second (or third) marriage and you have kids, consider having your daughter serve as a flower girl.
7. Decide whether you want the traditional age, which is usually between two and five years old, or if you want an older, more responsible child.
8. Keep in mind that the older the child, the more expensive the outfits and gifts for them will be.

Which Child Is Right?

9. Realize that just because your niece, cousin, sister or best friend's daughter is adorable, that doesn't mean you have to use them as a flower girl.
10. Know that it is okay to choose anyone you want. You do not have to cater to family members' or friends' wishes.
11. Be tactful when you turn down a child, and try to explain why you chose someone else in generic terms such as "I wanted an older child" or "We decided to let my daughter be the flower girl."
12. Avoid choosing a flower girl based on their cuteness. If anyone repeats what you say, you could end up damaging a rejected child's self-esteem.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose who you feel comfortable with. A decision made to please others could make your wedding day less enjoyable.
• Make sure to be tactful and not make the choice personal.
• Don't allow anyone to force you into a decision.