Other than being impossibly cute, your mini attendant’s role of flower girl is a lot of responsibility to carry in those two small hands. To help the little darling get down the aisle while stealing hearts along the way, follow these 10 tips:

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circle_1 Opt for two flower girls instead of one—having a little friend by her side will put her at ease, and up the probability of them both making it all the way down the aisle.
circle_2 The typical age for flower girls is between 3 and 8 years old.
circle_3 Keep in mind your options for what she carries. Traditionally, she throws rose petals but modern-day brides and grooms are having their tiny attendants blow bubbles, carry pomanders or banners, and sprinkle confetti.
circle_4 If she feels like a princess, it will boost her confidence, so give her a pretty little girl look to wear and she’ll want everyone to see her. We’re smitten with the outfits from Love Jay Girls.

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circle_1 Her baby soft hair can fall flat fast, the wreath that looks adorable won’t stay in long, and poufy dresses can be prone to tears—don’t doll her up too early.
circle_1 Work with her parents in the weeks leading up to the big day to “practice” her walk, followed by positive reinforcement. The more she does it, the more she’ll feel prepared.
circle_1 Invite the little tot to the pre-wedding day celebrations, whether that be a shower, engagement party or rehearsal dinner, so she can familiarize herself with the wedding party. The more familiar faces she sees, the more comfortable she’ll be.
circle_1 Children get antsy, so as the wedding party patiently waits for the procession, give her busy mind something to do. Any parent will tell you that smartphones are the modern-day babysitter so upload a child-friendly game app to keep her occupied until it’s time to walk down the aisle (just be sure to turn the phone off before the ceremony begins!).
circle_1 Seat her parents on the aisle, near the front, so that she has familiar eyes to walk toward and to see from the ceremony site.
circle_1 Understand that with young children, you can only control so much. Whether she skips to the altar effortlessly, dumps the petals in one heap, or opts to take a seat in the middle of the aisle, your guests are going to find her antics precious.

Photo: Real Weddings Shavonda and Naomi, photographed by Sara Maren Photographers