Flowers for Children

Some of you may be looking at this newsletter's title and wondering why you would need wedding flowers for children. Children, after all, are far too young to get married. But some of you newlyweds-to-be may well already have children, and others of you may have small friends or relatives who would love to be involved with your ceremony, even if they can't all be the flower girl.

Flower Girl: Traditionally, the flower girl is one of the youngest members of the wedding party, and she walks down the aisle carrying a basket of fresh flower petals, scattering them as she goes. Though this looks beautiful, more and more ceremony sites no longer allow it, as the petals can stain the carpet or floor. Check with your church, synagogue, or other wedding space before deciding on this, or consider an alternative small bouquet.

Many of the bouquets I've written about recently could be adapted to suit a flower girl; ribbon-handled pomanders would be easy for a nervous child to carry, and a small posy could be made to mimic the bride's bouquet. If you're feeling more traditional, try putting a bouquet in a basket, or a decorated tin pail. If you're feeling more creative, consider a ribboned wand. Embellish a wand with a few flowers, a poof of tulle, and long, trailing ribbons, and you'll have an easy to carry flower arrangement that's fit for a fairy princess.

Ring Bearer: Another very traditional member of the wedding party, the ring bearer is usually a young boy, who may not always carry flowers, but who certainly can. Try pinning a few blooms to the pillow that holds the ring, or doing away with the pillow entirely and presenting the ring on a few simple leaves of glossy Salal.

If you need a truly show-stopping ring bearer to follow your fairy princess flower girl, try sending Rover down the aisle. This won't work if you have little boys clamoring for the position, but for you childless pet lovers, a dog can make a great ring bearer. Dress up your puppy with a flowered lei or decorated collar, and tie the rings on with raffia. Don't forget to have a treat waiting for him at the altar, and bear in mind that this works best at outdoor weddings.

While those are the only traditional children's roles in a wedding, you probably know more than two kids, so consider making others feel like part of the wedding party by giving them corsages or single flowers to hold. They may not necessarily be helping with anything specific, but it's always a good idea to make kids feel included, and a few tulips or mini Gerbera Daisies can go a long way towards keeping them excited about the event.

In closing, I have to tell you all that this is my last wedding newsletter. I'm leaving Flowerbud to pursue my degree in education (yes, I'll be teaching little kids), and Andrea will be taking over the wedding newsletter. If you have any questions in the coming weeks or months, you'll want to contact her directly at andrea@flowerbud.com. She's here every day, and she's incredibly helpful. For more ideas, I recommend looking in our Newsletter Archive, where you'll find lots of information, including tips about flower care, how to make various bouquets, and when different flowers are in season.

Thanks for reading all my newsletters, and good luck with all your weddings!

Best Wishes,

Rachel Stephens
rachel@flowerbud.com
Event Flower Specialist
Flowerbud.com