How did they do, and how old are they? DD has been asked to be in a wedding that we don't yet know the date of. I will find out in a few weeks. I think she will be fine, but if your dd is normally not shy, did she turn shy in front of so many people?
Re: If your dd has been in a wedding
{Ava 5.16.06} {Ella 12.29.07} {Drew 2.9.10}
Rory does get shy when there are tons of people, but she was perfectly fine. She acted shy walking down the aisle, but she did a great job. The kids I cringe to see in wedding parties are the ones who throw a huge fit just before they are about to walk. I doubt many four year old girls would do that.
She didn't stand at the front of the church the entire time, though. It was a Catholic wedding so she sat with the bride's parents (my dh's aunt and uncle who she knows very well) during the ceremony.
She's in another one in August, and the ceremony is not Catholic and will be outdoors, so I'm guessing she will stand up there for that one.
My dd was in my cousin's wedding a week before she turned 3. She did great! She's normally a bit on the shy side but she had no problem.
Natalie was in one last summer, but only 21 mos oldish. She's extremely friendly and did great with the walking part, it was just too much to expect her to toss the flowers at the same time. And it rehearsal she wanted to pick them back up. It was fairly small also, about 50 ppl total.
For our wedding, we had a 4 yr old and a 2.5 yr old (sisters). They both did fine in the rehearsal, but only the 4 yr old walked in the actual ceremony. She was great, and is normally pretty shy (as is the sister). I think as a bride, you have to realize that a young child is a high risk for not cooperating or bailing. I wouldn't want DD to be in a wedding where I knew the bride was over-the-top about everything being perfect...I think with any child under the age of 8 or so has a good chance of not doing everything right.
DD was 2 when she was a flowergirl for my BFF's wedding. I was so nervous but my friend insisted that it's okay if DD freaks out or whatever. I was just worried that the terrible 2's would come out at full force... AND my DD tends to be shy and stubborn so I really had no idea how she was going to do. She ended up doing a great job. I think she did a better job at throwing the flowers than the other 2 flowergirls and they were older than her! We had my DH help to guide the girls down the aisle, and I think that helped. And I was a BM in the wedding so DD literally had to walk from DH to me so it was pretty easy. Anyways, i'm sure your DD will be fine.
A lot of people suggested the M&M trick. I guess you give the MOH M&M's...the MOH is the last person to walk before they send out the flowergirls, so she can say "Follow me if you want M&M's!".
Not my DD, but DS has been in 2 weddings. He was in one at almost 2 and did ok, my cousin ended up having to walk him halfway down the aisle. He was in one a few weeks before he turned 3 and did great. He's usually a little nervous in new situations and he did wonderful, smiled, held the flowergirl's hand, walked all the way down the aisle, etc.
Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter
"><a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/825/1820/8251820.png" /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - Free <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Calorie Counter</a></small></p>DD1 was a flower girl in my cousin's wedding last summer--so at 3.5. She tends to be somewhat reserved (wouldn't call her "shy", just a little more cautious with people than not). She did GREAT! And they didn't even have a rehearsal. I was in the back with her until she had to walk up. She ATE.UP the attention of all the "awww, ahhh" from the guests and loved walking down the aisle--I can't even tell you whether she threw petals, I forget.
I didn't think she'd stand up with the party during the ceremony. The ring bearer barely made it up there and ran to sit with his parents (nephew of the groom). DD stood up there like she was just the sh* t. She sat with me in the front row for a very little bit and asked to go and stand by the MOH (my other cousin who she loves). She even marched back up the aisle with the wedding party.
We talked and talked and talked about it so she knew what to expect. She is a pretty girlie girl so she loved wearing a fancy dress and being princess for a day.
SO FUN!
My DD1 was in SIL's wedding right before she turned two. I thought she'd freak out and throw herself to the ground, but she did fine. There was an older flowergirl (almost 5yo) so they held each other's hands and tromped down the aisle.
It was a Catholic ceremony, so she sat with my ILs during the ceremony.
DD has been a flower girl 3 times:
At 18 months she did okay, but my mom had to help get her down the aisle...it was very long and held outdooors. (October 2008)
At 2 she did much better! It was held at the same location as the first one and she did it all by herself with a little coaching (April 2009)
She did it a few weeks ago and was awesome! She made sure she walked slow, held the ring bearers hand and made sure that all her petals were gone.
The first 2 both DH and I were in the wedding, the last one DH was in but I was not. As long as she could stand with DH she does great and won't even move through the ceremony.