Who Walks First? Ring Bearer Or Flower Girl?

There are several options for when to include the ring bearer and flower girl in the wedding processional. The traditional option is to have the ring bearer and flower girl walk down the aisle together, after the best man and/or maid of honour, and before the bride. However, some couples opt to have the children walk down the aisle before the entire bridal party. Alternatively, the ring bearer and flower girl can be split up, with the ring bearer walking down the aisle after the groomsmen and before the bridesmaids, and the flower girl walking after the bridesmaids and before the bride.

The ring bearer and flower girl walk first

There are several options for when the ring bearer and flower girl walk during the wedding processional. The traditional order is for the ring bearer to walk after the best man and for the flower girl to walk after the ring bearer, making her the last one to walk down the aisle before the bride. However, it is becoming increasingly common for couples to opt for a non-traditional order, with the ring bearer and flower girl walking down the aisle together before anyone else.

Option 1: The Kids Enter Before Partner 2's Party

This option is best if the couple wants to "get [the kids] out of the way" and have their processional walk be more grand than cutesy. The kids walk down the aisle first, followed by Partner 2's party, and then Partner 2.

Option 2: The Kids Enter Immediately Before Partner 2

With this option, each member of Partner 2's party goes down the aisle one by one, and then the ring bearer and flower girl make their entrance. This is a good option if the couple wants to keep things traditional but still involve children in the wedding.

Option 3: The Ring Bearer Enters Before, the Flower Girl Enters After

This option involves splitting up the ring bearer and flower girl. The ring bearer walks down the aisle after Partner 1's party and brings the rings to the Best Man. Then, the flower girl walks down the aisle after Partner 2's party, heralding Partner 2's entrance.

Other Considerations

When deciding when the ring bearer and flower girl should walk, it is also important to consider how the kids are going to feel and how they might respond when their big moment comes. For example, younger children are more likely to be shy or nervous, so it might be a good idea to have them walk with their parents. Additionally, if the flower girl is going before the bridal party and scattering petals, most or all of the petals will likely be swished off the aisle and into the seats, leaving the aisle mostly bare for the bride's entrance.

The flower girl walks before the bride

There are several reasons why the flower girl might walk before the bride.

Firstly, it is a common tradition. In fact, it is the most common order of procession, with many brides opting for this format. It is also a practical choice, as the flower petals that are often dropped by the flower girl are meant to be walked on by the bride, creating a "carpet-of-flower-petals effect". This is an old tradition, symbolising good fertility for the bride.

Secondly, it is a good option if the flower girl is shy or nervous. Having the flower girl walk before the bride means she won't have to stand alone at the front, and can instead go to the bridesmaids and stand in line with them. It also means she won't have to walk alone, and can walk with the ring bearer, or another family member.

Finally, it is a good option if the flower girl is very young. If there are concerns about the flower girl's ability to make it down the aisle, having her walk before the bride means she can be "out of the way" before the bride makes her grand entrance.

The ring bearer carries the rings

The role of the ring bearer is a long-time crowd-pleaser at wedding events. Typically, the ring bearer is a young boy, but girls are also sometimes chosen for this role. The ring bearer is usually between the ages of three and ten, but children younger than three can be chosen with the consent of their parents. The ring bearer is often a family member, such as a nephew, godson, or cousin.

The ring bearer is usually the first to walk down the aisle, preceding the bride and sometimes walking at the same time as the flower girl. The ring bearer carries the wedding rings down the aisle on a pillow and passes them to the best man, best woman, or another person of honour. The ring bearer then takes their place at the front, standing with the rest of the wedding party or sitting with their parents.

The ring bearer's outfit should fit the style of the wedding and be coordinated with the attire of the rest of the wedding party. The ring bearer's parents are usually responsible for paying for their child's outfit and accessories, as well as attending pre-wedding events and arriving early on the wedding day.

Some couples choose to have multiple ring bearers, each with their own tasks and responsibilities, such as pulling a wagon of flower petals, walking the family dog down the aisle, or holding a chalkboard sign. The ring bearer tradition is believed to have originated in ancient times, with some historians tracing it back to ancient Egypt, while others believe it started in the Medieval era.

The flower girl scatters petals

The flower girl's role is to scatter petals down the aisle during a wedding procession. Typically, she walks in front of the bride, but there are several options for where to place her in the processional order.

The flower girl is usually a member of the bride or groom's extended family or a friend of either family, and she is often between three and ten years old. She walks down the aisle with her partner, usually the ring bearer or page boy.

The flower girl's outfit usually resembles a smaller version of the bride's wedding dress, and she symbolically leads the bride forward, from childhood to adulthood and from innocence to her roles of wife and mother.

The petals scattered by the flower girl are said to represent a happy path in married life, and they can be used to create a romantic and fairy tale-like atmosphere. The colour of the petals can also carry meaning, with red or pink representing love and sweetness, orange and peach evoking warmth and vitality, violet and purple symbolising serious and deep emotions, green standing for youth and happiness, and blue meaning hope and confidence.

When planning for a flower girl to scatter petals, it is important to consider the venue's policies on scattering petals, as well as the quantity and type of petals needed to create the desired effect.

Processional Order Options

There are several options for when to have the flower girl and ring bearer enter the processional:

• The kids enter before Partner 2's party: In this option, the flower girl and ring bearer lead the way and walk down the aisle ahead of everyone else, followed by the members of Partner 2's party. This is a non-traditional option but is just as common as the traditional way.
• The kids enter immediately before Partner 2: Here, each member of Partner 2's party goes down the aisle one by one, and then the flower girl and ring bearer make their entrance together or in a chosen formation.
• The ring bearer enters before, and the flower girl enters after: This option is rarely done, but it can work best in certain situations. The ring bearer can bring the ring to the Best Man, and then the flower girl can come in after Partner 2's party, heralding their impending entrance.

Ultimately, there is no set order, and couples can choose what works best for them.

The children are carried or pulled in a wagon

If the children in the wedding procession are too small to walk, they can be pulled in a wagon or carried. This is a great option for children under the age of four, who, as one source says, only have one job at a wedding: to be cute!

If you're planning on having the children pulled in a wagon, it's important to check the route for any stairs, as wagons and steps don't mix. You'll also need to decide who will pull the wagon. At one wedding, an eight-year-old nephew pulled a wagon containing two toddlers. If the children have parents in the wedding party, they could be an option for wagon-pulling duties, but it's important to check that they're happy to do this and won't feel like they're missing out on their own moment in the limelight.

If the children are being carried, it's a good idea to have a backup plan in case they get stage fright or refuse to go any further. One option is to ask one of the children's parents to swoop in and help, or you could post a grandparent at the front with a toy or treat to encourage them onwards.

There are lots of options for customising the wedding procession to include children. If the ring bearer is very young, you could send them down the aisle with a decoy ring or no ring at all. They could carry a little box or an ornate pillow instead. Alternatively, they could be a sign bearer, holding a chalkboard with a message like "Here Comes the Bride".

If you're sending the children down the aisle before the adult wedding party, be aware that any flower petals they drop are likely to be swept off the aisle and into the seats by the time the bride makes her entrance. If you want to ensure a carpet of petals for the bride to walk on, it's best to send the flower girl down the aisle immediately before the bride.

There are lots of different ways to include children in a wedding procession. The important thing is to be prepared for any eventuality and to make sure everyone knows what they're doing when they get to the front.

Frequently asked questions