Bridesmaids: England's Unique Tradition Of Child Assistants

In England, bridesmaids are usually young girls who are related to the bride or groom. They are often the bride's or groom's younger sisters, nieces, or cousins. The role of a junior bridesmaid is to support the bride and help the day run smoothly. They may also be in charge of putting bouquets in water, helping with the flower girls, or handing out programs. The junior bridesmaid is usually between the ages of 10 and 15, but this can vary depending on the family's preferences and the size of the wedding budget.

Royal weddings

For example, at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, the bridesmaids were: Lady Louise, the daughter of Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex; Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon's daughter; Eliza, the granddaughter of the Duchess of Cornwall; and Grace van Cutsem, the daughter of the royal couple's friend Hugh van Cutsem.

At the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, Princess Charlotte was a bridesmaid. She stole the show by cheekily sticking her tongue out at photographers. The other bridesmaids were Meghan's goddaughters Rylan and Ivy, and Princess Diana's nieces, Florence van Cutsem and Zalie Warren.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George also had starring roles as bridesmaid and pageboy at Princess Eugenie's wedding in 2018. Eugenie's maid of honour was her sister, Princess Beatrice.

In 1994, the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Tindall, was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, daughter of Princess Margaret.

Duties of child bridesmaids

In the UK, bridesmaids are often children or early teens, with the chief bridesmaid or maid of honour typically being the only adult female in the bridal party.

Child bridesmaids have a key role in bringing joy to a wedding celebration, but they also have particular duties to fulfil. Here are some of the responsibilities that child bridesmaids may be expected to undertake:

• Support the bride and ensure the day runs smoothly: Child bridesmaids can help the bride with small tasks, such as carrying her flowers during the wedding procession and holding and managing her dress and/or veil if it has a long train. They can also be in charge of remembering important items like flowers, handbags, and confetti.
• Add colour and fun to the ceremony: Wearing colourful dresses, carrying flowers, and smiling, child bridesmaids bring a lot of happiness and cheerfulness to the wedding.
• Participate in the wedding procession: In the UK, it is traditional for bridesmaids to follow the bride into the church. However, the order may vary depending on the couple's preferences and cultural background.
• Pose for bridal photos: Child bridesmaids are often included in the bridal photos, adding a cute and whimsical touch to the wedding album.
• Support the chief bridesmaid: Child bridesmaids can assist the chief bridesmaid or maid of honour in her duties, such as helping to plan the hen party and bridal shower, and providing emotional support to the bride.
• Be a witness: Child bridesmaids may be asked to be a witness when the marriage paperwork is signed, adding a special touch to the ceremony.
• Read during the ceremony: In some cases, child bridesmaids may be given the honour of reading a passage from the Bible or another meaningful text during the wedding ceremony.

While these are some of the typical duties of child bridesmaids in England, the specific responsibilities may vary depending on the couple's preferences and the nature of the wedding.

Historical precedent

The tradition of having children as bridesmaids at weddings can be traced back to the Victorian era, when it was customary for bridesmaids to be small girls rather than grown women. This tradition has persisted in British royal weddings, where bridesmaids have been children or early teens since Queen Elizabeth's wedding.

In ancient times, the bride and all the bridesmaids wore the same dress and heavily veiled their faces to confuse jealous suitors and evil spirits. This practice may have evolved into the modern tradition of having junior bridesmaids, who are typically between the ages of 10 and 15 and often related to the bride or groom.

In the feudal era in China, bridesmaids dressed like the bride to protect her from being identified and kidnapped by rival clans or hooligans. As legal protections for marriage were established, the role of the bridesmaid became more symbolic.

In the Victorian era, white was the official colour for both male groomsmen and female bridesmaids, a trend that originated with Queen Victoria, who wore a long white wedding dress and had her bridesmaids match the colour of her gown.

Social status

In the past, the number of bridesmaids in a wedding party was closely calculated to be appropriate to the family's social status. A large group of bridesmaids provided an opportunity for showing off the family's social status and wealth.

In modern times, the number of bridesmaids in a wedding party is dependent on many variables, including the bride's preferences, the size of her family, and the number of attendants her partner would like to have. Many modern couples do not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, which eliminates all the associated expenses and logistical effort.

In some cultures, such as in Norway, the Netherlands, France, and Victorian Britain, it is (or has been) customary for bridesmaids to be young girls rather than grown women. They may carry flowers during the wedding procession and pose with the married couple in bridal photos. In modern English-speaking countries, this role is separate from that of the bridesmaid, and the small child performing it is known as a flower girl.

In the United Kingdom, the term "maid of honour" originally referred to the female attendant of a queen. The term "bridesmaid" is normally used for all bridal attendants in the UK. However, when the attendant is married, or is a mature woman, the term "matron of honour" is often used.

A junior bridesmaid is a girl who is too young to be married but who is included as a bridesmaid anyway. She is usually between the ages of 10 and 15 but can be older or younger. Junior bridesmaids often have a family relationship with the bride or groom, but this is not a requirement.

Religious influence

The role of bridesmaids is deeply rooted in religious and cultural traditions, with the practice of having young bridesmaids being particularly prevalent in England. The religious influence on this tradition is multifaceted and stems from a combination of biblical references, Christian beliefs, and the cultural norms of the time.

One of the key religious influences is the biblical story of Moses and the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. In this narrative, young girls would sing and dance while carrying baskets of fruit to honor the bride, Moses' sister, Miriam, and celebrate the marriage. This tradition of having young, virgin girls as attendants to the bride was adopted by early Christians and carried forward into medieval Europe, where it became intertwined with the cultural norms of the time.

Christianity has had a profound impact on wedding traditions in England, and the choice of bridesmaids is no exception. In Christian theology, the wedding ceremony is not just a celebration of the union between a man and a woman but also a sacred rite that symbolizes the relationship between Christ and the Church. The presence of young, innocent bridesmaids represents purity and chastity, reflecting the virtues espoused by the Christian faith.

Moreover, the concept of having multiple bridesmaids can be linked to the idea of "witnesses" in a Christian wedding ceremony. In Christian weddings, witnesses play a crucial role in affirming the couple's vows and providing testimony of the sacred event. By having a group of bridesmaids, the couple ensures that there are multiple witnesses to the ceremony, reinforcing the solemnity and significance of the occasion.

The age of the bridesmaids is also influenced by religious notions of purity and innocence. In Christian art and literature, young girls often symbolize these virtues, and their presence at a wedding ceremony adds to the spiritual significance of the event. The white dresses traditionally worn by brides and bridesmaids further emphasize this concept of purity, reflecting the virginity and innocence associated with youth.

Lastly, the role of bridesmaids as protective charms against evil spirits also has religious undertones. In some Christian traditions, it is believed that children, especially young girls, possess a certain degree of spiritual purity that can ward off evil influences. By including them in the wedding party, it was thought that they could provide an extra layer of protection and blessing for the newlywed couple as they embarked on their married life together.

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