Jr. Bridesmaids: Their Place In The Wedding Formation

Junior bridesmaids are a great way to include younger relatives or friends in your wedding party. They are typically between the ages of 9 and 15, and are often nieces, cousins, sisters, or daughters of the bride or groom. During the ceremony, the junior bridesmaid traditionally stands at the far left of the altar, farthest from the couple getting married. For the recessional, she is usually one of the last people to exit, either alone or paired with a groomsman. In terms of the processional, opinions vary on where junior bridesmaids should walk—some suggest they go first before the adult bridesmaids, while others recommend they walk after the adults but before the ring bearer and flower girl. Ultimately, the decision of where junior bridesmaids should stand and walk during the ceremony is up to the couple and can be tailored to their specific needs and preferences.

Junior bridesmaids' duties before the wedding

A junior bridesmaid is a role for a young girl who is a little older than a flower girl and is usually someone the bride is close with, like a niece, cousin, sister, daughter, or stepdaughter. Junior bridesmaids are typically between the ages of 9 and 15, but this can vary depending on what feels right for the bride and the young girl.

Pre-Wedding Roles and Responsibilities

Junior bridesmaids can be included in a variety of ways throughout the wedding planning process. They can provide input on their dress, help plan games and other details for the bridal shower, and join the bride for gown fittings or cake tastings. They can also be included in pre-wedding events, such as an afternoon luncheon or tea for the bridal shower, as long as they are appropriate for their age group. During these events, they can help assemble favours, participate in games, and assist with cleanup.

Prewedding Tasks

Junior bridesmaids can help with various prewedding tasks, such as adding postage to invitations, putting together favours, setting up bridal shower decorations, and cleaning up after parties.

Attending Prewedding Parties

Junior bridesmaids should be invited to prewedding events like the bridal shower and the rehearsal dinner. However, they should not be invited to the bachelorette party, as this is typically an adults-only affair.

Selecting an Outfit

Junior bridesmaids should wear outfits that modestly match the other bridesmaids' outfits in terms of style, colour, and theme. The junior bridesmaid's parents are typically responsible for purchasing their child's attire and any required alterations. However, it is not uncommon for the bride to pay for the junior bridesmaid's dress as a gesture of appreciation.

Junior bridesmaids' attire

Junior bridesmaids are typically between the ages of eight and 16, and their attire should reflect their young age while still complementing the bridal party's overall style. Many designers offer junior bridesmaid dresses that mirror the adult bridesmaids' gowns but with age-appropriate modifications. Here are some tips and suggestions for junior bridesmaids' attire:

Dress Style and Length

Junior bridesmaids' dresses should be age-appropriate and comfortable. Designers often create coordinating gowns for younger attendants, featuring modest twists on adult styles with higher necklines and ankle or floor-length hemlines. A-line dresses are a classic choice, and styles like halter, scoop, and V-neck can be adapted for juniors. For a whimsical option, consider a ruffled dress, or opt for a simple silhouette with cascading ruffles for a sweet and playful look.

Fabric and Colour

The fabric and colour of the junior bridesmaids' dresses should align with the bridal party's theme and colour palette. Chiffon, lace, and satin are popular choices, with options ranging from neutral shades like cream and ballet pink to bolder hues like apple red and marine blue. If you want the junior bridesmaids to stand out, consider a coordinating floral print or a slightly lighter shade than the adult bridesmaids.

Accessories

Junior bridesmaids can accessorise their dresses with pearls, jewels, and sparkly details. For a formal wedding, flats or low heels can complete the look, while a flower crown or a small bouquet can be a charming addition for the procession.

Where to Shop

David's Bridal, JJ's House, Birdy Grey, and Azazie offer a range of junior bridesmaid dresses in various styles and colours. These retailers often provide custom sizing and swatch services to ensure a perfect fit and colour match.

Junior bridesmaids' place in the procession

Junior bridesmaids are young members of the bridal party, usually between the ages of 9 and 15. They are often nieces, cousins, sisters, daughters, stepdaughters, or anyone else close to the bride. They can also be boys or gender non-conforming. Junior bridesmaids are typically too old to toss petals with the flower girls but too young to join the bridesmaids for champagne toasts and bachelorette parties.

Junior bridesmaids usually walk down the aisle before the other bridesmaids during a traditional wedding processional. They may carry a smaller bouquet than the other bridesmaids, or hold a lantern, sign, or flower crown to make them stand out. If the junior bridesmaid is shy, she can walk with a junior groomsman, an older groomsman, or a family member.

During the ceremony, junior bridesmaids stand at the far left at the altar, on the outer end of the bridesmaids and farthest away from the couple getting married. For the recessional, the junior bridesmaid is usually one of the last people to exit, either alone or paired with a groomsman.

Junior bridesmaids can also be included in pre-wedding activities such as gown fittings, cake tastings, and bridal showers, as well as wedding-day tasks like putting the bouquets in water or helping with the flower girls.

Junior bridesmaids' place at the altar

Junior bridesmaids are a great way to include younger members of the family in your wedding. Typically, they are between the ages of 9 and 15 and are usually nieces, cousins, sisters, daughters, stepdaughters, or anyone else close to the bride or groom. They are often too old to toss petals with the flower girls and too young to join the bridesmaids for champagne toasts and bachelorette parties.

Junior bridesmaids have a variety of roles and responsibilities. They can help with pre-wedding tasks such as addressing invitations, putting together favours, and setting up bridal shower decorations. They can also attend pre-wedding events like the bridal shower and rehearsal dinner, although they should not be invited to the bachelorette party. On the day of the wedding, they can be in charge of putting the bouquets in water, helping with the flower girls, or handing out programs.

During the ceremony, junior bridesmaids usually stand at the far left of the altar, farthest from the couple getting married. If there isn't enough room, they can be seated with the flower girls. In the processional, they typically walk down the aisle before the other bridesmaids and after the flower girls. They can walk by themselves or with a junior groomsman, older groomsman, or family member.

Junior bridesmaids should wear something that complements the bridal party's look, although there are no hard-and-fast rules. They can either match the other bridesmaids or wear a dress in a similar colour, style, or fabric. Their bouquets should be smaller than the bridesmaids' bouquets but within the same design aesthetic.

Junior bridesmaids' place in wedding photos

Junior bridesmaids are a great way to involve younger members of the family or close friends in your wedding. They are typically between the ages of 9 and 15 and take on a similar role to bridesmaids, but with kid-appropriate responsibilities.

Junior bridesmaids should be included in traditional wedding party portraits. They should be in photos with the full wedding party, the flower girls, their family, and the couple. It is also a good idea to include them in some, if not all, of the portraits with just the bride and bridesmaids. Communicate your wishes to your wedding photographer ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.

Junior bridesmaids usually walk down the aisle before the other bridesmaids and stand at the altar with the bridal party. During the ceremony, they traditionally stand on the far left at the altar, on the outer end of the bridesmaids, farthest away from the couple. For the recessional, the junior bridesmaid is one of the last people to exit, either alone or paired with a groomsman.

When it comes to attire, junior bridesmaids should match the rest of the bridal party. Many designers create coordinating gowns for younger attendants, with options for age-appropriate lengths and necklines. However, it can also be fun to mix it up a bit and have them stand out by wearing a coordinating floral print or a slightly lighter colour.

Frequently asked questions