Flower Girl Tips

Whether a flower girl's dress and shoes are selected on the basis of seasonal color, fabric, or both, Cathy Drahosh, co-owner of Drahosh Creations in Waconia, Minnestota, offers some helpful dress-buying tips:

  • Remember--kids grow: If you're ordering a dress far in advance, anticipate the child's growth. "Be sure to upsize," she suggests. To help calculate current size and to better project likely height and size changes, Drahosh recommends, "measure from the bottom of the back of the neck to the floor. Also measure the chest for slightly older girls."

    Even if you've factored in growth, expect the dress to need alterations. Alterations are almost always required, she maintains.

  • Take pictures: Hyland adds another good thought: A girl's participation in the wedding party as a flower girl presents a great opportunity to take a family portrait. Regardless of whether Mom is or isn't in the wedding party, it's a good idea to incorporate the colors of the flower girl's dress into Mom's outfit.

    • Special advice for the littlest flower girls

    Drahosh and other experts offer more tips to help ensure that everything goes well on the day of the wedding—especially if the flower girl is very young:

    • Lots of sleep: See that she goes to bed early the night before the wedding and, if possible, takes a nap before the big event—it's difficult for little ones to pose for pictures when they're tired
    • Breakfast essential: Be sure she has breakfast or lunch before the wedding so she's not hungry and cranky later in the day
    • Child care plans: If the flower girl's Mom is in the wedding party, be sure someone who's close to the child can help with child care duty
    • Not too early: Wait 'til the last possible moment to dress the flower girl, to help minimize wrinkles and food or juice stains
    • Comfort is the key: Most important, in all matters, consider the flower girl's comfort; if she's comfortable, she, you, and everyone else is more likely to have a good time.

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