Being a Flower Girl: Great for Kid, Bad for Mom

on May 3, 2011 at 1:30 PM

grace van custem We all saw the photos. Princess Catherine and Prince William kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace ... and the little pouting flower girl/bridesmaid/whatever they were calling her in the lower left corner. Grace Van Cutsem, Prince William's goddaughter, none too pleased to be there, peeved, stealing a bit of the spotlight, acting like a normal 3-year-old.

Anyone else look at that picture and wonder, "Is her mom freaking out right now?"

My daughter, who just turned 4, is going to have her first role in a wedding this July. My husband's brother is getting married, and she is a flower girl. She is very excited, she's been practicing, she's told everyone from the FreshDirect delivery guy to the doorman she is a flower girl. Yes, she is thrilled.

Me? Not so much. Don't get me wrong, I adore the fact that Kiddo was invited to be a part of the wedding, but, man, it is a lot to ask of a kid. The wedding party gets there early, perhaps poses for pictures, then waits around some more, and finally the wedding starts. The girl has to focus and follow directions and then someone gives her props! Flowers no less, flowers that are fun and she wants to smell them and the last thing she wants to do is throw them or listen to some wedding planner trying to corral her to do what she is supposed to do ... so she doesn't.

Many say it's cute when flower girls don't behave, act like, well, kids should after waiting around for hours while wearing not-so-comfy shoes. You see those videos all of the time on America's Funniest Home Videos. And we all saw it last Friday with little Grace. I don't blame Grace for her pout. She was tired, she was over it.

I am actually not worried about Kiddo. She's gonna be fine and, if she isn't, that is okay too. I am more worried about me and my anxiety creeping into the situation. The minute she smells my stress about how I want her to behave a certain way, we are done for ... so I will tell her to just have fun.

Did you have a flower girl mishap in your wedding?

Image via Getty

Filed Under: a mom's life, girls, mrs manners, tantrums

Comments (11)

jaxmadre

on May 3, 2011 at 1:41 PM

I think she's super cute, and her presence in the photo adds good character.
I think she really brings out the fact that these people put their pants on one foot at a time like the rest of us. She made it that much more perfect imho.

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JAFE

on May 3, 2011 at 1:45 PM

I agree with jaxmadre. It's a darling photo and adds a lot of character. It also had to be very loud. I think she's a little darling.

billsfan1104

on May 3, 2011 at 1:47 PM

I actually loved it. I laughed my ass off when I saw the picture. Here she is on a balcony with millions of people cheering and screaming and she looks annoyed. Like sooooo over it. If I was her, I would be too. Put a fork in it, she is done.

kelli0585

Um. . . .didn't this happen as the jets were flying over the palace? She was shielding her ears.

Shanin22

on May 3, 2011 at 1:55 PM

She probably was shielding her ears from the noise. Even if this wasn't taken during the jets, I'm sure the roar of the crowd was quite loud as well. But regardless of the noise, that girl does not look happy, lol. That's a very long stressful morning for a 3 year old... I don't blame her. It is pretty cute though :)

Nonmember comment from mommom

on May 3, 2011 at 2:01 PM

She was shielding her earswhen they walked into the church also. It was loud for sure. She is a doll though, and everyone should be proud of her. I would be scared to death if i ws her.

meagansmommy07

on May 3, 2011 at 2:10 PM

Our flower girl did fine at our wedding...our ring bearer however didn't want to carry the pillow, he wanted to carry and throw the flowers..so he walked down the aisle helping the flower girl throw flowers. We also got some very nice wedding party photos of him picking his nose and some of him looking at his belly button with his shirt up.lol, he was 3 so we all thought it was cute......

jennifert39

yup she didn't like the noise of the jets. they were right overhead and very loud.

micheledo

on May 3, 2011 at 2:34 PM

We had no problems - 6 flower girls and 2 little ring bearers! We love kids and had a ton of fun with them. No real mishaps - not that we would have cared.

angevil53

on May 3, 2011 at 3:48 PM

i was at my stepdaughter's mother's wedding and i was trying to make her smile since she was standing up looking sooo bored. i stuck my tongue out at her, she didn't crack a smile but she did return it and several times to everyone. the mom LOVED it! it's her favorite pic of her little princess all dressed up and acting like the tom-girl she is.