Empower Your Flower Girls
Flower-flinging is organic, fun and beautiful, says floral designer at Donaroma’s; these wedding guests and flower girl clearly agree. One flower girl started off down the aisle just fine but got so excited when the bride came into view that she turned around and ran back to join her. Try seating the flower girl’s parents on the aisle way down in front so she has a reason to keep going. Another idea is to have more than one flower girl; holding hands as they walk along can be a confidence booster.
 Petal baskets are traditional, but pomander balls or ribbon sticks work, too. At Morrice Florist, designer Sharon Capen says she sees some brides getting away from the traditional basket of rose petals for their flower girls and using miniature bouquets instead. “If the bridesmaids are carrying roses, I’ll try to get a tiny version like sweetheart roses for the flower girl.” She likes to fashion a halo of baby’s breath and roses for the hair.
Wedding planner Julie Hatt of Vineyard Weddings says sprinkling petals down the aisle of a church is fine but doesn’t always work at a windy outdoor wedding. She sees flower girls carrying a pomander ball of flowers with a ribbon tied to it, usually dressed in white with a colorful sash that coordinates with the bridesmaids’ flowers and dresses.
Especially for outdoor weddings, Ms. Hatt likes the girls to carry a stick with streamers attached that can blow in a breeze. “It’s so pretty and great for pictures,” she said. “And it keeps them entertained.”
Sarah Stock of the Cottage Garden likes headpieces of delicate greens and tiny flowers for older flower girls but prefers baskets and nosegays for the younger ones. “Little girls tend to tear off their headpieces,” she said. “They can be unpredictable.”
“Petal-flinging is fun and beautiful,” Donaroma’s floral designer Kathryn Shertzer said. “And if it’s at a beach wedding, it’s organic — there’s no cleanup.” She thinks very young flower girls do best with a basket or pomander ball and finds that the older girls want a bouquet that’s a miniature version of what the bridesmaids carry. “They want to be part of the big girls.”
Most brides see the Vineyard as a casual place to get married, Ms. Shertzer said, and won’t be too concerned if a flower girl is overcome by nerves halfway down the aisle and runs off. “If it works, it works,” she said. “And if it doesn’t, brides aren’t stressed about it.” She thinks it’s an “anything goes” kind of place to be married.
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