Flower girl dresses and junior bridesmaid dresses

The flower girl's role

A flower girl walks down the aisle ahead of the bride and scatters petals before her, usually paired with a ring bearer or page boy. She is usually three to seven years old and a relative or family friend. Some venues do not allow petals, so she may carry a single bloom, a ball of flowers, wrapped sweets, confetti or bubbles instead.

Why her dress echoes the bride's

The flower girl's outfit usually resembles a smaller version of the bride's wedding dress; she is sometimes seen as the bride as a child, leading her from childhood into married life. In Roman times young girls carried a sheaf of wheat for prosperity; in the Elizabethan era flower girls followed the musicians carrying a gilded rosemary branch and a silver cup of petals.

The modern flower girl looks most like her Victorian predecessor: dressed in white, perhaps with a sash of coloured satin or silk, in a simple muslin dress meant to be worn again, and carrying a basket of flowers or a floral hoop whose round shape echoed the wedding ring.

Choosing a dress a child can wear

• Length. Tea or ankle length lets her walk and climb steps without tripping; a floor-length skirt needs hemming in the shoes she will wear.
• Fabric. Soft cotton or a lined tulle skirt; avoid scratchy netting against the skin and heavy beading. A light petticoat gives a full skirt without weight.
• Fastening. Buttons or a zip with a sash on top are easier for a nervous child than a tight lace-up back.
• Shoes. Flat, broken-in shoes with grip on the aisle.
• A spare. Children spill. A second, simple outfit for the reception saves the day.

Junior bridesmaid dresses

A junior bridesmaid is a girl clearly too young to marry who is included as a bridesmaid anyway — typically between flower-girl age and adulthood. She usually wears the bridesmaids' colour, but in a cut that suits her age: covered shoulders or straps rather than a strapless bodice, and a skirt she can move in.

Sizing is the hard part, because junior sizes sit between children's and women's charts. Measure bust, waist, hips and length as for any formal dress and choose from the maker's chart, not by age.

Who pays

Traditionally the bride's and groom's families provided the flower girl's clothes; most couples today expect her parents to pay for her outfit and expenses. If the couple chooses an expensive dress, offering to pay for it — or at least discussing it early — avoids an awkward surprise.