Alternatives to having a flower girl, coming right up!
Flower girls are so cute, aren’t they? They tend to be really young girls, under the age of eight or so. They wear frilly dresses, cute headbands, white shoes, and adorn the aisle with petals in preparation for the bride to walk down it. Flower girls tend to gather smiles from wedding guests. Flower girls make everyone happy. Why would we want to look at alternatives to them?
Well. It’s kind of a trend right now. And I’m here for it.
The thing is, with weddings today, anything goes. This means that you don’t have to have a “flower girl” walk ahead of a bride. You can have just about anyone, doing anything, as long as it still gathers smiles and joy from wedding guests. Alternatives to having a flower girl can mean that you include people in your wedding who may otherwise not be involved. It’s an opportunity to make others feel special, have your wedding stand out, and create an experience.
8 Alternatives To Having A Flower Girl
This post is going to lay out eight alternatives to having a flower girl. Some may appeal to you. Some may even inspire you to think of other ideas. If this happens, let me know! I’d love to know how you’re changing up your wedding ceremony. Being able to change tradition, and have a little fun, is what weddings are about today. Hopefully this post shows you that anything can be possible, even with your wedding party.
Let’s get into it!
1. FLOWER GRANNIES
This is probably the sweetest alternative to having a flower girl of them all.
The flower grannie. Or grannies, if you’re lucky enough to have multiple grandmas at your wedding.
Now, grannies can have a special place in a wedding processional. They often lead the way, the first ones to walk into the ceremony, with designated seats right up front. However, having a flower grannie can be a fun way to mix it up. Why not have your grandmothers walk ahead of the bride, dropping petals as they go? If they are friendly, they may even start talking to guests and mingling down the way. It will be super cute, and surely make your guests excited for what’s next.
2. PRE-FLOWER THE AISLE
This flower girl alternative is simple, and requires no participation from anyone.
Maybe you don’t want to have a flower girl. Maybe it’s not your thing, or not right for your wedding. If so, you may want to have your aisle adorned with flowers ahead of your ceremony. There’s nothing saying that petals can’t be on your aisle before the ceremony even starts. Yes, guests may step on them if they aren’t properly sectioned off. Yes, your bridal party will definitely step on them. However, it will still be pretty, and a cute way to reference having a flower girl without actually having one.
3. THE BEER MAN (THE ANTI-FLOWER GIRL)
Okay. A beer man is definitely not for every wedding. However, it can be fun to have at your wedding, if you’re into it.
In case you’re not sure what it is, let me explain what a beer man is.
Essentially, a beer man is a man (groomsman or otherwise), who carries beer (in a bag, cooler, or some sort of man-purse) into your ceremony. He then hands out the beer to wedding guests. The beer man is a cool guy. He is putting on a show. He is more comical than anything else.
A beer man will surely put smiles on guest’s faces.
And look, a beer man may not be right for your wedding. If your wedding venue doesn’t allow beer to be at the ceremony, or has a more serious feel to it, a beer man isn’t for you. Remember, there will be chuckles at a beer man. It’s meant to be light hearted, and somewhat funny. If this doesn’t match the mood of your ceremony, a beer-man shouldn’t be in it.
4. THE FLOWER GUY
Alright, a flower guy. Just another of the alternatives to having a flower girl.
A flower guy, to be fair, is very similar to a beer man. Only he’s not passing out beer. He’s throwing flowers on the aisle. He’s having fun. The flower guy is making guests happy. And, the aisle is getting decorated due to his hard work.
Of course, a flower guy may not be for your wedding, along with a beer man. However, if you think you have someone in mind who may love the job, talk to your partner about asking them. You never know. A flower guy may just be the thing that guests talk about years later.
5. BRIDESMAIDS OR GROOMSMEN DROP PETALS
Don’t have a specific wedding guest who wants the dedicated role of “flower guy”? Why not ask your wedding party to take on the role?
To do this is simple. All you need to do is to give your wedding party some petals ahead of when they walk down the aisle. They can simply drop them as they walk down, decorating the path ahead of the bride.
Now, bridesmaids often carry bouquets down the aisle, so those may need to be set aside for the ceremony so they can have both hands to drop petals. And groomsmen may enter from the side, and not the back of a ceremony, so there will have to be some coordination there. However, this is totally doable for most weddings.
6. DOUBLE THE RING BEARER’S DUTIES
Not sure about having a flower girl because you don’t have any little girls in your life? Why not ask a ring bearer to take on some flower girl duties?
Ring bearers tend to be boys and flower girls tend to be girls, but there’s no reason why they can’t switch roles. If you have lots of little boys in your world, and not enough girls, have a couple of the boys drop flowers ahead of you. I promise, they won’t mind, and it will still be very cute.
7. FLOWER BABY IN A WAGON
A flower baby in a wagon does require the help of more than just the baby, but it can be a very sweet thing to see at a wedding.
If you have a baby in your life, and you want them to “stand in” as your flower girl, I’ll tell you how you do it. Put the baby in a cute wagon, and have someone pull them. Depending on how old the baby is, they may have to remain laying in the wagon, or they might be able to sit up. They likely can’t drop petals on your aisle, as babies may want to eat them instead, but they can hold onto a toy flower or something else that is safe for them. Plus, the person pulling them can drop flowers on their behalf.
Remember, the person pulling the baby doesn’t have to be an adult. It can be an older child. As long as they can handle the assignment, it’ll be super cute.
8. PETAL PETS
Last one! If you’re into animals, this may be one of the more appealing alternatives to having a flower girl for you.
