Flower Girls and Ring Bearers Buying Guide

Tying the knot  is always more special when you involve your close family and friends in the ceremony.   If you have sons or daughters, young nieces and nephews, or children who are family friends, allowing them to be flower girls or ring bearers is a great way to include them in your big day.  When incorporating these roles in your wedding,  however, make sure you have the proper outfits  and accessories  that are both practical (they fit well and are comfy) and able to coordinate with the existing wedding theme.   Buying gifts  for these members of your bridal party  is also an important consideration.  For more specific tips and ideas, browse the following guide.

The Outfits

You can usually purchase both the ring bearer and flower girl's outfits at department stores, as well as children's clothing shops and places that rent formal wear.  Stick to items that are relatively inexpensive, since it's usually the parents' responsibility to foot the bill.  Some ideas for outfits include:

• Flower girl dresses  that match the bridesmaid dresses. 
• White flower girl dresses that emulate the bride's gown. 
• Flower girl dresses that tie into the colour scheme of the wedding.
• White dinner jackets  or suits that match the flower girl dresses.
• Mini dinner jackets  that match the groom's jacket.
• Elton jackets  and short pants  work well for younger ring bearers.

The Accessories

• You can make or purchase both your ring bearer pillow  and flower girl baskets.  If you choose to make them yourself, craft and fabric stores are usually the best places to start looking for supplies. Keep in mind the colour scheme and existing fabrics used in your wedding to help tie in these accessories, and always aim for flower petals that match existing floral arrangements. 
• You can purchase real flower petals  at a local flower shop, or stick to the craft store for fake, inexpensive petals.
• Matching gloves  and shoes  for both flower girls and ring bearers are also a nice touch.

Gift Ideas

Buying your ring bearer and/or flower girl a gift to show them how much you appreciate him or her being a part of your wedding is a nice gesture that will excite the children and please the parents.  Consider these gift ideas if you're stuck:

Flower Girl  or Ring Bearer Book	Personalized Jar for Candies	Wedding Activity Book	Personalized Bank	Themed Purse or Backpack

Related Guides

Check out these other guides while making all your wedding preparations.

Wedding Rings	Wedding Planning	Wedding Gowns	Wedding Countdown Checklist

External Links

• About.com: Advice on preparing and outfitting your ring bearer and flower girls.
• AmericanBridal.com: Bridal party gift ideas.