Kitting out your flower girl is your chance to go crazy on girlish frills and pretty bows. Your older bridesmaids might not be impressed by a baby pink dress with satin rosebuds and a full net skirt, but your flower girl will simple love it.

Here are some of the key looks for flower girl dresses along with a little practical advice on choosing their gowns.

The miniature bride

The traditional look for a flower girl is a tiny version of the bridal gown, without the rigid structure and the veil of course. Flower girls look adorable in white or ivory gowns that mimic the bride, perhaps with an added sash in the same colour as the bridesmaids.

The miniature bridesmaid

Many designers have flower girl dresses in the same style as bridesmaids’ dresses so you can have a co-ordinated wedding party. Do consider that styles for grown up bridesmaids won’t necessarily suit young flower girls; for example if your bridesmaids are wearing strapless gowns your flower girl could wear something similar but with straps added. One great look is to have your flower girl in the same style dress as the bridesmaids, in a lighter or darker shade of the same colour.

Co-ordinating accessories

Perhaps you have four young nieces that you’d like to have as flower girls, but you can’t afford to buy four dresses. Ask their parents to dress them in similar dresses, perhaps simple white knee-length cotton summer dresses and then kit them out with matching accessories such as a coloured sash and fresh flower head dress.