Does the flower girl come to the reception?

Yes, the flower girl should be at the reception..flower girl is part of the wedding as well.

I'm on the same boat... my Fiancee has a niece he really wants to be the flower girl, he doesn't make many requests, so I can't deny him this one. However, it's an adult only reception, so his sister is having someone take her after Wedding. It's a much better time for parents and grandparents to relax and unwind, without watching over a child all night.

She should be at the reception, otherwise you're not looking at her as a person, but as a prop.

Are you having her just to have a flower girl? Or do you want her to be a part of your wedding because she's important to you &/or your fiance? If not do you really need her there, sense you don't want kids there?

In my opinion, it's pretty rude to have children in the wedding party to look cute in pictures (the boring part, for a kid) and not allow them to attend the party.

If you want a flower girl, she is invited to the reception.

Frankly, I would do without a flower girl rather than trap her on a boat for 4 hours.

Yes, your flower girl should attend.

Yes, you should attend. How exactly would she not? It's not like she's going to drive herself home.

I think flower girl should be at the reception. Same goes for ring bearers. Basically anyone in your wedding party.

Anyone invited to the ceremony is invited to the reception. Period. It's no uncommon not to have a flower girl if you don't have kids at the wedding.

Ok so, my fiance admits that he wants to invite her to be part of the wedding because his cousins will then come up from Florida otherwise he's not sure they'll come to the wedding he really wants them here.

Also I want to walk on flower petals....any other suggestions if there's no flower Girl?

If you want to get cynical, aren't we all props in a wedding? Really even down to the officiant.


Finally my cousin is being invited with her then two year old daughter and we are going to offer up one of my mom's coworkers and other suggestions of people that we know and trust as babysitters if she wants and so I was going to offer the same to fiances cousin.

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As a mom, I wouldn't leave my child with a stranger with no way to get to my child until the boat docks, even if you trust the person, doesn't mean I should or will.

Don't expect your cousin or his cousin to be willing to leave their kids with a stranger.

Its completely ethical to have an adults only reception. I've been invited to many weddings and that is usually the wording. A flower girl is NOT A PROP!!
And I don't feel the least bit bad about not having children at my reception.

I would never leave my kids with a stranger, especially if I couldn’t get to them in an emergency because I’m on a boat for 4 hours. If they’re invited to the ceremony, they’re invited to the reception. If you don’t want kids there, no flower girl.

View Quoted Comment As someone who works in childcare, I fully respect that, and that is their choice and I recognize that. I am just sharing there will be options.

View Quoted Comment Just in case you decide not to have a flower girl, you can decorate your aisle ahead of time with flowers. There are aisle runners that can be custom made or DIY with flower petals designed along sides or in a pattern down middle.
But, I'm in agreement with you on having someone watch the child after the wedding

And if they don’t want to utilize your options? Will the children be joining you on the boat?

My Matron of Honor's two girls are my flower girls, and I have left it up to her if they're coming to the reception or not. She is still deciding if shes going to bring someone to watch them so she can let loose at the reception, or have them come.

So, your FH wants his cousins to spend the money to travel to your wedding, spend the money to buy an outfit for their daughter to be a flower girl, arrange their day around your wedding to make sure their daughter is available when needed for photos and the ceremony and you are then going to tell them that the daughter isn't welcome at the reception? Nice.

BTW, check with the church about those petals. Many don't allow them anymore because, surprise, they have to be cleaned up and, surprise, the wedding party won't do it.

I can't believe how rude people are over This!
Some people do not want children at their reception, and there is nothing wrong with that. Most people I know would rather leave their kids at home and enjoy themselves.
The grandparents are usually the ones who end up watching these kids all night and they never get a moment to enjoy the whole reason for being at a Wedding, which is to honor the bride and groom, not a bunch of kids.

View Quoted Comment If you want my child in your ceremony and pictures, you either invite her to the whole thing or she doesn’t participate. I have zero issue leaving my kids home to attend a wedding, but I’m not going out of my way/spending money to have my child be part of a wedding just to be shooed home for the reception. I can enjoying myself just fine with my kids.

Another thing to keep in mind is that in OPs case the kids aren’t going to be with the grandparents- they’d have to stay with a stranger while their parents get on a boat for 4 hours, unable to leave and get to their kids in an emergency.