A petal pet. Typically, this could be your dog. However, you may have a horse, friendly cat, or some other type of animal who can stand in. If it’s appropriate to have them at your wedding, designate them as your “petal pet”. This might mean that they wear a flower outfit. Or, they just lead the way for you to enter the ceremony. In most cases, a human will have to guide them. You can totally think outside the box with this one, if you believe your pet will do well at your wedding.
If you want more details about having your dog at your wedding, this is a great post for you.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
There are so many more alternatives to having a flower girl out there. The ones in this post simply scratch the surface of today’s trends. A quick scroll through Instagram reels will showcase many of the ideas in this post, and will surely bring a smile to your face. Having a traditional flower girl is awesome. However, mixing it up can be fun, too. Happy wedding planning!
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Good day,
My daughter who will be married within the next oh gosh I guess just 5 months from now in December. Sorry, I’m dictating this and thinking as I’m talking!!! Bad habit!!! LOL
I’m actually the Father of the Bride, and unfortunately, my dear wife mother of my children will not be with us physically to share the celebration of our fourth and youngest child to be married.
I’m reluctant to say the name of my daughter for the sake of privacy although I’m sure that would not be a privacy issue on your site.
Although I will not be in charge of very much, her siblings will likely be her Main support arms.
So why am I writing.?
My daughter wishes to have half children in half adult attendants, three of each, 12 (honest to God!!! LOL!!) total.
It was an inside family joke, mother and my two sisters, told after family dinners such as Christmas or other holidays, that mother “rented” my “younger” older sister (22 months, my oldest sister, 6 years +), as flower girl, a page boy at Weddings. I am not sure if this mattered but we grew up in a very conservative very old Town called Lake Forest in Illinois. So for me in the late 1950s through half of the 60s I think, I wore Eton suits and such to Mass and for going out to plays, even Birthday parties !!!
However, for these Adventures walking down aisles of churches that were not our own, posing for Endless photographs, wearing eton suits and saddle shoes, etc., seemed like wearing play clothes next to my page boy outfits!!!
My sisters informed me, actually my wife mostly, of these events as I really don’t remember much except for the photographs and not being happy!!!!
Sorry to go through my life history here, especially if this is landing in your inbox in the early hours o (I am out of country for a few weeks).
My daughter it seems wants to have a very very traditional wedding. Her mother and I were married in 1978 in such a way. So why me!!!!??? Because she wants to have the two-page boys, her nephews by my oldest son and perfect daughter-in-law, my Grandsons (!!!) who are age… Oops, I should state their ages at the time of the ceremony which will be this December. The oldest just turning seven his brother turned five a week ago.
Her maid of honor or I’m sorry —matron of honor—-son will be the ring bearer. I think he may be like four I don’t know. This nice young lady also has two girls who will be Bridesmaids or I don’t know flower girls.
My daughter caught the name of your site and did not explore your services only the headline of incorporating older children in a wedding I am quite honestly I’m not sure what your statement was but I think it is why it grabbed her attention.
So I guess to keep me occupied and out of everyone’s way I am tasked with finding the right outfits for the three young guys.
Here are my instructions:
I am supposed to recommend outfits that are similar to what I wore God I even hate to say this but about 60 years ago!!!! This lady friend of mine who I’ve known for many many years…. Went to Junior Prom in high school!
This nice lady dee, told me that she would help which meant she would take over LOL. And I was directed to “heirloom” websites that offered I guess you would call them “off the rack suits”, or custom-made. After she walked me through these websites I thank God that this style was not available in the early 60s!!!
She did find some traditional Eton suits with peter pan collar shirts that went with those suits, on a big site called Etsy.
So when I reached out to my daughter for a little help she just kind of chuckled and said no no this is going to be your job!!
You’re the expert!!
Again They’re just causing me all kinds of nervous energy!!! When all my real job will be is to write the check and try to look presentable going down the aisle in my wheelchair
(I have not been able to walk for about 6 years so I really do have to get down the aisle!!! A good excuse to get myself a sports car engine wheelchair!!)
So what is definitely out is anything that resembles what I’ve seen a lot on wedding sites, a Newsboy look with these cheap-looking clip-on suspenders and in an English sporting cap, a Newsboy hat. I have seen this sort of thing with knickers, like a 1920’s look.
The next thing that is completely out is any form of a small tuxedo or suit sport coat Etc.
I have not written this out before or rather dictated in my case—left arm is also not what it used to be… By the way is doesn’t bother me anymore it’s just technology to save my butt!!!
So I’m not visited any other site to give him this very long story, and I apologize for its length.
I will try and cut and paste an example of what I wore in the last wedding I participated in and I think that was in the early mid60s.
And I’d have no idea where to find that or maybe to save these poor little guys wearing something like that I could rent some traditional-looking suit or outfit? Guess what I’m asking is —are there any possible places this could be rented?
Oh and last thing. The page boys are supposed to be different than the ring bearer? With the latter, I was told to be different enough to make sure that they were separated or something like that.
Thank you so very very much for your patience in listening to me.
As I said I am not in the good old USA at the moment, but I don’t think I need to do anything right away because the wedding is in December.
Thanks a bunch for your services, I don’t know how any of this can make you money and you’re not in this for your health so if you charge a consulting fee I would be more than happy to engage you.
I suppose I’ll have to have my daughter-in-law get measurements and I don’t know if you would know what sort of thing is needed. They have a full-time nanny and she’s a lawyer and I have not observed her being domesticated in the sense of knowing how to measure a kid for a suit.
Take care
James Michael McLaughlin
Oh, I’ll see if I can cut and paste the photo of I think the only color photo that I have of me in that era… Sent to me by my daughter with the eloquent beautiful note
Get going pop!!!
i guess I cannot paste my photo….
if i find your email address, I will send a couple of photos