Cute little girl in her flower girl dress

So you’ve selected the very lucky young lady who will serve as the flower girl in your much anticipated wedding ceremony. She is bound to be honored, excited…and, in all probability, scared out of her wits.

…well, perhaps that’s an understatement. The fact is, though, that this is a young child who faces the task of carrying off a substantial part of the wedding ceremony; and in the presence of dozens or perhaps hundreds of watching adults. She may be tense and bashful at this prospect, or even experiencing anxiety at what may seem—at least in a child’s eyes—to be a daunting role.

Here are a few ideas on how to grow the flower girl:

Reassure your flower girl that absolute perfection is not part of the job description. Tell her that you yourself might mess up during the ceremony; and that, in all likelihood, the gathered crowd will laugh along with you at any minor mess ups and proceed with the ceremony.

Remind your flower girl that the occasion of your wedding is a fun family event. Encourage her to enjoy herself and look forward to the big day.

Be sure to explain thoroughly to your flower girl the duties and responsibilities associated with her role in the wedding. Depending on her age and maturity level, you may have to repeat these instructions several times; just be sure that she understands exactly what will be expected of her throughout the course of the ceremony.

Practice, practice, practice. Everyone feels more comfortable about a job, task or duty if they are able to practice it ahead of time; and even before the wedding rehearsal, you might want to run the flower girl through the paces of her wedding day duties. Encourage her to behave, smile, have fun, and spread joy and happiness along with the flower petals!