Tips for Handling Shy Flower Girls

Our best advice for preparing your littlest wedding attendants for the big day

It’s a beautiful part of the ceremony when the child is old enough to confidently participate. But what if they're not so confident…

Everything at your wedding ceremony is going as planned. All the bridesmaids dresses look perfect, the ushers are charming as ever, and all the rings are accounted for. But now it's time for your flower girls and ring bearers to walk down the aisle, and they freeze. Shyness has hit, and they are rooted to the floor. What do you do? And how are you supposed to handle shy flower girls in the lead up to the wedding?

Handling Shy Flower Girls on your Wedding Day

It's common for the youngest members of the wedding party to feel shy about performing such a big role. But there are many ways to preemptively help them feel confident and happy on the big day.

To help you deal better with shy little ones & to ensure they are excited to walk down the aisle, we thought we'd share our best tips for dealing with them. Battle-scarred, war torn advice that should help you get those timid pre-teens down the altar without a second of stage fright

Give Them a Mate

If one of your flower girls is shy, remember that there's power in groups. We'd recommend having the flower girl and ring bearer walk together if one, or both, of them is shy. You could also add a second flower girl or ring bearer to act as the shy child's mate.

Make sure they get a chance to meet in person, if you can, so they feel confident leaning on each other during their time in the spotlight!

Flower Girl Dress by Sevva

Give Them a Distraction

If you were shy as a child, you'll probably remember your parents trying to preoccupy you with a game or toy. The same goes for the little ones in your wedding party. Giving them something to do while walking is a good distraction. If the ring bearer isn't actually carrying the rings, they can carry a pillow, box, or sign, to keep their hands occupied.

If throwing petals is frowned upon at your venue, let your flower girls carry single flowers or even ribbon wands to symbolise the celebration of the coming of the bride.

Give Them a Reward

What child can refuse getting a reward for doing a good job? Before the little ones head down the aisle, you or their parents can show them a toy or treat they'll get once the ceremony is over. They'll be excited to celebrate with their well-deserved gift at the reception.

Flower girl dress by Little People

Get Them to Walk Toward Someone They Trust

One of the easiest ways to get a shy flower girl down the aisle is to put someone they really care about at the other end. This will really help them fulfil their duties without fear. If need be, a loved one can help guide them down by looking at them as they walk. It won't solve all your problems, but it can greatly help.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Whether you're a child or an adult, practising something beforehand always helps ease the nerves. After going through the ceremony a couple of times as a group, take a little more time with your flower girl and ring bearer to make sure they're totally comfortable walking down the aisle. Practice makes perfect, right?

Flower girl by Sevva

We hope these simple solutions will go a long way in helping your littlest attendant feel great on your wedding day! Get them looking their very cutest and coordinated with your whole wedding party by checking out the stunning flower girl dresses we have in-store at Brides & Bustles!

Lots of love,

Claire & Christine xx