Flower Girl?

My cousin Anja as my sister's flower girl

Everyone has looked down the aisle at the beginning of a ceremony to see a beautiful little girl throwing flower petals down the aisle as she approaches the front (or at least we have witnessed an attempt, usually followed by a parent holding their hand after they've stopped in the middle of aisle). So, why a flower girl? What's the significance?

The flower girl represents innocence and purity, and precedes the bride down the aisle by dropping flower petals that represent fertility. In some cultures, it is customary that children are the only attendants to the bride. Royal weddings, for example, often feature multiple flower girls. The modern flower girl emerged under the reign of Queen Victoria.

Flower girls attending Princess Diana

So far, Alex and I have decided not to include a flower girl or ring bearer in our ceremony. It's a cute tradition, but we don't like being faced with the task of having to choose from our various relatives. However, the aisle will still be lined with flower petals. Throughout the time Alex and I have dated, I have dried and saved every bouquet of flowers he has ever given me. The petals along the aisle will be the petals from these bouquets. As we both walk down the aisle, we will be reminded of each one of those special moments.