Figure 1.--Here we see the page boys and flower girls at a formal wedding. The boys wear white blouses with wide collars, green satin knee-length psnts, and white matching 't' strap shoes. The boys also wear cumberbunds and white gloves. |
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Children, especially small children, can be a delight at a wedding, they can also be a challenge to handle at a wedding. Some brides aim for perfection and children and perfection do not mix well. The wedding is, however, a family occassion and thus it is important to involve the entire family. With a little understanding and forethought, children can become a charming addition to any wedding. They provide not only enthuisam, but a bit of fun to a wedding. Some brides are concerned about the unpredictability of small children, but to take the fun out of a wedding is to remove the real spirit of the occassion. Some brides resent anything that takes the focus off of them and the cute antics of little children can do just this. So if a bride is determined to be the consrtant focus of the perfect wedding, than she probably should rethink including children. Children can detract or even delay the schedule.
Children can play a variety of roles in wedding ceremoies with varied outfits to go with those roles. Catholic boys serve as altar boys at weddings. They wear the standard altar boy liturgical garments. I assume at a few churches there are now altar girls. Children also commonly participate as ring boys and flower girls. There are also junior bridesmaids, pages, and junior ushers. The outfits here can be quite varied depending on the formality of the wedding. The boys and girls wear very different outdits, by at some weddings the garmednts are coordinated. Normally younger children are chosen for ring bearers and flower girls, but because the idea is to include family, the ages are flexible. Ring boys often wear Eton suits, but at formal weddings we sea quite a range of outfits, inckuding fancy blouses with short pants or knickers. Somewhat older children and teenagers can be chosen for junior ushers or even one of the ushers.
Children, especially small children, can be a delight at a wedding, they can also be a challenge to handle at a wedding. Some brides aim for perfection and children and perfection do not mix well. The wedding is, however, a family occassion and thus it is important to involve the entire family. With a little understanding and forethought, children can become a charming addition to any wedding. They provide not only enthuisam, but a bit of fun to a wedding. Some brides are concerned about the unpredictability of small children, but to take the fun out of a wedding is to remove the real spirit of the occassion. Some brides resent anything that takes the focus off of them and the cute antics of little children can do just this. So if a bride is determined to be the consrtant focus of the perfect wedding, than she probably should rethink including children. Children can detract or even delay the schedule. Parents need to be consulted. They know what the child is capable of handling. They will also be needed to explain the whole process to the child and coach himor her, especially the younger vchildren. Planners need to understand that a wedding is a new experience for younger children.
A role can be found for virtually a child of any age fom toddlers on up. Brides and family wedding planners need to talk with the parents to determine just what role a child can handle. Children can play a variety of roles in wedding ceremoies with varied outfits to go with those roles. Catholic boys serve as altar boys at weddings. They wear the standard altar boy liturgical garments. I assume at a few churches there are now altar girls. The ages for the various roles are flexible enough that the various family members availble can usually be involved. Younger children also commonly participate as ring boys and flower girls. There are also junior bridesmaids, pages, and junior ushers. The outfits here can be quite varied depending on the formality of the wedding. The boys and girls wear very different outdits, by at some weddings the garmednts are coordinated. Normally younger children are chosen for ring bearers and flower girls, but because the idea is to include family, the ages are flexible. Ring boys are normally about 4-8 years old, although this age range can be expanded somewhat as needed. Ring bearers often wear Eton suits, but at formal weddings we sea quite a range of outfits, including fancy blouses with short pants or knickers. Pages are used in pairs assigned the task of carrying the bride's wedding gown train. They are used in formal weddings where the bride might have a very elaborate gown. Somewhat older children and teenagers can be chosen for junior ushers or even one of the ushers. Imaginative planners can come up with additional roles for those families with more children than can be accomodated with the traditional wedding roles.
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