A flower girl is a participant in a wedding procession.

Her responsibility is to walk in front of the bride, either to:

• Spread flower petals on the floor before the bride
• Carry a bouquet of flowers
• Carry a bouquet of flowers or bunch of thornless roses, which they pass out to the guests as they go

She is usually a young child, between 5 and 10 years of age. Her male equivalent is the Ring Bearer or Page Boy. Often the ringbearer and the flower girl are made to look like a couple, as with the best man and maid of honor.

There may be more than one flower girl, particularly at very formal or society weddings, or if the bride has several young relatives to honour. This occurs less frequently than it used to, although it is still common to see several flowergirls at British royal weddings.

Flowergirls, Ring Bearers and Page Boys are usually nieces and nephews or young brothers and sisters and are generally no younger than about 5 nor older than 9 or 10. Children under 5 are unlikely to understand much of what's going on and may decide to start playing hide and seek just as the vows are about to be exchanged.

See also

• Bride
• Maid of honor (also Honor Attendant)
• Bridesmaid
• Bridegroom
• Best man (also Best Woman or Best Person)
• Groomsman
• Ringbearer
• Page Boy

Children | Wedding