Ian, Elsa, Lilly, Ryan and Clara, 2 to 4 years old
Kathleen and her husband decided to have a group of young attendants for their outdoor wedding. “We chose not to have any bridesmaids or groomsmen, but very much wanted to include our nieces and nephews. We asked our five little ones — ages 2 to 4 — to be our ‘yay parade.’ They walked down the aisle before us, and had a spectacular spill down the small hill in our aisle. They all popped up, clapped and finished their parade duties — and led a good bit of the cheering and ‘yay!’-ing during the ceremony itself.” Kathleen’s wedding photographer Stacey Bode managed to catch the "yay parade" in action.
Image credit : Stacey Bode Photography
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Piper, 3 years old
Piper and her cousin were flower girls for a close family friend. “Piper was very excited to be in the wedding, but she was most excited about getting to wear makeup,” says her mom, Andi. “We had the makeup artist do her cheeks and lips and she refused to kiss me the rest of the night for fear of ‘messing up my lipstick.’ She took it very seriously. When her turn came to walk down the aisle, she took small steps and threw out dozens of petals with each step, concentrating very hard, while her cousin Edie wandered aimlessly with her head in the clouds behind her.”
Image credit: Jessica Charles Photography
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Simon, 4 years old
“When my best friend got married on Halloween, I didn’t want my son to miss out on dressing up,” says his mom, Maria. Photographer Neysa Ruhl followed the bridal party around for the day. “I was the matron of honor and he was the ring bearer. The bride and groom said it was fine for him to dress up, so on a crisp fall morning in Cincinnati, he wore Jedi robes over his suit and tie. During the reception, the children in the wedding were allowed to go from table to table to trick or treat for candy. Simon was nervous about being in the wedding, so he stood with me on the ‘girl’ side during the ceremony, but his Jedi robes gave him all the bravery he needed.”
Image credit: Belle & Blanc by Neysa Ruhl
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Maya, 4 years old
When Andrew and Bri got married last year, their children were the ring bearers and flower girl. An on-site pinball machine ended up being a source of mischief for the young ring bearers, who panhandled among the wedding guests for more chances to play. Flower girl Maya was low-key for most of the reception until it came time for the bride and groom to leave. “Maya was bummed she didn't get to go to our honeymoon hotel with us and screamed very loudly about it,” says her mom, Bri. “Her dress made up for it.”
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Carter, 1 year old
Carter was ring bearer when his uncles — friends of the family — were married in Boston. “We packed up and drove the 10-hour drive with him and he was excited and asking questions the whole time,” says his mom, Chrissy. “He sat quietly on my husband’s lap, clutching the rings until it was his time to bring them up to his uncles. And he did it at a quick jog, tossed the rings to them and then turned and ran back to us smiling, quite proud of himself. The only minor mishap was when his binky fell and rolled straight up between the couple... and stopped rolling directly in between them at the altar... then Carter shouted, 'Oh-ohhhhh.'"
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Claire and Anna, 3 and 4 years old
“When my daughter Anna was four, she and her younger sister Claire were asked to be flower girls for my sister-in-law's wedding,” says Anna’s mom, Angie. “Just a few years before the wedding, my father-in-law passed away unexpectedly, and we all knew that he would be present in spirit. But to signify his presence at the service, a wind chime holding his ashes was placed upon the altar. Not knowing the significance of the wind chime, my girls took to the altar before the wedding, and played and danced around the ashes of their grandfather. It was one of those meant-to-be moments that happens when you least expect it, but are grateful to have witnessed.”
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Ryan, 6 years old
"When my son was six, he was the ring bearer for my friend's wedding. Her four-year-old goddaughter was the flower girl,” says Ryan’s mom, Mayzie. “The plan was for the flower girl to walk down the aisle first, and then my son. At the time, he had some sensory issues and large crowds scared him, so I was concerned that he would ruin the wedding when he refused to walk down the aisle. As it turns out, I should not have worried. What turned out happening was that the flower girl got really scared and refused to walk down the aisle. So, my son took her hand and told her not to be scared, that he would take care of her. I had no idea what had happened until the ceremony was over and the bride told me how brave he was."
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Paul, 5 years old
When Paul was five, he was in his aunt's wedding with his sister. “While his little sister ran off into the field, and his fellow ring bearer had a meltdown and had to be dragged up the aisle, Paul refused to be distracted and walked down the aisle with complete focus and solemnity,” says his dad, Ian. “He clearly felt he'd been entrusted with an adult level of responsibility, and I don't think anyone — maybe even including my sister — was as determined to carry off their own part in the ceremony without a hitch as he was.”
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Lillian, 7 years old
Lillian and her twin siblings were attendants in their aunt and uncle’s wedding. “This wedding had a really fun, laid-back vibe,” says wedding photographer Erin Tracy. “Everyone was just so real. Emily was one of the most mellow brides I've ever seen. It was very clear that this was a party, and that the main goal was for everyone to have a good time. The kids definitely picked up on that and let loose at the reception. Lillian, the oldest, spent the evening popping up for photos with her stuffed dog. Even grandma snuck in on the garter toss. Lots of spontaneous fun!”
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Sidney, 4 years old
“Our daughter Sidney was a flower girl for my sister-in-law's wedding,” says Sidney’s mom, Mary. “It was her first time, and she was so excited to be a part of the wedding hustle and bustle. She helped pick out her dress and flower girl basket, and was even very insistent on what color, size and texture her flower petals were! The day of the wedding, she found this giant pink headband in her room and declared, ‘This is perfect! I have to wear this today!’ It matched nothing in the wedding, but she refused to take it off and promised to go on ‘strike’ if she wasn't allowed to wear it during the entire ceremony and reception. Needless to say, that giant pink headband with its equally giant flower attached made its way down the aisle and into every single wedding photo taken that day! If this is the kind of little diva she is as a flower girl, I shudder to think what kind of ‘bridezilla’ she'll be later on in life!"
Image credit: KStarnzy Photography
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Charlie and Thomas, 3 and 5 years old
When their aunt got married, siblings Charlie and Thomas were ring bearers together. “Charlie was three and had a huge meltdown during the rehearsal, refused to walk and threw himself down screaming,” says their mom, Caroline. “So we stuffed my husband’s pockets with lollipops, showed the kids before the ceremony, told them what they had to do and it worked!”
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Annabelle, 15 months old
When Christina got married last fall, she called her young flower girl her “flowerbaby.” “We knew it was going to be a last minute call whether she would actually make it down the aisle,” says Christina, “but we practiced, we talked it up, we had snacks! She was excited! She hung out in the hotel room before the wedding and her mom was a bridesmaid, so we figured a quick pull down the aisle to momma and we'd be home free. Daddy and grandma were both on the sidelines just in case, too. She did great! Up until the very last minute when the doors opened and she ran out of the wagon freaking out! In the end her Dad carried her down with the junior bridesmaid that was going to pull her.”
Image credit: Reign 7 Studios
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Jackson, 2 years old
“Jackson was the ring bearer for my cousin's wedding when he was a few months shy of his third birthday,” says his mom, Joanna. “He was so excited for his role in the wedding — until he finished walking down the aisle with his cousin the flower girl. When he reached the end of his walk, he broke down and shouted loudly, ‘I don't wanna get married’ and ran to my husband's pew. Everyone in the church laughed and Jackson is still convinced he married his cousin, Natalie.”