Where did the Flower Girl tradition first come from?
The appearance of flower girls in the wedding party is a long held tradition, dating right back to Ancient Rome times. In this era the flower girl would carry sheaves of wheat and bouquets of herbs to bless the couple with fertility and prosperity. Then later in the 14th century, they would often be seen carrying strands of garlic to ward off evil and jealous spirits. By the 16th century we began to see flowers incorporated into the traditional herb bouquets, which the little flower girls would carry. They would walk ahead of the bride, “showering her path with grains and herbs, this showed symbols of fertility, happiness and love. Flowers and herbs played a significant role in wishing the wedding couple well. Today the flower girl might not necessarily represent fertility or carry grains and herbs down the aisle to ward off spirits, but they still remain a very important part of the wedding ceremony for many couples.
The present day Flower Girl
Many couples want a flower girl in their wedding party to enhance the aisle with flower petals. She symbolically leads the bride forward, from childhood to adulthood and from innocence to her roles of wife and mother. The flower girl can follow the maid of honour, and may carry a basket of petals, a ball of flowers, wrapped candies, confetti, bubbles or a single flower. The flower girl may symbolise the bride as a child in her innocence, as she is typically a young girl dressed similarly to the bride in a pretty dress with a delicate floral headband and matching flower girl belt to complement the wedding colours. Here at Topknot Tiaras & Veils, we have a fantastic collection of accessories for your little Flower Girls.
MORE HISTORY OF A FLOWER GIRL
Roman Empire and the Renaissance
In the Roman Empire, flower girls were young virgins who carried a sheaf of wheat during the wedding ceremony. It was believed that this would bring prosperity to the bride and groom. During the Renaissance, flower girls carried strands of garlic based on the belief that garlic repelled evil spirits and bad luck.
Elizabethan era
In the Elizabethan Era, wedding guests would scatter flower petals from the bride's home to the church. Flower girls followed musicians in the wedding procession, carrying a gilded rosemary branch and a silver bride's cup adorned with ribbons. The cup was usually filled with flower petals or rosemary leaves, as an alternative to a basket. Other alternatives included a small bunch of rosemary sprigs used as a sweet posy or a small floral bouquet, incorporating sprigs of fresh rosemary.
Victorian era
The Victorian flower girl most resembles the modern one. Victorian-era flower girls were traditionally dressed in white, perhaps with a flower girl sash of coloured satin or silk. Her dress, usually made of muslin, was intentionally simple to allow future use. The Victorian flower girl carried an ornate basket of fresh blooms or sometimes a floral hoop, the shape echoing that of the wedding ring and symbolising that love has no end.
Modern Era - Royal Influence
Throughout the 20th century, flower girl dresses changed in style quite a lot. In the 1920s they had more of a flapper look. Starting in the 1940s it was not uncommon for there to be two or more flower girls in attendance. This was most obvious in royal weddings, such as the wedding of Princess Grace in 1956 and the wedding of Princess Margaret in 1960. The 1950s saw a lot of different fabrics such as lace, satin, and organza. The 1960s rocked the “flower child” look. Empire waist gowns were quite prevalent in the 1970s and sometimes had brighter colours or sported different patterns. In the 1980s the trend was for the flower girl to carry dried flowers. The wedding of Princess Diana was a huge influence on the 1980s. In 2011, three flower girls can be seen at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. In the Western Europe, the tradition of child attendants in weddings was not limited to the flower girl and ring bearer but extended to the entire wedding party. This tradition is seen in royal and society weddings and weddings around the world, where several flower girls are common.
Here at Topknot tiaras & Veils, we are all about breath taking moments and making memories to treasure for ever.
Our mission is to make every bride’s dream wedding come alive, by helping you to choose all your wedding accessories in one place.
With our fabulous range of beautiful Bridal Belts and Flower Girl Belts, you are sure to find the perfect bridal accessories to complement your bridal style.