Flower Girl Baskets
Flower girls are such a special part of the wedding ceremony, delighting the guests who are witnessing your wedding. The traditional job of the flower girl is to precede the bride and sprinkle flower petals in her path which she takes from the flower girl basket she is carrying. Usually this means that she will drop petals on the aisle runner. Sometimes she carries a tiny bouquet and simply walks slowly up the aisle, leading the way for the bride. Flower girl baskets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including flared edge baskets, or even fabric “cones” to hold the loose petals. The number of flower girls you invite to be a part of your wedding depends on family concerns and those girls you are close to.
The Flower Girl's Role
The flower girl is symbolic of the bride and how she has grown from a child into a woman ready to marry and bear children of her own, starting the circle of life once more. As your flower girl carries her precious flower girl basket down the aisle, perhaps she’ll do something unexpected. The innocence of her young age will charm your guests and help create lovely memories to last a lifetime. The flower girl will be posing with you for many of your wedding pictures, so have extra flower petals on hand for props and keep the flowergirl basket near at hand.
Flower Girls in White or Color?
Most often, the flower girl wears a dress in the same color as the brides. White bride, white flower girl dress with a white flower girl basket, possibly accented with the wedding colors. White flower girl baskets are our biggest selling color. However, as ivory bridal gowns have become more popular, Ivory flower girl baskets have followed suit. Many brides are choosing to incorporate more color in their wedding party attire and accessories, and a new trend is a colorful flower girl basket in which she carries white or ivory petals. Your flower girl can wear a matching wreath on her head, and perhaps a colorful sash on her dress to match the bridesmaids. You can tie colored satin ribbons on the flower girl basket to match the wedding colors.
Guiding your Flower Girl in Her Duties
There are many flower girl books in print and these make a very popular flower girl gift. They illustrate what your flower girl will be doing during the wedding, and this is very helpful for children as they anticipate your big day. Photos of how the flower girl basket is carried and where your flower girl will stand during the ceremony give her an idea of what she might expect, and then the rehearsal finalizes the setting for her. The more she knows about what to expect, the more comfortable your flower girl will be on her big day. Most brides prefer that their flower girl is at least four years old, with the hope that she is mature enough to make it all the way down the aisle and stand patiently during the wedding ceremony.
Choosing a Flower Girl Basket
Most brides choose the size of the flower girl basket based upon the size of the flower girl. A two-year-old would be overwhelmed with the size of a standard flower girl basket and may actually have trouble carrying it. Baskets come in all shapes and sizes, and you may even want to take your flower girl out shopping for her basket so she can try it on for size. A silk or satin flower girl basket is perfect for a formal or semi-formal wedding, while a wicker basket is casual and suited for a beach wedding or a backyard affair. As with all of your accessories, make your selections based upon the style and colors of your wedding and carrying the theme throughout the day will be easy. Many flower girl baskets are available in a matched set with a guest book and ring bearer pillow, as well as other accessories. Purchasing a wedding collection is a great way to effortlessly match everything you need.
After the Big Day
While many brides like to keep the flower girl basket, consider giving yours to your flower girl as her own special keepsake of your wedding day. You can bet that she’ll want to display her flower girl basket in a special location, alongside her other treasures.
