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Your junior bridesmaid — too old to be a flower girl, too young to be a bridesmaid — requires special consideration. Here are answers to some common etiquette questions on what a junior bridesmaid wears, who can escort her, how to gift her, and more.
Q. Is a nine-year-old girl a flower girl or a junior bridesmaid?
A. The role of junior bridesmaid is appropriate for young ladies aged 9-14. She walks down the aisle with the other maids wearing a dress that's perhaps not as sophisticated as the other dresses. She can be involved in planning the shower and lend a hand with other pre-wedding tasks. She'll probably get a kick out of being treated like a big kid.
Q. What do you do if your 12-year-old junior bridesmaid looks like she's about 25?
A. Use your best judgment. If she's 13-going-on-30 in the looks and maturity department, it might make sense to make her a full-fledged bridesmaid. No one will be concerned with formality (i.e., whether or not her age actually qualifies her to claim bridesmaid status). If you think she'll be right at home with the more mature bridesmaids, don't go out of your way to complicate things. It's okay to give her a promotion.